National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday met with erstwhile members of the APC House of Representatives caucus to discuss his 2023 presidential aspiration.
Reports said the meeting between Tinubu and the former APC federal legislators was held at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja. The meeting started around 3pm.
At the meeting, Tinubu reminded the former House of Representatives members that he still remains the only chieftains of the ruling party who had come out in public, campaigning all over the country and telling everyone that he would contest the presidential election. This, he said, is an indication that he remained the most serious, most qualified, and most prepared to offer service to the nation and Nigerians.
Present at the meeting were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Abdulmumin Jibrin, who previously represented Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State; Sunday Adepoju, the lawmaker who used to represent Ibarapa East/Iddo federal constituency of Oyo State, among others.
Recall that in January 2022, Tinubu announced his intention to run for the APC nomination for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election. He is expected to be challenged by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, et al.
Meanwhile, a youth support group, ‘Nigerian Youths for Tinubu’, has reiterated its offer to purchase the APC presidential nomination form for the former Lagos State governor and campaign for him all over the country.
Explaining the reason for their support for Tinubu, the group said the APC National Leader “stands better qualified to fulfill the yearnings and desires of the people of Nigeria, having proven himself to be a reliable progressive, unifier, visionary and compassionate leader.”
The support group further described Asiwaju Tinubu as a goal-getter, detribalized Nigerian, human capital developer and a man who painstakingly listens to the people and is listened to.
According to Idris Aregbe, leader of the group, several support groups from the South and Northern States have resolved to ensure mass participation in the project. Aregbe revealed that “Our northern states coordinator, Farouk Jeggo Mohammed Adamu, the South-East coordinator Samuel Isechi and our South coordinator Ahab Bourka are working out modalities to achieve our goal.
“Nigeria needs a trusted and reliable visionary, who feels the pain and anguish of the people and is capable of making life better for us. I don’t think there is any as qualified as Tinubu today, and that is why we are behind him and ready the presidential nomination form for him.”
“We are convinced, going by his track record as a progressive, about his victory and that informs our decision. Besides, it is also a way to stamp the legitimacy of youths on the presidential election process and we shall further ensure rigorous involvement of youths in the Tinubu presidency,” he added.
Reiterating the rationale behind the project, Missi Muherta, one of the state coordinators in the northern zone, said “Nigerian youths will leave nothing to chance as we begin to pull resources and roll out initiatives to ensure our bold imprint on the election of the next administration.”
This is just as organisers of the annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium announced that this year’s edition will examine emerging global development issues and the importance of good governance for Nigeria to be an influential and respected member of the international community.
The colloquium, which is in its 13th edition, will take place on Tuesday 29th March, 2022 at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will be presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman while Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is the chief host.
Professor Olufemi Bamiro, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, is the keynote speaker, and will be speaking on the central theme, ‘Pivoting Nigeria into the new world order: Imperatives of Good Governance’
A press statement signed by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, states that the colloquium will also feature a panel session where some of Nigeria’s leading technology entrepreneurs will discuss “Technology, Entrepreneurship and the future of work”.
The panel discussion to be moderated by Tomilayo Akanni-Aluko will have Bosun Tijani, Chief Executive Officer of Co-Creation Hub, as the Lead Discussant. Other panelists include Samson Ogbole, Managing Director, Soiless Farms, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, Group Chief Executive, Life Bank, Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya, Co-founder, Jand2Gidi and Lot Madaki, Chief Executive Officer, Madaki Shoes.
Speaking on the theme of the colloquium and the planning, Mr. Omotoso noted that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the man in whose honour the annual event is being organized, is an extra-ordinary statesman who has committed himself to making Nigeria one of the most prosperous nations.