Being a statement issued by All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart
\nAsiwaju Bola Tinubu on December 17, 2014, after turning down an offer by
\nthe then APC flag bearer Muhammadu Buhari to be his running mate at the
\nMarch 28, 2015 presidential election. The statement was issued after the
\nformer Lagos State Governor had forwarded the names of Prof Yemi Osinbajo
\nas the party\u2019s sole presidential running mate to Buhari.<\/p>\n
This is contrary to the claim in the President\u2019s biography written by
\nAmerican author and international studies\u2019 teacher Prof John Paden that
\nBuhari chose Osinbajo above Tinubu and his successor at the Lagos State
\nHouse, Babatunde Fashola.<\/p>\n
A retired general, Iliyasu Ibrahim, has faulted a report that Vice
\nPresident Yemi Osinbajo became President Muhamamdu Buhari\u2019s running mate
\ndespite pressure against it by former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola
\nAhmed Tinubu.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, said the portion in the book by
\nProfessor John Padden on President Buhari, titled: \u201cMuhammadu Buhari:
\nChallenges of Leadership\u201d, was wrong.<\/p>\n
The statement reads: \u201cI became disturbed about this falsification of
\nrecent history. Why would the author say this and have it published when
\nmany of us know the truth? The truth is that Tinubu singlehandedly chose
\nYemi Osinbajo and sent the name to President Buhari. There was no
\npressure. Tinubu is Osinbajo\u2019s political mentor. The latter was his
\nattorney-general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos and both have a
\nclose relationship.
\n\u201cMy worry stretched further when I recall the recent piece by Femi Fani
\nKayode on Tinubu and his huge contributions to the APC and how he is now
\nbeing short-changed. Though I do not agree with all the claims made by
\nFemi Fani-Kayode, I am convinced he made some reasonable arguments and his
\nsummation about Tinubu\u2019s role in the current political dispensation can
\nhardly be faulted. In some areas, he went overboard and you could see him
\ngloating, the PDP apologist that he is. Also, the mention of Governor
\nAjimobi as one of the governors working against Tinubu is a fallacy and
\nhere he got his facts wrong. Ajimobi has remained consistently behind
\nTinubu and that is easily verifiable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut back to the emergence of Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate. I
\nwas there the night before the final decision and subsequent announcement.
\nI was there at the Lagos Lodge Annex in Asokoro, Abuja at Tinubu\u2019s place.
\nOn the night in reference, Asiwaju insisted that three names would not be
\nsent for the VP slot. He maintained that only one name would be sent.
\nEventually, the name of Osinbajo was sent to President Buhari. There was
\nno issue of pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cOsinbajo was Tinubu\u2019s man and that was the only person Tinubu was willing
\nto accept to cede the VP slot. Shortly after Governor Amosun came around
\nto the Lagos lodge. He came in and we greeted. Now, it seems clear that
\nsome fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and we should
\nnot let them. This history is too recent to be mutilated.\u201d<\/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.\u00a0 I shall always walk this line and no
\nother.
\nAfter all the political calculations are made and the dust of competition
\nhas settled, it must be this nation and its people who stand first and
\nforemost. The question becomes whether we stand strong, able to shape
\nourselves into our best future or will we stand frail and trembling,
\nburdened by the abject failure to surmount the multiple problems
\nconfronting us.<\/p>\n
It is 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.\u00a0 I have laboured hard to move this party
\nfrom being merely an idea in the minds of a few into being a political
\norganisation that might win this election and govern the nation in way
\nthat gives the people the hope and opportunity they seek. Nothing is more
\nimportant to me than to realise this dream not for myself but for the
\npeople of this land I so love.<\/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 the
\nexpectation of a later political handout. Nigeria is in trouble and we are
\nwell past the moment for such narrow, selfish games.<\/p>\n
There came a time during the course of the events when our Presidential
\ncandidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari offered the Vice Presidential slot to me.
