The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State and other critical projects if elected president.

Tinubu said his government would prioritise development of mineral resources in the North-Central state, in addition to dredging the River Niger which will allow ships to berth in inland ports.

The APC presidential standard bearer said this at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Wednesday.

“Hope is here. Ajaokuta resuscitation will be done. Dredging of Niger River will be done. Agriculture will be the source of our prosperity. North-Central has the potential for great mineral industrialisation, we will work on that,” he said.

Tinubu also felicitated with the people of Kogi State and other Nigerians over the Supreme Court ruling on the currency swap impasse, saying those who wanted to take advantage of the situation have failed.

The presidential candidate said members of the opposition were counting on the unintended suffering caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy to play to their advantage.

The Supreme Court had, on Wednesday, halted the February 10 deadline for the validity of the old naira notes, pending hearing on the substantive suit filed by Kogi, Kaduna, and Zamfara state governments.

Tinubu lauded the mammoth crowd for turning up for the rally in spite of the challenges, urging them to repeat the same on the day of election.

The former governor of Lagos State added that the opposition wanted to take advantage of the people’s hardship.

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“They even rejoiced when you cannot sell your products.

“You will never see hardship in your lives. You will see prosperity, you will see progress.

“This your determination, I want you to multiply it. On the 25th of February, there will be vote for president, for senators and House of Representatives members, it is in your hands now.

“But we have come to remind you, whether by Keke NAPEP, or by bicycle or even with your legs, you should go here in the morning. Cast your vote, be vigilant. Do your part, play your own role,” Tinubu added.

Also speaking at the rally, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, recalled that the state had a good showing for the APC during the 2019 general election, saying the performance will be surpassed in the forthcoming election.

Bello also lashed out at members of the opposition parties who he said were counting on the “unbearable” situation created to reap support at the polls.

The governor further described the cashless policy as “a good policy which some people want to turn around to inflict hardship on our people.”

He said with the Supreme Court order, “hope has been renewed. Go ahead and use your money, the old and the new naira.”

Others at the rally were the APC vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima; the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Abubakar Kyari; and Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa); among others.

The Star