From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja and Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, yesterday, unveiled his blueprint for the country’s development, promising to recover out-of-school children if elected.
In his interaction with the Arewa Joint Committee at Arewa House, Kaduna, he praised past leaders, including the late premier of the region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria first and only prime minister, Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe for being visionary leaders who gave their all to nation-building.
Tinubu, who described himself as a pan-Nigerian, having crisis-crossed all parts of the country, told his main contender and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to step down from high heights and endorse him.
A statement by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, in Abuja, quoted the former Lagos State governor as promising to give his best and ensure the country remained indivisible.
On his plan to ease out of school children in the North, he said: “Education is the most effective weapon against poverty. Comparative with other countries, education in Nigeria suffers from funding deficit on account of our population and limited resources. I will provide the required leadership and mobilise investment for the development of the sector. We will work with both states and local governments to reform and retool the system. These reforms will give special attention to the welfare and training of our teachers and lecturers as necessary catalyst for the better system we desire.
“Millions of our children are currently roaming the streets instead of being in classrooms. My administration will invest heavily in infrastructure to allow for proper integration of these children into our conventional schools. Thankfully, the current APC government has rolled out several initiatives, in partnership with development partners, to provide alternative access to education and vocation to this particular demographic.
Tinubupromised to consolidate on the investments of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in all sectors of the nation to build on the successes recorded.
He said his administration would bring out workable policies to ensure that insecurity is nipped in the bud in the North and across the country.
Tinubu noted the North had greater advantage in agriculture and that under his presidency, the region would emerge as the hub of agribusiness in Africa through huge investment in the sector in collaboration with the private sector.
He said the PDP presidential candidate ought to have endorsed him, having supported him in 2007 for the presidency instead of competing with him for the same position.
“It’s pay back time. Let Atiku endorse me instead of campaigning in Kaduna. I have supported him in 2007,” he added.
He, however noted, “You (apparently referring to Atiku) start from Uyo and now ended up in Kaduna and you are speaking to North that you are the right candidate for the North, how do we reconcile that. You have lost the election.”