Tinubu said opponents created poverty, then used it to campaign against it

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday in Kaduna while marking the start of his presidential campaign for the 2027 general elections, lashed out at opposition leaders, accusing them of creating poverty and hunger which they are now using to campaign against.

“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They created it. They created hunger; they created poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” Tinubu said at a rally at the Ranchers Bees Stadium.

His scorn was apparently directed at ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007.

Tinubu, at the rally, inaugurated the 81 kilometer stretch of the Kaduna-Abuja highway with a symbolic ribbon cutting.

The President, according to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, recalled the historical importance of Kaduna as a city of leaders and political headquarters in the northern region, adding that his administration had made efforts to eradicate poverty in the country.

The President thanked the people of Kaduna State for trusting him with their mandate in the 2023 elections and urged them to elect him again, citing his record of achievements and investment in critical economic infrastructure in Kaduna State and the entire Northern region.

The rally was attended by the Progressive Party (APC) National Chairperson, Professor Netanwe Yilwatda, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President’s wife and the Vice President’s wife, 32 APC Governors and former APC National Chairperson, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and other party leaders.

In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima recalled President Tinubu’s support for presidential candidates from the northern region in previous elections, including former President Muhammadu Buhari who won the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

He also cited Tinubu’s support of political leaders in the north in the previous presidential election, including former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and described the move as a demonstration of political loyalty, mutual respect and commitment to national unity.

The Vice President emphasized that such political ties have strengthened the APC and reinforced the need for Nigerians to work together towards a united and prosperous country.

In his welcoming speech, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, commended Tinubu for supporting the state government in implementing its development programs and achieving its respective priorities.

Governor Sani said collaboration between the federal and state governments is essential to achieve sustainable development, especially in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and initiatives designed to improve the welfare of citizens.

The governor called on APC supporters to remain vigilant against misinformation during the election period, especially misleading material circulating on social media and content allegedly created using artificial intelligence.