The presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu recieved a boost Monday when loyalists gathered at the nation’s capital, FCT, to fine tune preparations ahead of the formal declaration.
Speaking at a conference organised by SGMC in Abuja, Kashim Shettima tasked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to see the presidential ambition of as pay back time for what he did for the party in 2015.
He said Tinubu is a tested, accomplished and large-hearted leader who has invested his resources in building an extensive network of political mentees, such as Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing; Rauf Aregbeshola, Minister of Interior; Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Governor Fayemi Kayode, amongst others.
“So much has been said about this political enigma and most of them by hacks with a poor sense of history. The path that led us to Asiwaju didn’t happen by chance. His propensity for sacrificing his comfort to save our democracy has been duly documented across time.
“The attempts at weaving ridiculous fiction to override the history we have all witnessed demonstrate the detractors’ utter desperation and cowardice.
“One of such is the mischievous fixation on his age and the wild conclusions that he’s physically unsuitable for the Office of the President. This obsession characterizes the thinking of those who have no understanding of Asiwaju’s incredible work ethic”.
“I am not asking you to tone down critical assessments of your future leaders, but redirect you to see the bigger picture. We are not here to prepare for the Olympics, but an institution that relies on the superiority of ideas to thrive. Asiwaju’s credentials aren’t only appealing, they are proof of the qualities this country needs to redeem its vast potentials and possibilities.
In his remarks, David Babachir, former secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Tinubu has no equal in terms of suitability of the person fit to take over the governance of the country from President Buhari and bring APC back on the track where it derailed.
Babachir who stated that the APC National Leader would cling the party’s Presidential ticket with whatever mode of primary election, however said as democrats, the team would have a direct method that involves all the card carrying members of the party in the choosing process.
“Since forming government at the centre and in many states across the federation for the past seven and a half years, the objective of building a cohesive and virile political party has eluded the leadership of the APC. This has not only limited the capacity of the government to deliver on the promises made to Nigerians but has also created legitimate doubt on the sustainability of the party.
“The incapacity of the Party to even harmonise and synergise policy direction of the federal government with that of States it controls especially in key critical areas around which the campaigns were ran, speaks volumes about its incompetence”, he noted.
Also speaking, Abdulmumin Jibrin, director general of the Support Groups Management Council, said the conference was a gathering of delegates from the over 2500 support groups for Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu who are mandated to embark on aggressive mobilisation from the national to the ward level and polling units.
“Whether it is the direct primaries or the indirect primaries that is adopted, support groups are key. If it is the direct primaries, you are the voters. I don’t see how anybody can defeat us in an election. If it is indirect primaries where delegates are going to vote, these delegates are not going to drop from heaven. These delegates are your neighbors. They are your relatives.
“2023 is about our future, we can’t toil with it. We can’t take chances. We wanted the best hand. Yes, within the APC we have said repeatedly, we have very good hands.”