Tinubu Has Set New Tone, Template For Presidential Campaigns In Nigeria-Dele Alake

Dele Alake, Special Adviser on Media And Strategic Communications of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has said that the party’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has set a new tone and template for presidential campaigns in the country in this campaign season.

Alake stated this, while addressing journalists at a press conference to round off the APC Presidential Campaign in Nigeria on Wednesday February 22 at the PCC headquarters, Abuja.

He noted that the grand rally of the party “in Lagos was a fitting conclusion to an exhilarating and unique presidential campaign that started on 10 January 2022 when our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced his candidacy to the State House Press Corps after discussing his interest in the race with President Buhari.”

Alake said that from that moment, 14 months ago, Asiwaju Tinubu “began a painstaking and arduous journey of reaching out to a cross section of the civil populace and constituency holders in Nigeria through a nationwide consultation ahead of his party primary.”

The former Lagos commissioner for information said that Asiwaju met with former leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, party stakeholders and members across the country and intimated them about his vision, capabilities and readiness to serve our country.

“He used the opportunity of the consultations to lay out his grand vision that will propel the emergence of a new nation where citizens will find happiness and personal fulfillment.

“That intense consultation and canvassing for support ended with a resounding victory on June 8, 2022 in an open and the most transparent party primary this election season.

“His vision was later distilled into key priority areas in the Renewed Hope Action Plan for a Better Nigeria that was unveiled on October 21, 2022 by President Buhari.

“Shortly after the primary election, Asiwaju Tinubu proved bookmakers wrong, when he announced a very capable, brilliant, eloquent, visionary and cosmopolitan, Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate. As a man of conviction, Asiwaju Tinubu didn’t take the easy road in his choice of capable running mate. He anchored his choice and decision on who can best partner with him to usher in a new country where religion and ethnicity will not define who we are or hinder service delivery to the people,” he said.

He added that it has been an exciting and animating campaign season since the campaign council flagged of the presidential campaign rally in Jos, the home state of the campaign Director-General and Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong on November 15, 2022.

From the flag off in Jos, Asiwaju Tinubu, Senator Shettima, APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, members of the party’s National Working Committee and the leadership of the campaign council, he said, have traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria with message of Renewed Hope, which he said has been well received by Nigerians.

His words; “The hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic supporters and party members that thronged our rallies and those that marched on the streets to welcome our candidates attest to the popularity and acceptability of our party and flag bearers by the masses.

“The APC Presidential Campaign Council and Asiwaju Tinubu redefined, set new tone and template for Presidential Campaign in Nigeria in this campaign season.

“Our campaign introduced Townhall interactive sessions into this campaign to take our message directly to the people across various sectors and segments of the society. In so doing, Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima took their programmes to the people.

“They used the opportunity of the interactive sessions to directly share their plans and visions with the electorate and align those with the people’s own desire and aspirations.

“The Townhall sessions became specialised focus-group sessions to connect with the people almost on one-on-one.

“The sessions yielded amazing feedbacks that our candidates have taken on board as they prepare to take the reins of government come May 29, 2023 after Nigerians would have freely given them the mandate to serve on Saturday February 25th.”

He recalled that throughout the electioneering season, the party worked hard to keep it’s commitment to focus on issues that he said affect the lives of Nigerians.

“Like our principal, Asiwaju Tinubu, we used every opportunity to sell our agenda for a better Nigeria as encapsulated in our Renewed Hope policy document.

“We vigorously highlighted the achievements of the current APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in various sectors.

“These are its ambitious infrastructural development programme never witnessed in the history of Nigeria and massive improvement in agricultural production.

“There are also Social Investment Programmes that have been applauded globally as revolutionary and first in Africa and huge investment in our armed forces for better security, among other significant achievements of the APC administration.

“We worked very hard to stay on issues, while the opposition elements, especially the rudderless Peoples Democratic Party constantly assailed Asiwaju Tinubu with ridiculous, unsubstantiated and often fabricated allegations all in futile bid to derail our campaign.

“Despite all the evil machinations of the opposition, we remained focused on our message of prosperity that will ride on the achievements of the current APC government, with strong determination by Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima to improve on areas that require greater and better governance outcomes,” he said.