4th March, 2022
By Yinusa Ishola
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Sen. Bola Tinubu said on Thursday that he is in the race for the 2023 Presidency to bring hope and effect the changes the country desires.
The former governor of Lagos state said this in Ado-Ekiti during a consultation with members of Ekiti Traditional Council.
The APC national leader said the country was in dire need of a leader who could unite the people, tackle insecurity and bring about the desired socio-economic development.
He said the consultation with the traditional rulers was in furtherance of his 2023 presidential aspiration and to get the prayers and support of the royal fathers.
Tinubu said he decided to meet with the traditional rulers because of the respect he placed on culture and tradition.
“We have struggled for democracy and today we have democracy but we are not stable yet. By now we should have a good farming system and opportunities to produce for other nations to buy.
“We chose democracy and we must not fail in this task. I’m in this race to renew the hope and make the future great for our children .
“For Nigeria to stand united and develop, we require patience and wisdom. We have to be united, that is the only way we can be great. That was why we formed APC based on principles.
“I want to tell you that Nigeria needs serious change. I knew how Lagos was when I took over and we had never failed any election”, he said.
He said there must be continuity in governance for progress to be attained.
“I was the first governor in Nigeria to start paying the WAEC fee of secondary school students. I shall do it again as a President,” he said.
Tinubu said he was not new to contesting for the seat of the nation’s topmost position, saying he has been on the Nigeria project since the 70s.
“I was with MKO Abiola in SDP. I was a senator before he came out. I was the youngest senator of that era.
“We believed that there must be democracy in Nigeria, there must be freedom and there must be opportunities.
“We have to collaborate, unite and promote ourselves instead of fighting. We all see what is happening in Ukraine today, we don’t need such experience here”, he said.