The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has vowed to use his experience as Lagos State Governor to lead Nigeria to uplift the country and renew the hope of Nigerians if elected as president in the 2023 general election.

Tinubu said he would be “a fair and just leader” to Nigerians adding that his “pledge for fairness and justice is consistent with the tenets of Islamic faith”.

“A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern in an honest and democratic manner in harmony with our nation’s constitution,” the two-term former governor of Lagos State said this at a meeting with Muslim leaders from South-West in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday.

The APC presidential standard-bearer commended religious leaders in the country for their continued prayers and sermons which he said has contributed to unity and peaceful coexistence.

Describing the 2023 general election as “Nigeria’s momentous encounter with destiny”, Tinubu urged the Islamic clerics to educate their followers on the importance of exercising their franchise and voting only tested candidates with a track record of excellent public service, “and not falling for the lies and gimmicks of those that have nothing to offer.”

He said: “This election season has been a hybrid of facts and falsehood, truth and lies. I would like the election to be one based on facts and truth.

“What is a candidate’s record of performance and what are his policies. I ask you to urge your followers to come out and vote and to do so wisely. Vote for a candidate that has vision for a peaceful, prosperous Nigeria where tolerance and compassion undergird our constitutional and legal rights.”

On security, Tinubu vowed to end the reign of terror, kidnappings, and other violent crimes by recruiting more personnel that would be trained and retrained, in addition to providing more security tools and gadgets for effective fight against criminal elements.

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He stated that the nation’s economy would be diversified and restructured towards achieving at least six per cent growth annually.

“These goals would be achieved through the reforms of our industrial policy, infrastructural enhancement, power sector innovation and significant budgetary reforms.

“Regarding the economy, we seek to repair the very structure of the economy. We can no longer flourish as an economy based on natural resource extraction.

“We must become a dynamic, diversified economy where those who want to work can find a good job. But let us also be a society sufficiently compassionate to help those who cannot help themselves.

“We must revive manufacturing and industrial growth so as to create jobs as well as produce the goods and services that improve the daily lives of the average person.

“We seek a minimum of 6 percent growth annually through reform of our industrial policy, infrastructural enhancement, power sector innovation and significant budgetary reform,” Tinubu added.

Speaking on the agricultural sector, the APC presidential flag-bearer promised to guarantee food security through enhanced productivity and improved farm incomes in order to ensure that no child goes to bed without food to eat.

“In the end, may no Nigerian parent send a child to bed hungry, despairing what tomorrow might bring. Instead, let all of our children, regarding of their faith or creed, be able to lay their head down believing in a better tomorrow of hope renewed,” Tinubu said.

On his part, the MUSWEN President, Rasaki Oladejo, said the meeting provided an opportunity for Tinubu to interface with the Muslim leaders of South-West on his plans for the nation if elected as president, “particularly on how he could make the country a land of great opportunities where no man will be oppressed.”

The National Chief Missioner of Anwar-ur-Deen Movement, Sheikh Ahmad Abdulrahman, said the gathering was not to campaign or endorse Tinubu or any candidate “but to seek and to know and to see whether Asíwájú Tinubu can still deliver for the country as he did as governor of Lagos State.”

Tinubu was accompanied to the meeting by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat; the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sen. Teslim Folarin; and former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; amongst others.

The Star