The presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State pledged to embark on routine dredging of the popular River Niger if elected as president.
This is even as his media team dismissed a report that the former Lagos State governor was rushed for medical attention midway through his campaign.
Tinubu was welcomed to the Minna Trade Fair Complex, the venue of his presidential campaign rally in Niger State, on Wednesday by a crowd of supporters.
His visit to the rally came shortly after he held a town hall meeting with farmers and agro-commodity traders in the state.
His media office later issued a statement indicating that Tinubu could not read his prepared speech at the venue but decided to thank party members and supporters who thronged the complex for their commitment.
Quoting from the prepared speech, however, the APC candidate was said to have promised vowed to repay his supporters in the state by attending to the major challenges of Niger State.
Among other things, Tinubu pledged to commence a routine dredging of River Niger and full development of the Baro Port.
He said, “Your state has ample resources and large potential. Not only does Niger cover the largest land mass of any state in Nigeria, but it also serves as the home to three hydroelectric power plants that symbolically light the way forward to hope renewed.
“By God’s grace, I shall be elected. If so, my administration will further empower Niger State so that you reap the full benefits of its bounteous resources. We appreciate your vital role as the state that powers the nation. The nation will show its gratefulness by investing in your future. The power state will become the more powerful state.”
Before heading back to Abuja, the APC presidential candidate paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, and inaugurated two campaign offices donated by Senator Sani Mohammed and Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
Midway through his rally, an unconfirmed report said the APC candidate was hurried out of the venue to an undisclosed location for alleged medical attention.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council has, however, denied the allegation, describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga said there was no iota of truth in the rumour that his principal was rushed off the stage due to health concerns at his rally in Minna.
The statement partly read, “Contrary to the rumours that he was rushed off stage because of health concerns, Tinubu cut it short to attend to other programmes of the day.
“A massive crowd of APC supporters welcomed the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Minna on Wednesday, as he arrived for the mega rally.
“The cheering crowd was unprecedented, according to journalists at the Trade Fair Complex, the venue of the rally.
“The crowd was so huge that Tinubu spoke briefly to appreciate the supporters and identified the party candidates seeking elective positions.”
