The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has again restated his readiness to boss Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if elected in the 2023 general election.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria needs to move from dependence on exporting its raw materials to nations which sell the finished products to the country at exorbitant prices to one that refines its raw materials for upward export.
The two-term former governor of Lagos State, who hailed President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for its patriotism and commitment, reiterated plans to build on the administration’s achievements.
These, he said include reviving dead industries, promoting agriculture, providing power, producing and using made-in-Nigeria goods, building infrastructure and most importantly improving the country’s security.
Tinubu said this on Tuesday while presenting his campaign manifesto, Action Plan, to the business and organised private sector leaders at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The APC presidential candidate said having achieved similar economic success as Lagos State Governor, he has the capacity to repeat the same in the country if elected president in 2023.
He said: “You may have heard that I was once governor of this dynamic economic force. However, may I remind you that when I first entered office, Lagos was a different story.
“My team and I developed a blueprint, a master plan, for Lagos. I can say that plan has been largely successful.
“We turned this state into a safer, more prosperous place where people can go about any legitimate vocation or venture regardless of their ethnicity, religion, region or prior social station.
“We did more than open Lagos for business. We opened the door for all Nigeria to join and experience the decent things progressive democratic governance can bring.
“We were not perfect but we did a lot.
“In doing so, we worked hand in hand with the business community as partners sharing the same goals of prosperity and renewed hope.
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“Well, as you might have heard at some point recently, I now stand before you, seeking a bigger yet similar job.”
Tinubu further called on the business leaders to join hands with him to achieve this, stating that a viable economy requires collaboration between the political and business communities.
“Nigeria stands at the threshold between indifference and greatness, prosperity and poverty, the future and the past.
“The door is ajar. Together, let us open it so that we may cross over to the better side and secure for this beloved nation its finer destiny.
“The productive and beneficial things we seek do not lie in the sole domain of one sector. They reside in the cooperation between government and the private sector.
“I see no conflict between the business community and government. Yet, with equal conviction, I believe the private sector and government should constantly be at war.
“But they wage this battle not as enemies. They must stand as inseparable allies combating the mutual enemies of scarcity, underdevelopment, joblessness and the fear these bad things breed.
“The pragmatic problem solving and teamwork that improved Lagos, I want to bring to this nation.
“I ask your help as the task ahead is doable but also difficult,” the former governor added.
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He continued: “From its very inception, our political economy has been imbalanced and in need of major reform. Our political economy is much too dependent on the export of raw material or unfinished goods and the import of increasingly expensive finished products.
“Over the course of the time, gains from natural resource exports will prove largely insufficient to meet the rising costs of imports let alone support even the most basic demands of modern democratic governance.
“The time is now to cure this lapse. And time is of the essence for it does not wait for man or nation.
“We commend the work of prior administrations, especially the present government. This government has performed with patriotism and commitment during trying times.
“We simply must go farther and faster. My experiences in both the private sector and elective office afford me a special appreciation of the economic potency that close collaboration between government and the business community can bring,” the APC presidential standard-bearer stated.
The event was attended by the party’s vice presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima; the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.
Others were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).
The business leaders in attendance were the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia; the Chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu; the former Chief Executive of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; and the Group Chief Executive of Access Bank Herbert Wigwe; among others.
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