President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 presidential campaign rally for the North Central zone in Jos, Plateau State, pledging to support the rebuilding of communities affected by insecurity and facilitate the return of displaced residents to their ancestral homes.
Speaking at the rally held at the Jos Zaria Road Stadium, the President assured affected communities that the Federal Government would work with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other stakeholders to rebuild destroyed communities and restore normalcy.
Tinubu, who acknowledged the devastation caused by past attacks in the state, sympathised with affected families and called on residents to embrace peace, unity and peaceful coexistence, stressing that Nigerians must work together irrespective of their religious, ethnic and cultural differences.
“We will rebuild your communities and we will bring you back to your communities.”
He also urged residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 general elections, describing the cards as instruments for determining their future. He called on supporters to vote for APC candidates, assuring them that adequate measures would be taken to ensure peaceful elections.
Earlier, Governor Caleb Mutfwang described Tinubu as a friend of Plateau State, commending his administration for interventions in road infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.
The governor specifically acknowledged the approval of the Akwanga-Jos and Jos-Shendam roads, as well as over N11 billion in student loans for tertiary institution students from the state.
Mutfwang pledged the support of Plateau residents for Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the state was prepared to demonstrate its appreciation for the President’s interventions in the 2027 elections.
“We have decided, by the grace of God, that for the 2027 election, for us, it is Tinubu or nothing.”
He, however, appealed for additional Federal Government support to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, noting that the state would present a comprehensive plan for their resettlement.
The governor also appealed to Tinubu to assist in completing and upgrading the Jos Zaria Road Stadium, which he said had remained under construction for about 40 years, describing it as a major infrastructure need for the state.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, also called on Plateau residents to support the party in the forthcoming elections.
Akpabio, in his remarks, disclosed that the National Assembly was working towards the establishment of state police, saying the proposed legislation would strengthen security and enable states to take greater responsibility for protecting their communities.
“This administration will end the era of Plateau people being in IDP camps.”
The rally was attended by APC governors, members of the National Assembly, party chieftains and supporters from Plateau State and other parts of the North Central region.
