The 2023 presidential race is getting more interesting as campaigns, town hall meetings and media engagement intensify.
Almost all the presidential candidates, especially those at the pole position: Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Neople’s Party (NNPP); Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have released their manifestoes.
Accordingly, Daily Trust highlights 10 major promises Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, and Kwankwaso made in their manifestos.
Kwankwaso
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the presidential candidate of the NNPP and a former governor Kano State.
The former Senator has released a 152-page document titled “My Pledges To You” as his manifesto, containing some promises as shown below.
Local Government Autonomy
During a town hall meeting organized by Arise TV in conjunction with Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Kwankwaso, who decried the rising poverty in Nigeria, argued that there is the need to look at the Constitution with a view to making provisions for local government authorities to get allocation directly from the Federal Government’s coffers.
Nigeria’s maritime sector
In Lagos during a meeting with stakeholders in the maritime sector, Kwakwanso, promised to transform the nation’s maritime sector, which he said, had been neglected by successive administrations.
He said, “The maritime industry gave birth to our great party, the NNPP, so my being here is largely to listen, appreciate and understand the expectations of maritime operators from me and our party should we eventually emerge winners of the 2023 general elections.
Education
Also in November, while presenting his manifesto in Abuja, Kwankwaso pledged to ensure that all entry examinations into tertiary institutions were free for Nigerians.
The document said, “Examination bodies are service agencies that facilitate access to higher education and training for our teaming young population.
“For our administration, no Nigerian child shall be denied the opportunity to write WAEC, NECO, JAMB, etc., because of their inability to pay exorbitant registration/examination fees. These examinations shall be free and all application forms for admission into Tertiary Education Institutions shall also be free;
Tinubu’s promises
The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, who is a former two-term governor of Lagos State, has made some promises too.
In October, Tinubu released an 80-page policy document titled “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria”. Below are some of the promises:
Igbo businesses
During an APC presidential rally in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State capital on November 24, Tinubu promised to protect Igbo businesses if elected President in the 2023.
He said, “I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo. I encouraged a lot of Igbo businesses and investments in Lagos and will even do more if I become President.
“If elected, there will be no discrimination. Igbo interests will be respected and protected.
Industrial revolution
In November during a campaign rally in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Tinubu promised to establish an industrial hub across the nation and mordenise the existing ones when he is voted into power.
He said he was trained by his mother who was a trader and a market leader, saying that “I’ve been progressive in governance, not a backward thing. I want to give us our tomorrow.
Job creation
In December, during a presidential campaign rally in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tinubu promised to renew the hope of Nigerian youths by creating thousands of jobs if elected president of the country.
He said: “The Poverty Development Party, you know them, has collected your money since the creation of this state, and couldn’t provide the roads. Where is the job? I will create thousands of expert employment, technical hub to link you to the rest of the world.
Petert Obi
Peter Obi, who is the LP presidential candidate is a former governor of Anambra State.
Peter Obi has also released a 62-page manifesto document titled ‘Our Pact With Nigerians: Creating A New Nigeria,’ containing some promises; some of which are as follows:
Nation building
The presidential standard bearer of the Labour Party during a presidential rally in Benin, Edo State, promised to rebuild the country if elected president.
“We will stop people from looting the nation’s treasury,” he said.
ASUU Strike
Also, during a campaign in Jalingo, Taraba State, Obi promised to bring a permanent end to the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if elected president next year.
“The 50 months of ASUU strike in Nigeria since 1999 was a disaster against actualizing a productive nation through good education,” he said.
Poverty
Obi during a campaign rally at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, also promised to utilise the human and natural resources to end poverty Nigeria.
“The insecurity in the country is persisting due to lack of job opportunities. I will bring the country back to her days of greatness and the citizens will smile again.”
Atiku Abubakar
The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has released a 5-point policy document tagged, “My Covenant with Nigerians’’.
Some of the promises contained in the document include strategies to end insecurity, speed up economic growth, as well as create jobs.
Economy
In October, the former vice president Atiku at a mega presidential campaign held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, promised to revive the Nigerian economy and promised to move Nigeria to the right direction.
He said: “We are here today to restate our five-point agenda, which includes to re-unite Nigeria; restore security; establish compulsory primary education and ensure our institutions of higher learning don’t go on strike and revive the Nigerian economy.
Press Freedom
On November 16, Atiku during an interface with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos State, promised to uphold press freedom if he wins the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “I want to pay tribute to the press for their role in the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. Many of you have sacrificed your life and career.
“If you look at the thriving economy in the world, they allow the private sector to run the economy. If you see the amount of work the government has to do in terms of constructing and decongesting our ports, railway, and you have to borrow, I will rather concession most of these projects to the private sector and give them tax incentives. This will bring progress, prosperity and peace.”
Employment
At the Lagos Business School 2022 Alumnia Day in November, Atiku promised to revisit the Oronsaye report on merger of federal agencies and remove the fuel subsidy that had been a drag on the economy.
He said, “I was the chairman for the removal of fuel subsidy committee and I recall how we removed the phase 1 and phase 2 of fuel subsidy.
‘’I will continue from where we stopped, remove fuel subsidy totally and channel the subsidy funds back to the economy. In other words, it’s just a fraud.”
At a point in time and in accordance with their manifestos, each of the candidates promised to end insecurity, which is one of the serious challenges facing the country.
One thing is certain, whoever wins the election, Nigerians will keep tab on the promises made by such candidate to see how they will be fulfilled.