By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Former Governor of Lagos State,and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that he resolved to contest for the 2023 Presidency to enable him bring real change in the country’s development.
Tinubu told all Nigerian patriots that the country yearns for a competent leader at this crucial period of its journey, who can unite the people, tackle insecurity and rejig the debilitating economy for the benefit of the masses.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday in Ado Ekiti during his consultation with the members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers in furtherance of his 2023 presidential aspiration.
The former Lagos State Governor was accompanied to the venue of the meeting held at the Traditional Council Chambers, by the Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi and top brass of the Southwest Agenda 2023 for Tinubu Presidential ambition, led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye.
Addressing the Council, chaired by the Chairman of the Council and Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, Tinubu posited that he was in Ekiti to consult the traditional rulers that he would be contesting the 2023 presidency, so that he could get their prayers and support.
“We have struggled for democracy and today, we have democracy, but we are not stable yet. There is insecurity, hopelessness, lack of education, and suffering in the land. By now, we should have a good farming system and opportunities to produce for other nations to buy.
“We are here to answer the call of our children by educating them the right way, so that we can leave a Nigeria that is united, prosperous and abundant for them. We chose democracy and we must not fail in this task .
“I’m contesting this race to renew the hope and make the future great for our children . For Nigeria to stand united and develop, we require patience and wisdom. We have to be united, that is the only way we can be great.
“That was why we formed APC based on principles . I want to tell you that Nigeria needs serious change. I knew how Lagos was when I took over and we had never failed any election. There must be continuity in governance for progress to be attained.
“I was the first governor in Nigeria to start paying the WAEC fee of secondary school students. I shall do it again as a President”.
Tinubu maintained that he decided to consult the traditional rulers before declaring because of the enormous respect he places on culture and tradition.
“I have been on Nigeria’s project since the 70’s. I was with MKO Abiola in SDP. I was a Senator before he came out. I was the youngest Senator of that era. I was about becoming Director of Finance of ExxonMobil, but I rejected it. I said I wanted to serve Nigeria. They gave me a leave of absence to go and do politics for four years and come back, but I only spent two years as a senator when military came and terminated our tenure.
“But I have an option, which was to either go back and enjoyed at ExxonMobil , but I decided that I will fight for Nigeria instead of going back to enjoy. We believed that there must be democracy in Nigeria, there must be freedom and there must be opportunities.
“We joined hands with Soyinka,Enahoro and others. Governor Kayode Fayemi was in University of London then, brilliant and he joined the struggle. He worked so hard, in fact, he is an excellent man. So, looking at all these, we should all know that this democracy must not fail.
“We have to collaborate, unite and promote ourselves instead of fighting. We all see what is happening in Ukraine today, we don’t need such experience here. We must elevate our technology and make use of available opportunities to develop Nigeria and that is what we are coming to do”.
The National Chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, said Asiwaju has made great investment to the development of Ekiti in terms of human resources and that the traditional rulers must appreciate him.
“That APC is in Ekiti today is traceable to God and Tinubu. He struggled for it and restored progressive politics here. He has made many Ekiti people commissioners, Special Advisers and local government chairmen in Lagos.
“Tinubu honoured our own hero in Ekiti, Adekunle Fajuyi by building a house for him. He had helped so many people , including myself. Tinubu brought a paradigm shift to Lagos governance, in fact, he is a miracle worker. As a governor of Lagos State, he was ranked first and no wonder he remained the last man standing when the then AD lost grip of the Southwest.
“That was why many of us dragged him into the presidential race to replicate what he had done in Lagos at the national level. Nobody can stand shoulder to shoulder out of all the presidential aspirants across party lines with him. He is the best builder of men in the history of Nigeria. This is the best man at this moment to rule Nigeria for serious business of development”.
Speaking on behalf of the council,Oba Adejuwon, said the constitution permits every qualified Nigetians to aspire for any position, saying God will help him realise his ambition.
Also at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe,Tinubu stressed the need for provision of Electricity,investment in human capital development.
Tinubu,who assured the monarch and the people of Ekiti of his strong destination to effect developmental change in Nigeria if eventually become President of Nigeria in 2023.
While the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti,Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe in his remarks lauded Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his enduring legacies while in office as Governor of Lagos State between 1999-2007 and Nigeria’s political development.
Oba Adejugbe who extolled the virtues of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described him as a “Fisher of men” and revered to have responsible for the upbringing of many people in the Nigeria society.
The traditional ruler however prayed for the Presidential hopeful to achieve success in his political ambition,stressing that his goodwill and outstanding performance would speak for him when the time comes.
