Why Ebonyi Must Vote For Tinubu, APC-PCC

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council
(APC-PCC), has said the people of Ebonyi state must vote President Bola Tinubu for a second term to enable him complete the ongoing projects and consolidate on other programmes that have direct impact on the people.

The Director-General of APC-PCC, Senator Senator Abdulaziz Yari stated this while speaking at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital on Monday.

The former Zamfara state governor said the appointment of the immediate past govenror of Ebonyi state, David Umahi as the Minister of Works showed that President Tinubu has the people of the state at heart, hence they must reciprocate the good gesture with votes.

According to him, the council and APC is targeting a minimum of 1.2 million out of the 1.5 million voters from state in the 2027 presidential election.

Yari commended the Minister of Works, the government and party’s stakeholders for the crowd they had mobilised for the campaign rally, expressing hope that the APC was on ground and would win the state.

“We are assured that in Ebonyi state, only Tinubu’s party exists.
I confirmed from your main man, the Minister of Works. I asked him how many registered voters Ebonyi state has. He said 1.8 million. I also gathered that the PVCs collected as at the last count, the state has 1.5 million voters.

“Your Excellency, sir, on behalf of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am setting my target. My target is a minimum of 1.2 million votes. Youths and women, do you agree with this target? Are you ready to give Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 1.2 million votes in Ebonyi State?

“Let me tell you who Bola Ahmed Tinubu is. He is the man who appointed your brother as Minister of Works. When we were travelling here by bus, one person said there were eight or more ministers from the South-East. Among them, the Minister of Works was given to Ebonyi state. I think that, for this gesture, 1.2 million votes from Ebonyi people are guaranteed,”he said.

Yari said that the opposition does not have the blueprint to challenge Tinubu at the ballot, considering his track record of achievements and where he has taken the country.

The Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District
said before the coming of the incumbent president, governors were borrowing to pay salaries but his policies have freed up funds for states to meet their obligations and still embark on developmental projects.

“Part of the challenges we faced when we were governors alongside Umahi was the struggle to pay salaries. We struggled. We even needed bailouts before we could pay salaries.

“Forget about patients not receiving medical attention. Forget about gratuities not being paid. We struggled to ensure that we could pay salaries.

“However, I have had the opportunity to discuss with some governors. One of them told me that he had paid over N50 billion in gratuities to workers who had retired from service, while pensions were being paid alongside salaries.

“This is what Bola Tinubu has done for you. He takes care of governors by giving them their entitlements when due, and they, in turn, do the right thing. Gratuities, pensions and workers’ salaries are paid when due, without delay. This is Bola Ahmed Tinubu for you.

“Do not just look at what previous governments, whether at the state or federal level, did. They know how they managed the situation. But Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing things differently and better than they did.

“Therefore, Ebonyi people, we do not need to tell you much about him. If you want to see what he has done for Ebonyi, look at this man very well – Umahi,” Yari said.

He also called on women and youth to vote massively for Tinubu to continue with female inclusivity in government and students loan which changed the fate of many students and their parents for better.

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to women. The Asiwaju government is gender-friendly. Asiwaju has about 20 per cent women representation in his cabinet, with about 10 women serving as ministers. This is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

“He also has about 13 women serving as special advisers and special assistants. Across different government agencies, from managing directors to directors-general, he has appointed about 37 women.

“So, we are saying that the Asiwaju government is gender-friendly. In Ebonyi State, the government is also gender-friendly. Women, we believe you are loyal voters. Without you, there will be no voting. We want you to come out en masse on January 16, 2027, to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“To the youths, Asiwaju has introduced NELFUND for those who want to further their education through interest-free student loans. From the information available to me, over N300bn has been released for those seeking to continue their education. Youths, I want to say that this is not just about him. It is about your future. And you can trust me.

“Youths, it is about you. You need to come out en masse and vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on January 16, 2027, by the grace of God.
This is our appeal to you,” he stated.

Also speaking, the APC National
Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda emphasised that people of the state must vote President Tinubu and all other candidates of the party for consolidation of the achievements of the APC government at all levels.

Represented by the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Ben Nwoye, Yilwatda reminded the people of the establishment of the South East Development Commission by the Tinubu-led administration and other interventionist schemes like the student loan fund which have positive impact on the people.

“I say APC from top to bottom.
On January 16, they will give you the list of what our dear president has done. In addition to what I have said, you know about the South-East Development Commission. Today, we are developing at our own pace.

“We will promise you that, unlike 36 years ago, under President Bola Tinubu you can no longer say that you cannot go to school because of lack of funding. They have provided money for you. You can access loans and go to school interest-free.

“So, on January 16, APC from top to bottom. On February 6, APC from top to bottom. In the end, we say APC five by five,” he added.

For his part, the chairman of APC governors, Senator Hope
Uzodimma said if Tinubu is not re-elected all the ongoing projects in state, South East and the entire country would stop, hence the people of Ebonyi and all Nigerians must support the president’s second term bid.

“Our responsibility will start from now to go and look for our PVCs. That is the weapon, because if Bola Tinubu is not reelected, all these ongoing projects will stop. So we have to sharpen our weapon, and our weapon is our voter card.

“The day is January 16. The ammunition is your voter’s card. So all of us, young men, young women, mothers, fathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, go and bring your PVCs and vote massively. The symbol is the broom. Vote massively for APC.

“There is no name on the ballot paper called President Bola Tinubu. What is on the ballot paper is APC, and I invite all of you to vote for APC. If you want all the roads that Governor Umahi has enumerated, the only way those roads can be completed is if we re-elect Bola Tinubu and the only way we can re-elect him is to vote for him en masse.

Uzodimma also warned the people against voting by sentiments, urging them not be deceived that one of their own was in race for the presidential election.

“Days are gone when we draw our vote award to sentiment. We are not voting sentiment. We are voting pragmatism.
Let me tell you, we have our enemies. When there is a new presidential election, they will come to Ebonyi. They will tell you, “This is your brother. This is your cousin. Vote for him because they want us to be marginalised. This is time to stop marginalisation.

“The only way to stop marginalisation is to come out en masse and vote so that their brothers and sisters will be on the table where national decisions will be taken. So this time around, we are not going to vote for sentiment. We are voting for national unity. We are voting for Nigeria, and we are going to vote for Nigeria where all of us will be included,”he added.