The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu said on Thursday that he deserved to become Nigeria’s President in 2023.
Asiwaju Asiwaju Tinubu hinged this on the roles he played in the formation of the ruling party and the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President in 2015.
The former governor of Lagos State was speaking to delegates during his visit to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“I have been there from the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), through the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which eventually metamorphosed into the APC.
“I have served for over 25 years and helped many achieve their political ambitions.
“Your governor, Dapo Abiodun, could not have become governor without God’s and my support.
“Go and check the video, they did not want to hand over the party’s flag to him as the APC flagbearer for the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ogun.
“I was the one that insisted that it should be given to him.
“If not for me that stood solidly behind Buhari and encouraged him to go ahead, he could not have become president,” he said in the Yoruba language.
“He tried three times and failed. He even cried on television. And said that he won’t contest again, but I met him and I told him ‘You will contest; this is not a crying matter.’
“I will support you and you will win but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yorubas, he agreed.
“Since his assumption of power, I never took a ministerial position, or begged him for any contract or loan."
It is My Turn to Become President
The APC leader thereafter told the delegates that it was his turn to become president.
“All I am saying is that it is the turn of the Yoruba speaking people to become President and within the Yoruba people, it is my turn.
“I have adopted and protected many political children, but in the face of danger, one has to first protect himself.
“I have served enough. I do not want to become history. It is my turn to become president. It is a matter of right for me.
“Bring it on,” he said.
Asiwaju Tinubu also told the delegates that he sacrificed the position of Vice-President offered to him by Buhari in 2015, for Yemi Osinbajo whom he nominated.
