2023: CSOs,Concerned Professionals, Others Endorse Tinubu
THE support base of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ambition has widened with the declaration by a new group of professionals, artisans, various civil society groups and critical political stakeholders.
The group under the auspices of CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS FOR TINUBU/SHETTIMA PRESIDENCY was led by the group’s National Secretary, Taiwo Akindolu with the other leaders of the group such as Engr. Abdulkadir Mohammed Maude, National Coordinator, Barr. Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim, Director of Mobilization and others in attendance.
At a news conference addressed by the group in Abuja on Friday at the Parkview Hotel, Wuse, Zone 1, Abuja, it was made clear that they’re coming in with a uniquely different agenda that borders mostly on strategic engagement of the electorate up to the grassroots level throughout the nooks and crannies of the federation for the citizens to see the need and the unimpeachable necessity to vote Tinubu-Shettima in the coming election.
The group’s leadership comprising of Engr. Abdulkadir Mohammed who is the protem National Coordinator and Mr. Taiwo Akindolu, National Coordinator, assured Nigerians that the best presidential choice remains the Tinubu-Shettima ticket and urged Nigerians to vote for them en masse.
The group stated that is has special strategic plans of campaign actions that it would unveil in subsequent public activities holding very soon.
As a support group, they vowed their total commitment to complementing the works of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and do all within its means and powers to ensure that all the contrived negativity against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket by what they called a “sponsored machinery of lies and misrepresentation against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket” is strategically and permanently reversed before the elections next month.
The group assured that it will soon unfold more activities as one of its planned actions include training hundreds of thousands of vote canvassers who will be on a door-to-door voters’ mobilization for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, adding that the next few weeks are critical for the organization and will be very busy for them.
In his address, Mr. Akindolu reiterated that; “since election is a game of number, we have put plans in place to independently; reach a reasonable number of the electorates, including some disgruntled members within the APC and opponents of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidency bid with convincing arguments in the language they understand,
create informed marketers of these products (TINUBU/SHETTIMA) to really know the qualities of their products,
form strategies to adopt in the ways, time and place to market these products
adequately market the progressive plans of Asiwaju in the RENEWED HOPE MANIFESTO which would translate to better lives for the generality of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, age, class and profession, sink deeply in the canvassers minds the knowledge of election monitoring and information gathering.”
Below is the full text of the statement.
Being The Text of A Press Conference Organized By The
CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS FOR TINUBU/SHETTIMA PRESIDENCY, HELD ON FRIDAY JANUARY 13, 2023 AT PARKVIEW HOTEL, WUSE ZONE 1, FCT, ABUJA.
DECLARATION OF SUPPORT AND THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC ALL – INCLUSIVE, ISSUE – BASED AND VIOLENCE FREE CAMPAIGN: OUR PLAN FOR WIDER REACH IN COUNTERING OFFENSIVE PROPAGANDA AGAINST TINUBU/SHETTIMA PRESIDENTIAL BID
Gentlemen of the press, the Civil Society Organizations, Professional Bodies represented here, The Vibrant Youths wing of our team, Leadership of the invited Support Groups for Tinubu/Shettima Presidency bid, representatives our groups nationwide, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you all.
Concerned Professionals for Tinubu/Shettima Presidency, 2023 is a coalition of professionals and semi-skilled professionals from the Northern parts of Nigeria, their Southern counterparts and other interest groups who are desirous of a better Nigeria, built on fairness and equity. We belief this could only be achieved through a power shift to the South come 2023, through the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President, considering his demonstrated antecedents in governance and requisite leadership capacity in identifying capable, loyal and trusted hands who align themselves seamlessly with his visions and mission, as well as his relationship with the North over the years. For these reasons, WE HEREWITH DECLARE OUR SUPPORT FOR HIS AMBITION.
However, as you are aware, every election has its peculiarity. The 2023 general election is not an exception bearing in mind that the major gladiators are coming out of the old regions of Nigeria. That is, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South West, Alh. Abubakar Atiku from the North and Mr. Peter Obi from the South East. Therefore, winning the election would involve going extra miles in convincing the electorates. Unfortunately, the global economic melt-down and current security challenges in the country has placed the candidate of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a position where concerted efforts must be put in place to convince and convert electorate to the APC side.
We observed that during campaign rallies and programmes, the speakers only address their party members mobilized from different states or Local governments Areas. They dance and make jamboree out of the programme without long-lasting messages passed to the targeted audience (electorates).
To this end, as our contribution to achieving the goal of delivering Asiwaju/Shettima Presidency to compliment the activities of the campaign Councils, our team has taken time to research and suitably packaged a training programme targeted at passionate professionals and Independent Support Groups willing to serve as canvassers and mobilizers with the theme: ‘‘Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Bid: Vote Canvassing, Grassroot Mobilization, Election Monitoring, and intelligent information gathering” – OUR SALIENT POINTS’’.
This approach is to tutor Independent Canvassers and Mobilizers during a day programme, on how to effectively engage and respond to pre-election, election day and post electioneering activities. These include, tackling negative propaganda constantly designed to malign the images of the APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, propagate the antecedents of the duo, showcase their plans for Nigerians, independent election monitoring and voting processes amongst others, rancour- free.
A prepared mini handbook detailing most of what is required in terms of independent Strategies to adopt during mobilization, canvassing, election monitoring as well as intelligent information gathering before, during and after the elections is discussed and the handbooks is distributed thereafter accordingly. This would serve as guide at every given opportunity in the course of discussions and mobilization.
