The stage is set for tomorrow’s All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaigns kick off next year’s general election in Kaduna.
The ancient city – the political headquarter of the North – will be aglow with festivities as it hosts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Vice President Kashim Shettima the national chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and other party leaders.
The Kaduna Township Stadium venue of the National Presidential Mega Campaign Rally organised by the Senator Abdulaziz Yari-led APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) is wearing a new look.
It is decorated with banners of various kinds welcoming the party leaders including governors ministers and other stakeholders.
Ahead of the president’s visit to the state the Kaduna State Police Command has announced restrictions on the movement of trailers tankers lorries and other heavy-duty vehicles across the metropolis from midnight of today (Friday) to 8pm tomorrow.
Kaduna is among the 12 states where President Tinubu who has vowed not to abandon governance during the electioneering will make appearance for the campaigns.
Restrict heavy-duty vehicles in Kaduna
The Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu who announced the restriction of vehicles during a security briefing said it is intended to reduce congestion and ensure the free movement of vehicles during the presidential visit.
He said: ‘After due consultation and consideration between the security committee and members of all transport unions in the state it is hereby agreed that there is going to be restriction of movement from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.’
Rabiu clarified that the restriction would apply only to heavy-duty vehicles not other commuters.
He added: ‘This restriction only applies to all trailers tankers lorries articulated and other heavy-duty vehicles only not other commuters. This is done because we want to decongest and make free movement of vehicles in the metropolis.’
Rabiu said the command working with the military Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies had activated comprehensive security arrangements to protect the President dignitaries campaign participants and members of the public.
Rabiu said the deployment would include conventional police personnel tactical teams explosive ordnance disposal personnel traffic management units and crowd-control teams across the campaign venue and other strategic locations.
The commissioner advised people without legitimate business at the venue to stay away from the site and its immediate surroundings.
On traffic diversions Rabiu advised heavy-duty vehicles travelling from Zaria towards Kaduna to divert through the Maraban Jos-Saminaka route towards Gadan Gayan then use the Kujama Road link to Mararaba Rido and the Eastern Bypass before reconnecting with the Abuja-Kaduna Highway through Kakau Bridge.
Vehicles travelling from Abuja towards Kaduna and Zaria were advised to use the Eastern Bypass from Kakau Bridge proceed through Mararaba Rido and Gadan Gayan and connect to the Maraban Jos route towards Zaria.
The commissioner also warned against the destruction of campaign posters particularly those of President Tinubu.
He said: ‘Anybody found destroying any poster especially that of Mr President will be properly dealt with according to the law’ Rabiu said.
The commissioner called on residents to provide security agencies with credible information about suspicious activities planned violence and individuals carrying weapons.
He added: ‘Security is a collective responsibility. Residents are encouraged to provide credible and timely information about suspicious activities planned violence or individuals carrying weapons to the appropriate security authorities.’
Rabiu also cautioned social media users and bloggers against publishing content intended to abuse or harm others warning that offenders could face legal consequences under applicable cybercrime laws.
He appealed to the media and members of the public to cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful event.
Rabiu said: ‘I appeal to the members of the public that let us make this event a success. We should eschew violence and try to use all means to ensure that this event is successful.’
Federal agencies’ CEOs mobilise for campaign
No fewer than 100000 supporters are being mobilised for the campaign kick off by the Forum of Chief
Executive Officers (CEOs) of Federal Parastatals in Nigeria (FORCEPA).
The Forum comprising heads of federal government agencies and parastatals declared that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima deserved another four years in office to consolidate the Administration’s economic reforms and accelerate national development.
FORCEPA Chairman and Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji told reporters in Abuja that members had already been deployed to Kaduna to coordinate mobilisation engage stakeholders and ensure massive participation in the campaign commencement.
Raji who described the Forum as a coalition of public-sector leaders committed to national development said its members had resolved to deploy their professional networks institutional experience and grassroots influence towards securing another term for the president.
