The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to work hard for Nigeria if elected in Saturday’s presidential election.

Tinubu, who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for working hard for his emergence as the APC presidential candidate, said the President turned down the offer to choose his (Tinubu) running mate.

He said this at the APC campaign grand finale rally held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday.

The two-term former governor of Lagos State also promised to do all in his power to continue where Buhari would stop and consolidate on the President’s achievements.

Facing President Buhari at the rally, Tinubu said: “As you worked hard for me, I will work hard for Nigeria. All the plans set out in our Action Plan for Renewed Hope for Nigerians will be pursued rigorously.”

The APC presidential flag-bearer further thanked Buhari for standing firm for democracy, accountability, transparency, and fairness.

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“The president asked all of us interested to go and contest the primaries of our party. After I was picked overwhelmingly by the delegates, he didn’t ask them to change the results because of my tribe or religion or because I’m not from Daura like him, he accepted me and celebrated with me, telling me ‘you are almost there now’,” Tinubu added.

Tinubu disclosed that when it was time for the choice of a running mate, Buhari turned down the offer to choose for him, saying the President said “‘you know better, you are very experienced and you know the kind of person who will assist you to run the country, so pick that person’.”

Expressing his appreciation to the President, Tinubu said: “Thank you Mr. President, you gave me the courage, the confidence and the will to pick right.”

The former governor, however, said he chose Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate, describing him as “a most knowledgeable and independent-minded person”.

He said Shettima had shown determination and grit to perform and be different, describing him as “a dependable, reliable, and courageous man”.

On his part, President Buhari lifted up Tinubu’s hand, proclaiming him the next president of the country.

Also speaking at the rally, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, thanked the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to receive President Buhari and Tinubu and to also attend the rally.

He said with the massive turn out, they had shown their love for the APC presidential candidate, urging them to vote for Tinubu on Saturday.

Others at the event were the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu; the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima; the Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; and the wife of the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

Also present at the rally were Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Mohammed Inuwa (Gombe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babagana Zulum (Borno); among others.

The Star