Thousands of APC supporters and leaders on Sunday thronged the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, to welcome Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate.
It was the first time the former governor of Lagos State was returning to his home after winning the APC presidential ticket.
On arrival, his convoy moved to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Alayeluwa Rilwan Akiolu, where the APC National Leader received royal blessings.
At the palace, Tinubu recalled how tough his victory at the party’s presidential primary was.
He said he fought a hard battle to clinch the ticket, and pointed out that the task ahead is to galvanise Nigerians to get their voter cards and vote on election day.
“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,” Asiwaju Tinubu said.
Oba Akiolu described Asiwaju Tinubu as his “stubborn son.”
He said it was time for political leaders in the South West region to close ranks and work for APC National Leader’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“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,” the monarch declared.
Asiwaju Tinubu left the palace for his home on Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi, where the APC Governors, led by the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu, were waiting to receive him.
Other dignitaries who received Tinubu at his Bourdillon home included the Jigawa State Governor, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru, and those of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; and the former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel.
