The presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday pledged to embark on a routine dredging of the popular River Niger if elected as president.
This was as his media team dismissed report that the former Lagos State governor was rushed for medical attention midway through his campaign.
The development is coming barely 24 hours after his rally in the ancient city of Kaduna.
Tinubu was welcomed on Wednesday to Minna Trade Fair Complex, venue of his presidential campaign rally in Niger State, on Wednesday by a mammoth 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.
While thanking the party members and supporters who thronged the complex for their commitment, the APC candidate vowed to repay them 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.”
The rally was well attended by his running mate, Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the party’s governorship candidate in Niger State, Muhammed Umar Bago.
Others were Governors Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau) who is also the Director-General of the campaign.
Before heading back to Abuja, the APC presidential candidate paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, and inaugurated two campaign offices donated by Senator Sani Musa Mohammed and Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
Midway through his rally, unconfirmed report said the APC candidate was hurried out of the venue to an undisclosed location for alleged medical attention.
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has, however, dispelled the allegation, saying that it was the handiwork of mischief makers.
This was disclosed in a terse statement issued by the PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga.
A livid Onanuga announced that 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, 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.”
