One of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, disclosed that it is the turn of Yoruba in the Southwest to produce the next president of the country come 2023 and that he undoubtedly remain the most qualified to clinch the ruling party's presidential ticket.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu disclosed that he had supported many in the past including President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve their presidential aspiration saying that it was his turn to be supported to rule the country.
The former governor of Lagos State revealed how he single-handedly picked the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of President Buhari during the build up to 2015 general elections stating that it was just right he is also supported to achieve his life long ambition of ruling the country.
Tinubu stated this during his consultative meeting with the Ogun State APC delegates held at the Presidential Lodge, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta.
The presidential aspirant came in company of Mr Babajide Sanwoolu, governor of Lagos State, his Kano State, Alhaji Ganduje, former governor of Borno, Sen Kashim Shettima, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa among others.
Tinubu said "since the time we started with the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC), I wanted to contest for President that time.
"This is me telling you between my life and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his Vice President. He said because the first time he contested, he picked Okadigbo, flamboyant, catholic, but Nigerians didn't vote for him. The second time, he picked another Igbo, Umezioke, Nigerians didn't vote for him, that if he goes to bring the Pope to run as his vice, Nigerians won't vote for him, but you Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice.
"He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that is why he wanted me as his Vice, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party, after we brought in people from the PDP, Saraki now saw those from the PDP will not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim becomes the President and me, also a Muslim becomes his Vice, he won't get the Senate President and the Senate President cannot also be a Muslim, that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.
"I then told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I can nominate so that the party will not break, that was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to to him (Osinbajo). I was asked to submit three names, Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun and Yemi Osinbajo, but I told them if I submit three names they might add the fourth name, so I said I will only submit the name of Prof Osinbajo
"However, now is my time, I'm educated, I'm experienced. I have been serving you for a long time, bring me the presidency, it is my turn. When Atiku was being flogged out of PDP by Obasanjo, he ran to me for help, I let the ticket for him. Nuhu Ribadu came to me and I backed him.
It has been over 25 years now that I have been serving them. This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he can be the Governor without me? We were together at the MKO Abiola stadium, he was intimated, they didn't want to give the party's flag, I was the one that handed the flag to him. He knows that he cannot be the governor without the help of God and my support.
"I have been serving them all, now it is my turn too. If not for me that stood behind Buhari he wouldn't have become the president. He tried the first time, he failed, the second time, he failed, the third the, he failed, he even wept on a national television and vowed never to contest again but I went to meet him in Kaduna and told him he will run again, I will stand by you and you will win, but you must not joke with Yorubas and he agreed.
"Since he became the president, I have never got ministerial slots, I didn't collect any contract, I have never begged for anything from him, it is the turn of Yoruba, it is my turn".
Tinubu therefore urged the party's delegates from the state to cast their votes for him during the forthcoming presidential primary of the party slated for next week Tuesday.
Gov Dapo Abiodun who eulogised Tinubu for being a democrat to the core stated that the former governor of Lagos no doubt possesses Salient leadership qualities that are needed to further entrench good governance in the country.
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