He maintained that the President had demonstrated sufficient courage in confronting Nigeria’s longstanding structural and economic challenges. He added that continuity is necessary to translate the reforms into sustainable prosperity.
Raji said the decision to support President Tinubu’s re-election was informed by its assessment of the administration’s economic policies institutional reforms and development programmes.
He said: ‘FORCEPA stands firmly for purposeful leadership institutional excellence national development and the consolidation of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We are proud to contribute our organisational capacity and collective commitment to the success of the Kaduna campaign kick-off.
‘Our mobilisation of over 100000 supporters reflects the seriousness with which we approach this responsibility and our belief that leadership must be supported by informed citizens effective communication and sustained engagement.
The chairman acknowledged that despite the administration’s achievements implementation challenges remained stressing that the next phase of the Renewed Hope Agenda should focus on translating economic stabilisation into improvements in citizens’ living conditions.
Why Tinubu should be re-elected by Ajiboye
Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Chairman of FORCEPA’s Media and Publicity Committee Biodun Ajiboye described President Tinubu as a blessing to Nigeria.
He drew similarities between the President’s economic transformation agenda and his eight-year administration as Governor of Lagos State saying that the developmental initiatives introduced during that period attested to his capacity for long-term planning.
He recalled that the President commissioned a long-term development strategy for Lagos recalling that the policy direction established under his leadership contributed significantly to the state’s subsequent economic growth and infrastructural transformation.
Ajiboye said Nigerians should recognise the distinction between leaders who merely occupy political offices and those who possess the vision to initiate lasting developmental changes.
Fagade: Nigerians should have confidence in policies
The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Dr Abisoye Fagade urged Nigerians to change their attitudes towards the country and demonstrate greater confidence in its economic recovery.
Fagade said the economic difficulties confronting Nigeria were products of decades of structural deficiencies that could not realistically be corrected within three years.
He said the administration’s reforms are beginning to produce results citing the improvements in the prices of essential commodities particularly rice.
Fagade said ‘the hard time is over’ stressing that Nigerians should allow the President sufficient time to complete the economic transformation he had initiated.
He commended President Tinubu’s emphasis on strengthening government institutions saying that the collaboration being promoted among federal agencies would improve policy coordination and service delivery.
Fagade said the coming together of agency chief executives under FORCEPA provided an opportunity for institutional leaders to compare experiences exchange ideas and develop strategies for improving government performance.
He added: ‘A country that has been degenerated for almost 60 years cannot be fixed in three years. We should not rock the boat. We should do the right thing and allow this man to complete what he has started’ he said.
‘Industrialisation drive will reduce unemployment’
The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso said the administration’s industrialisation agenda offered a pathway towards reducing unemployment increasing incomes and strengthening Nigeria’s productive capacity.
Ike-Muonso identified the export of unprocessed raw materials as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s industrial development lamenting that the country failed for decades to derive maximum economic value from its abundant natural resources.
He cited cocoa production as an example claiming that Nigeria retained less than five per cent of the potential value generated from the commodity because of inadequate domestic processing.
Ike-Muosnso said President Tinubu had challenged relevant government institutions to develop policies that would encourage local processing of raw materials promote manufacturing and create employment opportunities.
The RMRDC boss disclosed that the President had unveiled a policy requiring at least 30 per cent domestic value addition to raw materials before their export as part of efforts to stimulate resource-based industrialisation.
He explained that a legislative proposal addressing the issue had been considered by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President who subsequently referred it to the Federal Ministry of Justice for further examination.
Ike-Muonso said the proposal was returned to the National Assembly following the ministry’s review explaining that the objective is to establish an appropriate legal framework for domestic value addition across different categories of raw materials.
He added that the administration is concerned about the importation of industrial raw materials already available in substantial quantities locally.
Ike-Muonso maintained that expanding domestic processing capacity would help create jobs boost industrial production raise household incomes and improve the country’s economic competitiveness.