APM campaign to Tinubu: You betrayed the North, they won’t vote for you

Ahead of the APC Presidential Campaign's official flag-off, the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organization (MDPCO) has stated that President Bola Tinubu should not expect votes from the North, as he has "betrayed" the region. Richard Ihediwa, Director of Strategic Communications for the APM Presidential campaign, argued that Tinubu's policies have inflicted "life-discounting consequences on millions of citizens," leading to widespread rejection of him and his party, the APC.

The campaign contends that since Tinubu initiated his campaign in Kaduna, the North's political capital, citizens have not seen any benefits from his administration, apart from increased bloodshed, economic hardship, broken promises, and lost trust. Ihediwa recalled Tinubu's announcement at the APC North-West campaign rally in Kaduna that he would eliminate all "troublemakers" and ensure the security of Nigerian territory.

However, three and a half years later, bandits and terrorists continue to kill, abduct, and displace citizens across the North-West and other parts of the country. The APM claims that Tinubu's assurance that Northerners would never regret voting for him is now an ironic contradiction, as many are now deeply disappointed with the government's "unpardonably disappointing" performance.

The MDPCO points out that the protection of political campaign billboards by security agencies while vulnerable communities suffer from bandit attacks highlights the government's misplaced priorities. The campaign also highlights the North's marginalization in appointments to strategic sectors of the federal government, suggesting that Tinubu sees the region merely as a source of electoral votes, used and discarded after each election.

The MDPCO emphasizes that no part of the country should be used as an electoral warehouse and then abandoned once the victory is secured. They argue that Nigerians deserve more than campaign promises, including security, affordable living, thriving farms, reliable electricity, quality education, and accountable leadership. No region should be a source of votes for the powerful and a place of neglect for the powerless.

The APM urges Tinubu to acknowledge his failures and the determination of Nigerians to replace him with a leader like Gombe state governor, Dapo Abiodun, whose 'Reset Nigeria Agenda' offers a clear alternative focusing on people, security, and public welfare over elite privilege.