The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Tinubu’s meeting with Igbo was called to perfect the party’s preparedness for the rescheduled elections on February 23 and March 9 in the state.
The party leader noted that the APC government never discriminated against people from the South East and others in the state in the delivery of democratic dividends, saying the party expected them to support its candidates at the polls for progress.
“We appeal to our Igbo brothers from the East, this is the state where you conduct your businesses, your children are in our schools, we don’t discriminate against them in our WAEC fees.
“We don’t discriminate against them for NECO fees. We don’t discriminate against them for JAMB fees. Even in our universities, they take the benefit of our tuition and allowances and all that.
“Now, this time, we say, help us. We say vote for us and our candidates,” Tinubu said.
He reminded them of the time the popular ASPAMDA market and other markets dominated by the Igbo faced threats of demolition, recalling that he took necessary steps to save the markets, thereby protected the interests of the traders who were mainly from the South East.
He warned that the party would monitor election results in Igbo-dominated areas such as Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Surulere in anticipation of votes for APC.
Recall that in the 2015 elections, the APC lost some legislative seats to the PDP in the areas mentioned, though some of the winners later defected to the APC.
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday solicited support of the Hausa community in the Southwest for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the zone.
Osinbajo, who made the plea at a Town Hall Meeting with the Hausa community in Ikeja, Lagos State, said that some former leaders did not like Buhari because of his stand against corruption.
NAN reports that Arewa community leaders, drawn from Lagos State and other Southwest states, were present at the meeting.
“What we are hoping to see on Saturday is an affirmation, a vote for a man who has proved through the years to be a man of truth and honesty.
“The problem of our country is not that we don’t have enough money; the problem is that of leaders that we put there. Many of them stole the money meant for the people.
“We are able to do more than even when they (previous administrations) are even earning more because the President is not a thief. Even his worst enemies, those who hate him, know that he is a man of truth. They know he is a man who will not steal the money of the people,” the VP said.
He added: “Let us not have any doubt in our minds, the battle for power in this country is the battle between good and evil.
“This is not a religious matter. You find thieves among the Christians, thieves among Muslims; you will find honest men among Christians, we find honest men among Muslims.
“This next level that we are talking about by the Grace of God, the people of this country will begin to enjoy the fruits of all the sacrifice they have made in the last four years.”
Continuing, Osinbajo said, “Muhammadu Buhari has done a term now; by May, it will be four years.
“In another four years, I promise you by the grace of God, this country will be a different place; it will be a country that all of us will be proud of.”
The vice president, who said that he didn’t doubt the sincerity of the Hausa leaders to vote, charged them to mobilise the Arewa community to come out en mass to vote.
Chairman, Arewa Community in Lagos State, Ahmed Kabiru, who commended Osinbajo for recognising the community, said that Buhari remained a “sell-able product.”
“The principal thing I am selling is President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I have to sell it to this audience.
“On behalf of the entire Arewa community across the nooks and crannies of the South West Nigeria, I want to reassure you of our support, our unflinching support for APC.
“We are going to vote APC from the very top to the lowest position. I assure you, we are going to do this,” Ahmed Kabiru said.
Hausa leader in Akure, Sadiq Babangida, said that the community would not change its decision to support APC, adding that the country needs honest and sincere leaders.
Also at the meeting were Chairman, Hausa Community, Ondo State, Umar Abdullahi; National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Ado Suaibu; and Sarkin Hausawa, Abeokuta, Ibrahim Hassan.
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