President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration was elected to lift Nigerians from poverty to prosperity, not to preside over violence, destruction and the loss of lives.
The President also assured residents of Plateau State that his administration would rebuild communities devastated by violence, facilitate the return of displaced persons and strengthen security to prevent further attacks.
Tinubu spoke on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign rally in Jos, Plateau State, where he appealed to residents to embrace unity, peaceful coexistence and cooperation irrespective of their ethnic, religious and cultural differences.
Addressing the gathering, the President said his government was determined to create an environment where Nigerians could live, farm and work together without fear of violence.
“What we should be getting is prosperity, not havoc, not crises. Our government is not elected to inflict wounds on one another, or to bury people. We have to lift people up from poverty to prosperity,” he said.
The President acknowledged the devastation caused by years of violence in Plateau State, offering condolences to families who had lost loved ones, residents whose homes had been destroyed and communities forced to abandon their ancestral homes.
He also apologised to residents for not visiting affected communities during his previous trip to the state, explaining that his movement had been restricted to the airport.
“When I last visited, the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn’t see me in town.
“I saw the devastation, I got the report from the Governor. I saw horror in faces of our people,” Tinubu said.
He, however, expressed optimism that the situation had changed and assured displaced residents that the Federal Government would work towards rebuilding their communities and returning them to their homes.
December showdown.