You have a right to vote against us in 2019, Tinubu tells protesters (Video)

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Monday told protesters in Lagos that they have the right to vote out the ruling party in 2019 general elections if they so wish, but promised that efforts are ongoing to retool the government.

This was even as he told them that he was one of those who sold APC to Nigerians and urged them to hang on to the party, assuring that the promised change will eventually materialise.

He stated this while addressing Lagos chapter of anti-government protesters under the banners #OnevoiceNigeria and #IstandwithNigeria.

Nigerians, had on Monday in their thousands took to the streets to protest the unfavourable situation in the country especially the economy.

While the convener of the protest, popular musician, 2face Idibia, had announced the cancelation of the protest a day before the scheduled date, citing plots by hoodlums to hijack the whole process and cause mayhem, the protest however held in Lagos, Abuja and some other parts of the country.

Personalities such as Charly Boy, Sheyi Law, activist, Deji Adeyanju among so many others, joined in the protest in the absence of Idibia.

Tinubu addressing the protesters in Lagos said, “What we are going through now will be resolved. We are going through a historical phase of a country that is promising and holding the promise for you. There is a leadership on the line. And you have to live with that for now. Protest won’t solve the problem, will it?

“Re-planning is the solution to the problem. Being responsive, being able to get engaged with you so that you will see the problems that we are facing. You are right when you say there is a lot of unemployment in the country, epileptic power supply and series of other un-commendable developments in the country.

“In every political situation, we have the twist and turn. It cannot be straight all the time. We are the same victims. You carry a placard; I have been a placard carrier since when?

“This government is a product of a protest. If you didn’t have a bad administration then, you won’t vote for us. You voted on our promises. We are just two years into that promise compared to sixteen (16) years that they took over that they could have made the changes.

“Yes, we are working on the electricity. Without electricity, there could be no industrialization and explosion of employment opportunities for our people. That is in our head. But, it cannot grow like the mushroom. To fetch water out of the rock, you have to endure some blisters.

Read also: #OneVoiceNigeria: Protesters troop out in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun as police mount security (Photos)

“Be patient; let’s have faith in our leaders. We’ve continued to manage Lagos, you’ve seen progress. It’s because of the consistent application of our programmes. A time started in 1998, 1999 it was a terrible situation here in Lagos. Dead body on the street, no ambulances, LASU was completely disintegrated, extremely dangerous mortuaries. What do you have today? Because you endured then. Just go and endure again.”

“We sold APC to you, please hang on to it. You have your rights to vote against us during election if you want. But, I remain in the party because we will retool this party. We will retool this government.”

“The damage of over sixteen years of miss-governance cannot be turned around overnight. Let’s be patient. Let’s have the understanding. Let’s hang on to hope. There is nothing more effective that can drive you better than hope and belief in a positive turn of this situation.”

“We understand. We are not saying you are not suffering. We are not saying unemployment has not increased. I have no argument. But, economy cannot collapse one day. Systemic problem had occurred before now. Fine! We are not running away from that responsibility, we are going to face it squarely and we are going to bring prosperity back to the country”, Tinubu told the protesters.

 

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