The Resource Persons are to be drawn from the pools of;
Our Consultants
Former electoral officers and Resident electoral Commissioners of INEC
Former Security officers (Police, DSS, NSCDC, etc)
As well as close egg-heads and aides of Asiwaju/Shettima, who are experienced professionals and vast in the subject matter.
Furthermore, we have also gone ahead to prepare pamphlets (as shown here) depicting:
the antecedent of the Jagaban/Shettima,
their plans for Nigeria,
reasons why Asiwaju stands out of the pack of the present Presidential Candidates
responses to some negative impression created by the oppositions, ranging from the age, alleged criminal records, academic background, work experience and his plans /roadmap to a greater Nigeria have been compiled.
These pamphlets are handy for distribution by our well -trained canvassers during campaign rallies and as they go around to canvass for vote from the 96. 2 million registered voters, to enable electorates make an informed decision favourable to the APC Candidates.
Concerted efforts would be dispensed to making this pamphlet available to almost all eligible voters in the country in some major languages.
We therefore call on support groups and individuals who are SINCERELY desirous on propagating the ideals of ASIWAJU/SHETTIMA’S TICKET to contact us, the PCC OR THE ICC as well as other key stakeholders in this project for copies of the handbook and the pamphlets which we shall be making available for adequate knowledge of marketing Tinubu/Shettima Presidency and distribution to all the nooks and crannies of the 8,809 wards across the country.
It is no gainsaying the fact that it is not impossible to have fifth columnist within the ranks of the assumed loyalists of the Candidate and the party. However, since election is a game of number, we have put plans in place to independently;
reach a reasonable number of the electorates, including some disgruntled members within the APC and opponents of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidency bid with convincing arguments in the language they understand,
create informed marketers of these products (TINUBU/SHETTIMA) to really know the qualities of their products,
form strategies to adopt in the ways, time and place to market these products
adequately market the progressive plans of Asiwaju in the RENEWED HOPE PAPER which would translate to better lives for the generality of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, age, class and profession,
sink deeply in the canvassers minds the knowledge of election monitoring and information gathering.
Asides our members decision to vote and work for the emergence of TINUBU/SHETTIMA PRESIDENCY, we are convinced that this effort would go a long way to add value to the campaign, as well as reducing the negative effects of sabotage and election violence. We are committed to our resolve to preaching violence free, peaceful and credible 2023 general elections, while focus on a victory for APC candidates is paramount in the scheme.
In conclusion
Politically, the election is still VERY LONG and we are focussed on shifting the pendulum to the favour of our preferred candidate. Therefore, all legally recognized strategies should be put in place to achieve this desired positive result. THOSE WHO FAIL TO PLAN ARE SURELY PLANNING TO FAIL.
We solicit an unabridged support of the National Working Committee leadership of the party, ably led by His Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu,(wazirin Keffi), the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, under the leadership of His Excellency, Gov. Samuel Lalong, the Independent Campaign Council, led by His Excellency, Senator Umaru Tanko Almakura, Tinubu Support Group (TSG), the array of Tinubu/Shettima’s friends and associates, as well as other well – meaning individuals and groups in support of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential projects to achieve this feat seamlessly.
These major stakeholders would be carried along in the scheme of things as we march ahead in the coming crucial days.
We cannot do without recognizing the immense support of the APC Governors, most especially our Governors from the North for their believe in fairness and equity which paved the way for the emergence of ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC Presidential candidate at the convention. This demonstration of fairness shows their belief in the unity of this country, as against what played out in the similar convention of the main opposition political party. We appreciate your love for fatherland in profundity.
Your exemplary display of fairness amongst other considerations bordering on Capacity, Capability, Competence, Experience and our strong belief in a United Nigeria formed the basis of our decision to go full BLAST in supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Kashim Shettima Presidency bid.
Your Excellencies, the journey has just begun. It is not yet Uhuru until YOUR candidate, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU is delivered as the President come February, 2023.
Permit me to recognize the immense contribution of Alh. Ibrahim Bapetel Hassan, (the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Policy, Development and Analysis), Hon. Bosun Oladele, (the National Secretary, SWAGA,2023) and other notable Northern Caucus interests for their genuine belief in this assignment for the achievement of Asiwaju/Shettima Presidency in this coming election.
Without mincing words, Asiwaju has developed the requisite leadership capacity in identifying capable, loyal and trusted hands who could align themselves with his Vision and Mission for a productive governance. He demonstrated this over the years in Lagos. He has started unfolding his team-work prowess by the CHATHAM HOUSE EXPERIENCE of Monday, 5th December,2022. HE NEVER CLAIMS TO KNOW IT ALL. IN FACT, NOBODY DOES. It is our firm belief that with Tinubu/Shettima Presidency, NIGERIA is on its part of becoming a REPLICA OF LAGOS VIS A VIS SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION, MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND A HOME FOR EVERY NIGERIAN, without any form of discrimination and intimidation.
WITH ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU AND KASHIM SHETTIMA,
A PROSPEROUS NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE.
A PROSPEROUS NIGERIA IS ASSURED.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA
Thank you.
SIGNED
Akindolu Taiwo National Secretary.
Engr. Abdulkadir Mohammed Maude,
National Coordinator
Barr. Ibrahim Mohammed,
Director of Mobilization
