Tinubu defies bandits, plies Birnin-Gwari road at night »

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Monday evening defied the threat posed by bandits when he led his campaign council including his running mate and five Governors on a night visit to bandits-ravaged Birnin Gwari local government area.

Apart from Shettima, others that accompanied Tinubu are Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Governor Simon Lalong; the APC campaign council Secretary, Hon. James Faleke; Governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa).

Also in the entourage was the former Speaker Dimeji Bankole; Minister of Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare; APC gubernatorial candidate for Kaduna Sen. Uba Sani; APC National Women Leader, Mrs Betta Edu; ex-governorship aspirant in Kaduna state, Hamisu Mairago and Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman.

Tinubu, who arrived Kaduna around 2:30pm on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s flag-off of the APC North West presidential campaign rally scheduled for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, immediately embarked on the six-hour round trip to Birnin Gwari, where he was received by the Amir of Birnin Gwari, HRH Zubairu Jibrin Maigwari.

Speaking at the Emir’s palace, Tinubu said he decided to visit the emirate to have first hand information of the spate of banditry and terrorism in the area and see how it has affected the people.

He said: “What is important to every people is security, that is why I said I would be here today and God brought us.

“We would give you peace. There is a good opportunity coming, the election is near, I don’t know whether the bandits knew that or not but we serve them notice again that we would not relent in our efforts to eliminate banditry.

“On our way down here, left and right we have great arable land. We can turn the soil around and produce crop of value out of the soil since the soil is rich. We promise we would work hard and make Nigeria a better place.

“We are here to say we belong to a community of democrats in which you belong. I’m here to assure you to tell all people of the Emirate to vote for APC then leave the promise to us.”

The APC presidential candidate donated N50 million to the victims of banditry in the Emirate.

He also promised that the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari road, which used to be gateway to the North from the South West before it went bad and was later infested with banditry, will be done if elected.

“I am donating the sum of N50 million to the victims of banditry in Birnin Gwari area. We promised you, we will give the road a priority, be rest assured. Endure some more. We appreciate the value of infrastructure and there cannot be economic recovery without infrastructure.

El-Rufai said the presidential candidate felt it would be unfair for him to visit Kaduna without visiting Birnin Gwari.

“He came to confirm what he has heard about insecurity in Birnin Gwari not to come and campaign. We have the best, the most experienced, the most educated, the most caring presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“On our way here, Asiwaju said ‘see trees, see greenery we can put industrial borehole and do all year farming and agriculture, this place can feed the nation'”.

The Emir of Birnin Gwari expressed delight that for the first time a presidential candidate and his vice presidential candidate are visiting his emirate.

To show his appreciation, he conferred the title of Dakare (Fearless Commander) on Tinubu and the title of Sadauki (Hero) on el-Rufai.

“I don’t believe there would be a day when Birnin Gwari will receive visitors like this. I don’t believe the presidential candidate of APC will come here because the road is terrible and it is surrounded by bandits.

“You are a gallant soldier, who believe in fighting until you win. Whoever comes here come because of his love for the people. Your being here in Birnin Gwari is very important to me so I want to honour you with the title of Dakare Birnin Gwari.

“I believe a leader should have three things, he should be fearless, firm and fair. When Asiwaju becomes president I don’t know how I will bring him here to turban him so I will do the turbarning now. For Governor Nasir el-Rufai I’m conferring the title of Sadauki Birnin Gwari.

“I’ve not seen someone who says he want to dare the bandits and come to Birnin Gwari even if the road is very bad. Your Excellency please tell Fashola to cone and finish our road before he leaves,” the Monarch said.