<\/p>\n
National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC and former Lagos
\nState Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he withdrew from the
\nVice Presidential nomination so as to retain the position of National
\nLeader and build bridges across divides.<\/p>\n
Tinubu in a statement shortly after Professor Yemi Oshibajo emerged the
\npreferred running mate to General Mohammadu Buhari, said he has developed
\na thick skin to all the allegations against him aimed at stopping his
\nnomination but that the interest of the Party and Nigeria is priority.<\/p>\n
The Statement reads:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Statement Released by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding his
\nwithdrawal from consideration for the APC Vice- Presidential Position.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I am a Nigerian who loves his country and am hopeful about what it can
\nbecome. I have seen and conducted myself as a patriot long before I
\nthought of myself as a politician. I shall always walk this line and
\nno other.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After all the political calculations are made and the dust of
\ncompetition has settled, it must be this nation and its people who
\nstand first and foremost. The question becomes whether we stand
\nstrong, able to shape ourselves into our best future or will we stand
\nfrail and trembling, burdened by the abject failure to surmount the
\nmultiple problems confronting us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It against this backdrop that I assess any action I take. Here I come
\nto my name being placed in consideration as the Vice Presidential
\ncandidate for our party, the APC. I have labored hard to move this
\nparty from being merely an idea in the minds of a few into being a
\npolitical organization that might win this election and govern the
\nnation in way that gives the people the hope and opportunity they
\nseek. Nothing is more important to me than to realize this dream not
\nfor myself but for the people of this land I so love.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I helped to build this party, giving no thought to seeking an elected
\noffice because of it. My contribution to the party was never based on
\nthe expectation of a later political handout. Nigeria is in trouble
\nand we are well past the moment for such narrow, selfish games.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There came a time during the course of the events when our
\nPresidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari offered the Vice
\nPresidential slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was deeply
\nmoved and honored that he would consider me for the position. Being a
\npatriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its
\ndimensions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I have concluded that the interest of the party, our campaign and of
\nthe nation are better served if I retain my position as the National
\nleader of the APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all
\ndivides. Although, I declined the position, I want to thank General
\nBuhari for extending the honor to me. Despite all the noise and
\nopposition around my possible selection, he stood firm and steadfast.
\nHe showed the traits of a leader in holding to a decision he believed
\nwas right despite the errant plots against it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When my name was raised, the political hatchet men tried to chop it
\ndown with rumor and lies. Over the years, I have developed a thick
\nskin. The personal attacks did not bother me. I am used to them. While
\nI have a thick skin, I don\u2019t have a thick mind. There has been one
\nform of attack that has troubled me. That is the attack based on
\nreligion. The PDP and others have stoked fear of a Muslim- Muslim
\nticket.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be
\nseen as self-serving. I plead with the people of this nation to never
\nallow the power lust of cynical politicians to set brother against
\nbrother, neighbor against neighbor. If you look at those politicians
\nwho raise this issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful
\nto any religion other their self-interests.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nigeria has too many secular problems \u2013 insecurity, economic
\ncollapse, poverty , corruption and misgovernance \u2013 to allow inept
\npeople to use religion to keep us from solving these challenges for
\nthe benefit of all.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Those who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God
\nand he does not like it when you play with his people or use His name
\nto do the opposite of what He intends.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now
\nthat the tickets of both parties are mixed. I ask you to select the
\nticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured
\nsince this government took over. I ask you to remember that too many
\nChristians and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember
\nthat the true religion of the PDP is poverty, APC come to bring
\nprosperity to the people. Please vote for that.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Nigeria I see is a nation that shall overcome. The Nigeria I see
\nis a nation ready to sweep aside the broken ways of our recent past
\nand the government and politicians who impose distress upon us. The
\nNigeria I see and seek is one where each person, every man, woman and
\nchild may live free of terrorism, free of the despair of poverty and
\nfree of the fear that the government meant to serve and protect them
\nhas turned its back to them in cold and utter indifference.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I see and seek a Nigeria where progressive democratic governance
\ncreates the political and economic space needed for each of us to
\ncontribute to rescuing and retooling this nation. And, in the process
\nof this benign endeavor, may each and every one of us share in the
\nsound promise and good prosperity that shall describe the architecture
\nof our national revival.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, not everyone that shouts the name of Nigeria believes in this
\nvision. There are many who would have you laid low and our future
\ntossed asunder that they may persist in reaping the unjust reward of
\ntheir selfish ways. There are wolves in sheep clothing and even
\njackals in wolf\u2019s clothing. I have seen them but not as residents in
\nsome strange zoo. They populate the halls of this diminished
\ngovernment and the party from which this government was born.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We have come to the field of fateful choice. We have been brought to
\ntest the scales of weighty decision. Shall we lift this nation upward
\nso that from its higher vantage point we may clearly see the road to
\nour better destiny? Or shall we continue to march the march of fools
\ninto the dark of darkness. The current path has but one end. It shall
\ntake us into the den of national collapse. We have gone far enough
\ndown this wicked avenue to be aware of what its continuance portends.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We must awaken of our own accord, my dear people, before the bell of
\ndoom rings upon us. If we wait until that moment, we would have waited
\ntoo long. Our future, our fate, our destiny would have been cast into
\nthe snare of utter misfortune. This is not the song of greatness. It
\nis the poetics of ruin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For me, political ambition will never triumph over patriotic
\nconviction. This delicate moment affords no space for emotion to
\nintrude to blind us from what is best. The APC is the best and only
\nvehicle to enact the progressive and broad change this nation cries
\nfor. I eagerly lend myself to this fine cause without me having to be
\non the ticket.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is a time for cohesion and an overriding sense of mission. We
\nmust defeat the foe before us and resist all temptations intended to
\nentice us to fight among ourselves.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda of General Buhari and
\nProfessor Osinbajo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I declare to you, I will work and dedicate myself so that our ticket
\nsucceeds and wins the 2015 election — not for his good, not for my
\ngood, not even for the party\u2019s good but for the good of the nation we
\ninhabit.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some may call what I have done a sacrifice. I call it otherwise. It is
\nmy patriotic contribution and duty. I do so with a happy and uplifted
\nheart and clear conscience because I have committed myself to seeking
\nthe best for this nation before seeking what is good for myself. This
\nis the creed of statesmanship I chose to follow. May this be the creed
\nof our party as General Buhari leads us to historic victory in the
\n2015 elections.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
May the light of a bright future always shine on you and on our
\nbeloved nation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
-Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu<\/p>\n
December 17th, 2014<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he withdrew from the Vice Presidential nomination so as to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n