\nBeing a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honoured that he would
\nconsider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential
\ncandidacy in all of its dimensions.<\/p>\n
I have concluded that the interest of the party, our campaign and of the
\nnation are better served if I retain my position as the National leader of
\nthe APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all divides.\u00a0 Although,
\nI declined the position, I want to thank Gen. Buhari for extending the
\nhonour to me. Despite all the noise and opposition around my possible
\nselection, he stood firm and steadfast. He showed the traits of a leader
\nin holding to a decision he believed was right despite the errant plots
\nagainst it.<\/p>\n
When my name was raised, the political hatchet men tried to chop it down
\nwith rumours and lies. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin. The
\npersonal attacks did not bother me. I am used to them. While I have a
\nthick skin, I don\u2019t have a thick mind.\u00a0 There has been one form of attack
\nthat has troubled me. That is the attack based on religion. The PDP and
\nothers have stoked fear of a Muslim- Muslim ticket.<\/p>\n
I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be seen
\nas self-serving.\u00a0 I plead with the people of this nation to never allow
\nthe power lust of cynical politicians to set brother against brother,
\nneighbour against neighbour. If you look at those politicians who raise
\nthis issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful to any
\nreligion other their self-interests.<\/p>\n
Nigeria has too many secular problems \u2013 insecurity, economic collapse,
\npoverty, corruption and misgovernance \u2013 to allow inept people to use
\nreligion to keep us from solving these challenges for the benefit of all.
\nThose who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God and
\nHe does not like it when you play with His people or use His name to do
\nthe opposite of what He intends.<\/p>\n
I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that
\nthe tickets of both parties are mixed.\u00a0 I ask you to select the ticket
\nbest able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured since this
\ngovernment took over. I ask you to remember that too many Christians and
\nMuslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember that the true
\nreligion of the PDP is poverty. APC has come to bring prosperity to the
\npeople.\u00a0 Please vote for that.<\/p>\n
The Nigeria I see is a nation that shall overcome. The Nigeria I see is a
\nnation ready to sweep aside the broken ways of our recent past and the
\ngovernment and politicians who impose distress upon us. The Nigeria I see
\nand seek is one where each person, every man, woman and child may live
\nfree of terrorism, free of the despair of poverty and free of the fear
\nthat the government meant to serve and protect them has turned its back to
\nthem\u00a0 in cold and utter indifference.<\/p>\n
I see and seek a Nigeria where progressive democratic governance creates
\nthe political and economic space needed for each of us to contribute to
\nrescuing and retooling this nation.\u00a0 And, in the process of this benign
\nendeavour, may each and every one of us share in the sound promise and
\ngood prosperity that shall describe the architecture of our national
\nrevival.
\nHowever, not everyone that shouts the name of Nigeria believes in this
\nvision. There are many who would have you laid low and our future tossed
\nasunder that they may persist in reaping the unjust reward of their
\nselfish ways. There are wolves in sheep clothing and even jackals in
\nwolf\u2019s clothing. I have seen them but not as residents in some strange
\nzoo. They populate the halls of this diminished government and the party
\nfrom which this government was born.<\/p>\n
We have come to the field of fateful choice. We have been brought to test
\nthe scales of weighty decision. Shall we lift this nation upward so that
\nfrom its higher vantage point we may clearly see the road to our better
\ndestiny? Or shall we continue to march the march of fools into the dark of
\ndarkness. The current path has but one end. It shall take us into the den
\nof national collapse. We have gone far enough down this wicked avenue to
\nbe aware of what its continuance portends.<\/p>\n
We must awaken of our own accord, my dear people, before the bell of doom
\nrings upon us. If we wait until that moment, we would have waited too
\nlong. Our future, our fate, our destiny would have been cast into the
\nsnare of utter misfortune. This is not the song of greatness. It is the
\npoetics of ruin.<\/p>\n
For me, political ambition will never triumph over patriotic conviction.
\nThis delicate moment affords no space for emotion to intrude to blind us
\nfrom what is best. The APC is the best and only vehicle to enact the
\nprogressive and broad change this nation cries for.\u00a0 I eagerly lend myself
\nto this fine cause without me having to be on the ticket.<\/p>\n
This is a time for cohesion and an overriding sense of mission. We must
\ndefeat the foe before us and resist all temptations intended to entice us
\nto fight among ourselves.<\/p>\n
I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda of Gen Buhari and Prof
\nOsinbajo.<\/p>\n
I declare to you, I will work and dedicate myself so that our ticket
\nsucceeds and wins the 2015 election \u2014 not for his good, not for my good,
\nnot even for the party\u2019s good but for the good of the nation we inhabit.
\nSome may call what I have done a sacrifice. I call it otherwise. It is my
\npatriotic contribution and duty. I do so with a happy and uplifted heart
\nand clear conscience because I have committed myself to seeking the best
\nfor this nation before seeking what is good for myself. This is the creed
\nof statesmanship I chose to follow. May this be the creed of our party as
\nGen Buhari leads us to historic victory in the 2015 elections.<\/p>\n
May the light of a bright future always shine on you and on our beloved
\nnation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Being a statement issued by All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on December 17, 2014, after turning down an offer by the then APC flag bearer Muhammadu Buhari…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n