By Funmilayo Olusanya

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), made a pledge yesterday that if he wins the election next year, he would lead a progressive administration that would improve security, combat corruption, and restructure the economy.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

He claimed that putting the ruling party’s progressive goals into practice will boost national cohesion, assure prosperity, and give Nigerians a sense of purpose.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s accomplishments were praised by Tinubu, who also pledged to build on the administration’s legacy in all areas.

The standard bearer gave a speech at the retreat for ministers and permanent secretaries in Abuja on the topic themed: “Enhance Security, Fight Corruption, Transform Economy.”

President Buhari advised ministers not to leave their positions to run for office in the run-up to the 2023 elections during the retreat.

President Buihari’s policies, programs, and accomplishments during the past seven and a half years, according to Tinubu, have been characterized by the APC’s goals.

If elected, he promised to offer Nigerians the best in progressive administration with an emphasis on their economic well-being.

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Tinubu said: “Mr President and other members of the administration, may I state the following: if elected, I will give due honour to your efforts and your legacy. I will work in the spirit of cordial unity, and national purpose that informed the creation of our party and characterized the work of your government.

“Most importantly, the way and means of a Tinubu government will be devoted to further project and prosper the Nigerian people because our guiding principle will be to provide the best of progressive governance and reform our beloved land.

“Consider these three promises to be a positive outgrowth of your nine-point agenda.”

Despite the difficulties the country and the world were facing, according to Tinubu, the Buhari administration stood strong, constructing infrastructure, delivering the country from insecurity, passing and enacting the Petroleum Industry Act, instituting electoral reforms, and making Nigerians happy.

He added: “His labour and achievements may go unappreciated for a moment. However, that unfair moment cannot last. In due course, the full extent of his contributions will become known and understood.

“Any objective assessment of your time in office and the national contributions you all have made will be a positive and grateful one.

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“This administration inherited a national condition steeped in difficulty unlike any other. Predecessor governments ignored or lacked the will to tackle serious problems ranging from insecurity to corruption.

“As if that was not enough, you confronted a series of events, unprecedented in the compound severity, complexity and novelty they posed. COVID attacked both global health and the global economy. Throughout most of your tenure, oil prices waned and ebbed and, consequently, so did our revenues.

“The Ukrainian crisis and other conflicts, coupled with severe weather events in many nations further disrupted economic production and undermined international supply chains of critical items, especially food.

You did more than persevere and withstand these adverse storms. Despite it all, you made historic progress.

“Upon entering office, you faced a situation where deadly terrorists were planting flags on our national territory, proclaiming an illegal state within our legitimate state.

“Because of your collective work, they no longer plant flags. Their boasts of conquest are no longer heard. You put us on the road to defeating this menace. By the grace of God Himself, we shall persist until terrorists and those like them are utterly removed from the face of our nation.

“The progress you made in increasing farm productivity while improving the conditions of the average farmer was an important policy intervention, helping the nation overcome the global supply chain disruptions that threatened our food security.

“Despite financial headwinds, you embarked on an unparalleled expansion of the national infrastructure.

“Work in the power sector is showing dividends amidst increased investor confidence in that area.

“The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) stands as landmark legislation opening new vistas in the oil and gas sector.

“And faithful implementation of the electoral law you passed will further enshrine our democratic way of life through the guarantee of free and fair elections.”

When elected, Tinubu said he would be fortunate to succeed in an administration that had done a tremendous job, promising to build on the long-lasting and enduring legacy.

He said: “Rest assured that when the history of the Buhari era is correctly written, the verdict will be that you established a resilient, yet deeply anchored foundation while also assembling the building blocks for a durable future of broadly-shared prosperity, peace, diverse growth, security and hope.

“Because of this, I am honoured to have been given the baton to follow President Buhari as the standard bearer of our party and, hopefully, as the next president of our federal republic”.