President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to lead leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Rawang Pam Township Stadium in Jos, Plateau State, venue of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign kick-off.
The presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, arrived in the Home of Peace and Tourism yesterday ahead of today’s launch.
He is expected to unveil his plans as contained in the 80-page Action Plan document recently released by the President at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
There was heavy security presence in and around critical areas of the city.
Expected at the launch are members of the Senator Abdullahi Adamu–led National Working Committee (NWC); APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC); progressive governors and stalwarts of the ruling party.
Already, the Plateau State Government has declared today a work-free day “in view of the traffic congestion that is envisaged and resultant disruption to movement and other activities.”
A Presidency source confirmed last night that the President will arrive in Jos by 9am for the rally.
Ahead of the rally, Senator Adamu and Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the President at the Villa on Sunday night. They briefed on the arrangements for today’s event and the presidential visit to Plateau.
Though the outcome of the meeting was not made public, The Nation, however, gathered that the meeting allowed the three leaders to review the entire campaign calendar and perfect arrangements for today’s event.
It was gathered that President Buhari, who is the APC-PCC Chairman, reassured Tinubu and Adamu chairman of his readiness to lead the nationwide campaign and ensure victory for the party next year.
An advance team of presidential aides and security details have been in Jos since Sunday.
Members of the Local Organising Committees (LOCs) and government officials were seen yesterday inspecting and supervising the decoration at the venue, while a handful of security agents were seen milling around the stadium, to ensure a hitch-free rally.
All routes from the Jos Airport, Government House and around the stadium have been given a facelift by the state’s Ministry of Works.
A combined team of the military, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety Corps, were seen securing major routes leading into the venue.
The General Officer Commanding 3rd Division of Nigeria Army, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, was personally at the stadium to assess the security arrangements.
The Commissioner of Police, Plateau Command, Batholomew Onyeka was also at the venue to assess the situation.
The Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign organisation and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, described Tinubu’s coming to Plateau as a sign of history repeating itself as victory is assured.
Lalong said other former presidential candidates who previously launched their campaigns in Jos such as the late M.K.O. Abiola and Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as presidents.
The governor, who spoke to reporters alongside the (LOC) Chairman, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Idris Maje Wase, expressed optimism with the level of preparation.
On the choice of Plateau for the event, Lalong said: “This is a normal history repeating itself. Like we always said, Jos is the headquarters of victory. Before we used to do it in the Eagles Square, but now we have gone back to the tradition which is Jos, because of the weather, hospitality and reception. Our presidential candidate is also very, very comfortable with coming to Jos.”
