Tinubu says opponents created poverty, then use it to campaign against him

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday in Kaduna at the flag-off of his presidential campaign for the 2027 general elections, took a swipe at opposition leaders, accusing them of creating the poverty and hunger they now use to campaign against him.

“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger; they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” Tinubu said at the rally at the Ranchers Bees Stadium.

His jibe was apparently directed at the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007

Tinubu, at the rally, inaugurated the 81-kilometre section of the Kaduna-Abuja highway with a symbolic ribbon-cutting.

The President, according to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser in Information & Strategy, recalled Kaduna’s historical significance as the city of leaders and the political headquarters of the northern region, adding that his administration had been working to eradicate poverty in the country.

The president thanked the people of Kaduna State for trusting him with their mandate in the 2023 elections and urged them to vote for him again, citing his record of achievements and investments in critical economic infrastructure in Kaduna State and the entire Northern region.

The rally was attended by All Progressives Party (APC) National Chairman, Professor Netanwe Yilwatda, Vice President Kashim Shettima, wife of the President and wife of the Vice President, 32 Governors of the APC and former National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, among other party leaders

In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima recalled President Tinubu’s support for northern presidential candidates in previous elections, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, who won the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

He also cited Tinubu’s support for northern political leaders in earlier presidential contests, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing the gesture as a demonstration of political loyalty, mutual respect and commitment to national unity.

The Vice President maintained that such political relationships had strengthened the APC and reinforced the need for Nigerians to work together towards a united and prosperous country.

In his welcome address, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, commended Tinubu for supporting state governments in implementing development programmes and pursuing their respective priorities.

Governor Sani said collaboration between the Federal and state governments was essential to achieving sustainable development, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture and initiatives designed to improve citizens’ welfare.

The governor urged APC supporters to remain vigilant against misinformation during the electioneering period, particularly misleading materials circulated on social media and content allegedly generated using artificial intelligence.

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