The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that his victory at the party’s special convention and presidential primary did not come easy, adding that he battled a ‘gang up’ working to topple his chances of winning.
According to the Punch, Tinubu stated this on Sunday when he returned to Lagos State for the first time after clinching the APC presidential ticket earlier this month in Abuja.
The APC stalwart while speaking at his home-return party, said he poured out his mind when he noticed a gang-up, referring to the outburst where he said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) would not become president in 2015, if not for him.
He made the comment during his visit to Abeokuta, Ogun state capital where he addressed the party’s delegates ahead of the presidential primary election, he said, “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, he failed, He even wept on 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.”
Following the controversy that emerge from the comment with threats from the party to punish the former Lagos State Governor, he retracted the statement, saying he was misconstrued, adding that he holds the president in high esteem.
Despite the agitation caused by the comment, Tinubu who emerged victorious at the APC presidential primary touched down in Lagos in the company of the party’s notable leaders. Various groups of artisans, women and youth joined thousands of APC faithful in Lagos to welcome Tinubu back to his base. Also, there were various cultural troupes and musical bands, entertaining the massive crowd.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the company of his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, received Tinubu and his entourage, which included the Governor of Kano State, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, Sen. Kashim Ibrahim, former APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, among others.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinmma, Sen. Solomon Adeola, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Lagos APC chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and members of Lagos Executive Council joined the roll call of dignitaries who received the APC presidential flag bearer at the airport.
Tinubu’s homecoming turned into a carnival immediately after his motorcade rolled into the town. A crowd of residents lined up along the convoy’s route, with Tinubu acknowledging cheers and waving his broom from the window.
The convoy moved to the palace of Oba of Lagos, Alayeluwa Rilwan Akiolu, where the APC National Leader received royal blessings.
At the palace, Tinubu said despite the seeming gang up against his person, he stood his ground, poured out his mind and fought to win the presidential ticket.
“There is no Lagos indigene that has had the opportunity to become President of Nigeria, despite the contribution of the State to the national stability and progress. The highest position attained by any Lagosian in national leadership is the position of Chief Judge of the Federation.
“I took up the fight to break this jinx. The battle to secure the APC ticket was hard. When I was almost fed up, I resorted to prayers. I also poured out my mind when I felt there was a gang up against my person. Thank God that I have brought home the presidential ticket.
“The task ahead is to galvanise our people to get their voter cards and vote to enable us realise this ambition. Getting our people to vote is the most important task before all of us. We need to take this message to our people across communities and sensitise them on the need to vote in the general elections,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by Sanwo-Olu’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile.
On his part, Akiolu, who described Tinubu as his “stubborn son”, said it was time for political leaders in the Southwest region to close ranks and work for the victory of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He added that the massive support received by the APC National Leader across the country must be complemented by politicians in the region.
The monarch said: “Your emergence as the presidential candidate of your party is the beginning of another journey in your political career. All Yoruba ancestors shall be with you on this journey to make our fatherland a better place.”
Tinubu left the palace to his house on Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi, where the APC Governors, led by the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, were waiting to receive him.
Other dignitaries who received Tinubu at his Bourdillon home included Jigawa State Governor, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and former Governor Gbenga Daniel, among others.