Yoruba elders yesterday threw their weight behind the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
They said the former Lagos State governor is eminently qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s election, assuring that he will make a difference as a leader.
To the elders, Tinubu has the pedigree and antecedent, having served credibly as a senator in the Third Republic and two-term governor of the Centre of Excellence.
The elders, under the aegis of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said Tinubu’s efforts at stabilising democracy in Nigeria were enough to earn him victory in 2023.
The council stated this in a communiqué after its quarterly meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The communiqué was signed by its Chairman, Mr Francis Akinikawe; Secretary, Chief Clement Fadipe; National Treasurer, Aremu Akindele and National Welfare Officer, Mrs Funmi Jabaru.
Also yesterday, the Southwest APC unfolded a comprehensive reconciliation plan for the six states in a bid to ensure unity and cohesion ahead of next year’s polls.
The APC Campaign Organisation spokesman and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said Tinubu’s qualities and achievements make him an easy candidate to sell to the electorate.
Speaking during a television program, he described the APC flag bearer as a political and economic trailblazer and builder of men.
‘Tinubu a detrabalised Nigerian’
YCE described Tinubu as a destabilised Nigerian and a good leader, who ran an all-inclusive government during his tenure as Lagos State governor.
The group maintained that as the chief crusader of democracy in Nigeria, Tinubu stands for justice, fairness and national cohesion.
YCE said it was optimistic that Tinubu would tackle the myriad of problems facing Nigeria if elected president.
It added: “We believe that you are capable of leading the nation despite challenges of insecurity, economy downtown, and we know you can turn the nation for the better.
“We want the world to know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a phenomenon in the world of politics.
“We are not against anyone’s group or aspirations but all we are saying is that Asiwaju is the right person for the job.
“He is the best man for the job at this period while our support for his candidacy’s, burn out of his starling performances and track record of achievements over the years as fishers of men with just and equitable management of men and re-distribution of the available resources under his watch at every given opportunity.”
A political group, the ‘ROT Like Minds,’ on Sunday held special prayers in Lagos for the success of the APC presidential candidate and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The coordinator of the group, Mr Jimmy Akinboro, chaired the joint Islam and Christian special prayers.
He explained that ‘ROT Like Minds’ organised the prayers to seek spiritual intervention for the ambitions of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.
He said: “The group believes that Tinubu’s presidential ambition will become a reality by seeking the blessings of God.
“Tinubu is a trusted and tested leader who has touched lives and redefined leadership in and out of political positions. This is not the first time that this type of programme is being held.
“We have embarked upon this prayer session in honour of our principal and our mentor.
“This is because he has unfolded his ambition to become the president of the country by the grace of God.
“We are his foot soldiers and we are his loyalists. All of us have come under the banner of this group to organise this Christian and Muslim prayer session.
“We want to hand over all our affairs to God so that He can guide us and grant our request.
“This is so that Tinubu can become president to continue to do what he knows how to do best, which is developing people and developing society.”
Southwest APC unfolds peace plans
The Southwest APC has unfolded what it described as a comprehensive reconciliation plan to foster unity and harmony in the six states ahead of the 2023 polls.
The Zonal Executive Committee, led by Isaacs Kekemeke, urged warring chieftains, particularly in Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, to sheathe their swords, show decorum and exhibit maturity.
The reconciliation agenda being proposed will encompass the setting up of ad-hoc committees to listen to grievances and visit by selected party elders and officers to the chapters to encourage aggrieved chieftains to subscribe to a truce.
Southwest governors are also expected to play a role in the efforts of the zone to put its house in order.
Kekemeke, who is the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), urged the gladiators to jettison personal interests for the collective interest of the party to triumph in the region at this critical time.
He urged the opposing camps in Ogun, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to cease fire and allow peace to reign in the chapter.
Kekemeke has also dissociated the zonal chapter from the aggrieved governorship contender in Oyo State, who has defected to other parties to contest.
The rift between Abiodun and Amosun deepened at the weekend as both leaders were locked in confrontation over the 2019 poll.
While Amosun said the governor was rigged into office because he never won the election, Abiodun returned the salvos, saying that the senator should desist from playing God.
Supporters of the governor and senator have also been engaged in a curious media war that has embarrassed the zonal and regional leadership of the party.
Also, in Osun, supporters of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola do not see eye to eye.
While the Aregbesola camp has called for the removal of Gboyega Famodun as chairman of the chapter, the governor’s camp said Famodun, who was properly elected during the state congress, cannot yield his position to Lowo Adebiyi, who belongs to the Aregbesola camp.
In Oyo, a post-primary crisis has ensued, following the emergence of Senator Teslim Folarin as governorship candidate.
An aggrieved aspirant, Adegoke Adelabu, has defected from the chapter to contest for governor on the platform of the Accord Party.
Also, the other two camps opposed to the candidate have not shown proof of any readiness to team up with him as the race is gathering momentum.
Party supporters who were confused over the protracted crises in the three chapters have urged the zonal leadership to urgently intervene to nip them in the bud.
Kekemeke said in a statement yesterday that there is no alternative to reconciliation and peace.
He said: “The Zonal Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress in the Southwest has observed the brewing misunderstanding between some respected leaders/elders of our party in Ogun state.
“We grant that misunderstandings and quarrels are an essentially inevitable part of life and human organisations.
“However, it should be understood by all party compatriots that the Southwest zone can not afford any form of a dispute to fester; not at this time when all hands must be on deck to secure resounding electoral victory for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all other candidates of the party in the Zone during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“The party in the zone has already initiated actions to ensure that this family misunderstanding and others elsewhere in the Southwest are amicably resolved.
“I appeal to their Excellencies: Governor Abiodun and Senator Amosun to in the name of God and the interest of the party in the zone sheath their swords and direct their supporters to cease henceforth from making public statements that will further divide the party in Ogun state and the zone.
“I urge all party faithful in the state to remain steadfast, rest assured that, our party will emerge stronger and better.”