President Bola Tinubu has told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council not to expect him to join every campaign rally across states of the federation.
Tinubu cited the demands of governance and the country’s financial obligations.
Speaking at the inauguration of the council at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, Tinubu said he agreed with the advice to limit his campaign engagements so he could devote more attention to governance.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” he said.
The president mentioned Nigeria’s debt obligations and the need to attract foreign investment as reasons for limiting his participation in campaign tours.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” Tinubu said.
He added that his reduced presence at campaign events would not prevent him from addressing Nigerians directly.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas,” he said.
Tinubu charged the council to take responsibility for mobilising support for the party ahead of the election, saying its members must deliver votes in their respective wards.
“No one gets credit for an incomplete assignment. So until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your wards, until you deliver the votes, before we can say thank you,” he said.
He also urged party leaders to maintain unity, saying “They said there will be an implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You didn’t let us down. We got here together.”
Tinubu further pledged support for increased women’s representation in the National Assembly and at the sub-national level.
“The women deserve seats. Go and work for it, come to fruition. We will increase the number of women’s representation at both the National Assembly and sub-national level. I assure you that,” he said.
On security, the president said state police would become a reality, without providing further details on the timing or implementation of the proposed arrangement.
“On security, state police will be a reality,” he said.
Tinubu told the council that its task extends beyond the formal inauguration, saying “We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant. A covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party.”
THE WHISTLER recalls that during the 2023 presidential election campaigns, Tinubu was absent from several high-profile public engagements organised for candidates.
On September 29, 2022, he missed the signing of the National Peace Accord, and was represented by his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
Reports at the time said Tinubu was in the United Kingdom.
Shettima also represented him at the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual general conference in Lagos in August 2022 and a Women Radio 91.7 event in Abuja.
In November 2022, Tinubu did not attend the Arise TV presidential town hall and debate, and the APC also failed to send a representative. His campaign organisation cited a hectic campaign schedule and its policy of not giving preference to any television station.
He was also represented by Shettima at a Lagos Chamber of Commerce debate.
