Nigeria needs me – Tinubu (video)

Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he is the most qualified to be the president in 2023, adding that “Just as I need Nigeria, Nigeria needs me.”

The presidential aspirant said this at a one-day parley held for serving Speakers and former Speakers and deputies held in Lagos with the theme: “The Legislature, Changing Times and Nigeria’s Democratic Journey.

Speaking on why he deserves to be the country’s next leader, Tinubu said he was one of the best students while at the Chicago State University.

“Why do I worth it? I can tell you. I am well educated, sound, brilliant, courageous, one of the best alumni of Chicago State University,” he said.

“I was a tutor as a student of my fellow classmates, and I was one of the most sought-after graduands of that period, recruited by the best accounting and financing [firm] there was.

“I had five jobs waiting for me before my month of graduation. And to achieve honors — summa cum laude — is not easy while you still have to work. I did put it all together because I was focused, effective, organized, and able to juggle my timetable and build my life on a straight lane.”

Tinubu added that: “We have the brilliance, the resources, the focus. We don’t just know how to run the race and take care of the gear of progress.”

Noting his can-do attitude, he recalled how he changed the fortunes of Lagos when he became governor of the State at a time of its challenge.

“In the face of tyranny, I have survived, struggled for democracy, I have endured the bush path, lived without a family, spent resources.

“To make Nigeria one is a task and who could do it? I am one. I am the first governor to grant autonomy to the House of Assembly. I survived the non-allocation of local government funds. We didn’t suffer, we didn’t retrench. We made progress out of adversity.

“I inherited N600m as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with zero allocation from Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). But we survived and today, Lagos is the number one economy.

“That is why I am begging you to do me a favour so that I can do Nigeria a favour.

“It is a very challenging time for us in the country and we have to get it right. We need to intellectually interrogate ourselves.

“I am the first governor to bring Independent Power Project (IPP) to Nigeria. It was 300 megawatts. If they had followed my advice then, Nigeria will not be facing epileptic power supplies,” he said, recalling how he brought major investors to Nigeria and promising that he is ready to do it again.”

Tinubu also said he believed in religious tolerance and women’s participation in politics.

Watch a short clip of Tinubu speaking at the event below: