The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has taken a swipe at his challengers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, urging Nigerians to reject them in the 2023 general election.

Tinubu described Obi as “Mr Stingy”, saying the latter saved money while he was governor of Anambra State and watched the people of the state suffer.

The APC presidential standard bearer also described Atiku as “Mr Privatize”, saying the former Vice President’s only aim of wanting to be president is to be able to sell Nigeria’s assets to his friends.

The former governor of Lagos State said this at the APC presidential campaign rally at the Nest of Champion Stadium, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday.

Tinubu said: “My opponents will say that my vision for Nigeria is too big and too far away to attain. I say to them that their vision is too small and selfish. I want to take you to a better future where the government works even more on your behalf to improve your daily lives.

“My opponents want to take you back in time to a point where you, the citizens, labour and toil so they can get richer by the day while you get nothing. I want to move you along the path of progressive governance that leads to a more prosperous economy as well as abiding security and peace for all.

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“This election will decide whether you believe you and the rest of the nation are entitled to the good things only progressive, compassionate and responsible governance can deliver or do you want to relinquish your future to Someone like Mr Privatize of the PDP or Peter the Stingy.

“One man wants to sell all of Nigeria’s public assets and its future, so that only he and his tight club of conspirators can enjoy the meat of the land. While Mr. Stingy wants to do for the nation what he did to Anambra. He let the people suffer while kept and hid their own money from them and their basic needs. He refused to save people so that he could save money.

“I tell you that whatever government has it is not to keep from you, it is to be put to wise use for your benefit. This is the highest purpose of the government. Only this will usher in a greater tomorrow. Anything less will chain us to failure.”

The APC presidential flag-bearer, however, vowed to prioritise employment opportunities for the vast majority of Nigerians who are willing and ready to work if elected in the next month’s presidential election.

Speaking on his plans for Akwa Ibom State, Tinubu promised that though an oil-rich state, he would help bring more resources to the state through diversification into agriculture and harnessing the tourism opportunities available in the state.

“This land is rich and fertile. The agricultural policies we have designed and the investments we have planned will ensure greater productivity and food supply as well as opening the door to increased exports to markets worldwide. We will provide the infrastructure to help rural communities, establish commodity boards to assure our farmers of a minimum price for strategic crops. This will guarantee the well-deserved income for farmers for the hard and valuable work they perform for the nation.

“Additionally, we will invest in agricultural infrastructure such as grain reserves, produce storage facilities in local markets, better farm-to-market roads, and access.

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“My administration’s program to build agricultural hubs will increase arable farmland and encourage cooperative relationships between small and large farms that will boost production and promote agro-related business.

“We will also help bring industry and tourism to Akwa Ibom. This is a beautiful and welcoming place with kind and energetic people. Our industrial plan will encourage companies to locate here and manufacture goods for Nigeria as well as foreign markets. This will produce jobs and provide the foreign currency to help push our nation forward. Tourists will come and never want to leave this land of promise. This means more jobs, better income, and skills for you,” he added.

He also promised to help protect their oil reserves from vandals so that the state will be able to get what it truly deserves from the large oil deposits it has, while also ensuring that the oil companies take care of and give back to their host communities to ensure development.

Also speaking at the rally, the APC governorship candidate in Akwa-Ibom State, Akanimo Udofia, lashed out at some politicians using religion to campaign ahead of the 2023 general election.

Udofia said Tinubu built a Monastery for Catholic Church in Epe, Lagos State, stressing that the APC presidential candidate will serve Nigerians well regardless of their religion and ethnicity if elected as president.

On his part, the former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, enjoined the people of the state to vote for Tinubu and all APC candidates in the forthcoming general election.

Others at the rally were top government officials, party leaders, and members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

The Star