Arewa community in South-West vows to support Tinubu in 2023

A Northern socio-political group in South-West region, the Arewa Community, has expressed confidence in the capacity of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to win the 2023 general election.

It, therefore, vowed to work for his emergence in 2023 because he is the best suited for the presidency.

Chairman of the body, Sa’adu Yusuf Dandare, who doubles as the Chairman, Arewa Community APC South-West, gave the assurance, yesterday, in Lagos, during a press conference.

According to him, Tinubu’s victory as president is critical to them.

He said: “We had a northerner, who contested in All Nigeria People’s Party against Obasanjo in 2003. The same way Obasanjo defeated him, we are going to apply it for Tinubu to defeat Atiku.

“None of us will campaign for Atiku. Everybody knows that whatever we say we want to do, so we shall do it and whatever we say we won’t do, we shall not do it. That is how we are.”

Fashola can testify to it because we gave him over 1.5 million of our votes when he contested governorship in Lagos State in 2007 and 2011.

“Our mission is to sensitise our people who have registered to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). If we say we love Tinubu, we must ensure that Tinubu/Shetima wins.”

He said the meeting was to galvanise block votes of South-West Arewa for Tinubu and Shetima in 2023.

Speaking over the weekend after a stakeholder meeting in Ondo State following the one held in Ibadan last week, Chairman of APC Southwest Arewa Community, Alh Sa’adu Yusuf Dandare, said they would work for the emergence of Tinubu in 2023, saying the former governor has the mental and health capacity to retool Nigeria.

According to him, “We had a northerner, who contested in All Nigerians People’s Party (ANPP) against former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, the same way Obasanjo defeated him, we are going to apply it for Tinubu to defeat Atiku.

“None of us will campaign for Atiku. Everybody knows that whatever we say we want to do, we shall do and whatever we say we won’t do, we shall not do. That is how we are. Incumbent Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babajide Fashola, can testify to it because we gave him over 1.5m of our votes when he contested governorship in Lagos State in 2007 and 2011.

“Our mission is to sensitise our people who have registered to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), if we say we love Tinubu, we must ensure that Tinubu/Shetima wins.”

He said the stakeholder meeting was to galvanise block votes of Southwest Arewa for Tinubu and Shetima in 2023.

He maintained that Tinubu is tested and trusted because they knew what he can do, adding that their support for Tinubu’s was not sentimental.

“I’ve been in Lagos for the past 30 years, I know what Tinubu has done and what he is still doing. He has made governors and ministers. He deserves to be at the helms of affairs of this nation because I believe he can handle Nigeria.

“Lagos State in terms of infrastructure, economic and population is more than the equivalent to the likes of Ghana, Niger, Cameron and Benin Republic. For someone to have a roadmap of Lagos State, we believe he can do it, he has capacity and charisma.

“All of us are not politician but we want to ensure all our people in Southwest support Tinubu. That was why we came to Ibadan last week. We are here in Ondo State and we are moving to Abeokuta next week.

“Nobody instructed us to do this but because of the love we have for Tinubu. We believe he can fix this country that is why we are engaging our people in various capacity to support Tinubu.”