By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that it has put in place a reward system for support groups which would work for the election of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima in the 2023 presidential election.
Director of Administration, APC, Prof. Adeyemi Adediwura, stated this at the weekend while receiving Friends Of Jagaban Initiative (FOJI) at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja.
He charged support groups to extend their campaigns to other APC candidates contesting governorship, state and federal legislative positions.
Adediwura stated: “On behalf of the National Working Committee and the entire leadership of our great party, I welcome you to the APC National Secretariat. The party is already putting machinery in place towards a successful electoral contest in 2023. It is not limited to Tinubu/Shettima presidential candidacy, we are working to win all elections – retaining states we control and adding to our fold.
“We should campaign for all candidates. The party is monitoring registered support group activities and the groups will be rewarded accordingly.”
Prof. Adediwura was inducted as Member, Board of Trustees of the Friends of Jagaban Initiative (FOJI).
Addressing journalists during the media advocacy visit and investiture, National Coordinator, FOJI, Engr. Funsho Abdul, stated that the 2023 candidacy of Tinubu/Shettima offered Nigerian youth the best opportunity to occupy government positions.
“It is also worthy of note that, by his antecedent, Tinubu has been an ardent exponent of youth participation in governance. His efforts have culminated in the appointments of vibrant youths in key positions across various administrative strata.
“Out of all the major contenders for the presidency, Asiwaju has been the only one who has mentored and supported people in their youthful age to credible leadership positions from different parts of the country irrespective of tribe or religion. On the 14th of January 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu emerged being the youngest candidate as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Most notable governors who have rendered dividends of democracy in their various states were nurtured by Asiwaju.
“We are therefore resolute in our belief that Asiwaju is a provider of progressive ideas and a mentor of dependable leaders who can take Nigeria to enviable position in the comity of developed nations of the world. He has never relegated the youth in his socio-political struggle, eminently supporting youth development.”
As Governor of Lagos State, Abdul cited Tinubu’s appointment of Prof. Yemi Osibanjo as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the Age of 42; Sunday Dare, at the age of 33 when he served as Chief of Staff and media adviser; Ben Akabueze, as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget at the age of 40; Engr. Rauf Aregbesola as Commissioner for Works aged 40; Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN as Chief of Staff, age 36; Babatunde Fowler, as Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service at the age 43; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, at the age of 34.
He added that Engr. Joe Igbokwe, born 1956, in 2006 was appointed the pioneer General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance & Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) by Tinubu and served there for more than 10 years. Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was appointed the Auditor General for Local Governments under Tinubu’s Administration at the age of 36. Dele Alake, born 1956 was appointed the Commissioner for Information from 1999-2007 at the age of 43. Opeyemi Bamidele, born 1963 at the age of 36, was a Senior Special Assistant on Political and Intergovernmental Relations and later appointed as commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.
Muiz Banire, the immediate past Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria was at the age of 33 appointed Special Adviser to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999 and subsequently named Commissioner of Transportation in the same year.
With an extensive network in the 774 local government areas, FOJI stated that it had put strategies in place to deliver 10,000 votes from each local government and seven million votes across the federation for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
“This we will achieve through our robust engagement with people at the grassroots, the media and relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian political space. In the coming days, we shall be organising a one million march of Nigerian youths in support of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” FOJI National Coordinator stated.
He urged all Nigerians to support and ensure peaceful coexistence before, during and after the elections, and give maximum support to the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
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