17th March, 2022
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former senator, made a return to the National Assembly on Wednesday, to receive a rousing reception from lawmakers.
He visited the Senate, where he was received by the Senate President Ahmed Lawan.
He also visited the House of Representatives, where he got a ringing endorsement for his presidential plans via an overwhelming voice vote of ayes.
He said he came only to consult, but members may already have shut the doors against all other aspirants.
In the House of Representatives, Tinubu, selling his candidacy to the APC caucus, said he remains the most competent for the job.
“There is no other one in the race hiding or open. I am the only one in the race and most competent and most qualified to be your president come year 2023.
‘I am the only one who has been through the tutelage. I am the only one among them who has been consistent in one party. They are not stable,” he said.
He said he started his political career as a senator, adding; “I am very proud of myself as a democrat because the essence of democracy is the assemblage of wise and prudent people.’
Tinubu commended members of the National Assembly for their commitment, adding that the legislators represented the crux of the people while commending them for doing well by advancing democracy.
He said he was at the assembly to request the support of the lawmakers.
” This is my lifelong ambition, which I discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari . I told the President that I want to step in his shoes and not step on his toes.”
Tinubu said the President responded, thus; “come out, let’s see you and how you can promote your democratic credential,” adding that he has multiple honours, a first-class degree in accounting.
According to him, I am not here to be defensive; I am here with humility that I am one of the best products that you can sell as a presidential candidate.
Speaking on his rumoured ill health, Tinubu said: “They don’t have anything to say; they say I am not well, they are not my doctor. I am only here to do a great job, break the shackle of poverty.
He queried why Nigeria would not be competing with Russia with all the resources at its disposal, saying; “we have God-given resources, capacity, knowledge, and the brain.
“We can do it. You can make me succeed with your support. I want us to forge a future for this country, we are the most populous, and we have the best brain and resources.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the house, said that Tinubu was the man, who put APC together and had declared his intention to preside over the affairs of the country.
He said that as the election was approaching, it was imperative to hear the message from those who wanted to govern the country, saying, “we have been hearing how many people are running for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023”.
The speaker, however, said that it would not speak well of the country when it boasted to be the largest in Africa and seven weeks before the primaries, only one person had been seen, one person running up and down consulting.
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He said that Tinubu had been traveling the length and breadth of Nigeria, marketing his trade and delivering his message.
“I feel it’s wrong for a country like Nigeria that we are only hearing names but nobody is campaigning, It is unfair to every citizen of Nigeria. We cannot take Nigeria for granted,” he said.
Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, leader of the party, however, urged members to support the candidacy of Tinubu, adding that he had done a lot in contributing to Nigeria’s democracy.
He said that his emergence would bring about a truly democratic leader that would pilot the affairs of the country.
Doguwa, however, put the aspiration of Tinubu into a voice vote where members unanimously gave an overwhelming endorsement to his bid to become the president in 2023. Shouts of Jagaban hit fever pitch in the hall.
At the meeting with the APC Senate Caucus at the Senate President’s Conference Room, Tinubu reiterated his message.
He said he was at the Senate for counsel, partnership and support.
“Nigerians have come to that stage where we need a change of baton. President Muhammadu Buhari is about to serve his second term in full.
“Election is coming up in February. I can’t do it by myself and I can’t do it by sitting at home expecting that many friends I have here will do it for me.
“I believe jointly we can do it. You can back me successfully for the nomination of my lifetime ambition to become the president.
“My ambition is not blind to the extent I will step on the toes of the President. I just want to step into his shoe and not on his toe,” Tinubu said.
He said that if the counsel of wise men was anything to go by, “I’m asking for that teamsmanship here today to get me over the hump of the nomination process.
“And from that hump, to get me to the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Look at my capacity. I am an unusual candidate. Perhaps the only one who had been in the Senate, who had been a governor and aspiring to become president”.
He said that Nigeria will remain united if he was elected president and “we will use that unity, the symbol of our party to cleanse Nigeria of unrealisable potential.”
The national leader also commended the Senate for the passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill.
“I Thank you for sustaining our democracy. I ran into a little ambush of women protesters because I went to the other gate.
“Interestingly, you have been very careful on affirmative action, and you are been very careful not to jeopardise the Constitution.
“Yes the interests of women are necessary but for APC, we are doing our best and we will continue to do our best to accommodate the interest of our women,” he said.
President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan said that the APC Senate Caucus was a fundamental pillar of the party.
“This caucus has remained committed to the party, shown resolve to our manifesto to work within us and the Executive. We have achieved so much because of the APC caucus.
“From 2019 that this caucus showed loyalty, commitment, and purposeful orientation to ensure that our victory from 2015 and 2019 as a political party is fully utilised for the benefits of Nigerians.
“This party needs the kind of commitment that APC members have shown in the country.APC must continue to be progressive in our actions. 2023 is going to be a year for APC again.
“By Feb. 25 when the Presidential Election will take place, by the grace of God, APC will have the victory that is required,” Lawan said.
Lawan added:”Recently we had some difficulties because of misunderstanding between some of our members and the party was thrown into temporary confusion.
“I thank God it is over now. It is very clear that our party is back on track, that in the next two weeks, our national convention will hold and a new set of leaders will emerge.”