Sen. Bola Tinubu, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated on Thursday that he is running for President in 2023 to provide hope and achieve the changes that the country desires.
This was stated by the former governor of Lagos state during a meeting with members of the Ekiti Traditional Council in Ado-Ekiti.
The country, according to the APC national chairman, is in desperate need of a leader who can unite the people, combat insecurity, and bring about the needed socio-economic progress.
He said he met with the traditional rulers to discuss his presidential ambitions for 2023 and to seek the prayers and support of the royal fathers.
Tinubu stated that he chose to meet with traditional rulers because he values 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.
For progress to be made, he argued, governance must be consistent.
“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 that he had been working on the Nigeria project since the 1970s, and that he was not new to contesting for the nation’s highest office.
“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.
Sen. Dayo Adeyeye, the National Chairman of South-West Agenda 2023 for Tinubu Presidential Ambition, (SWAGA) said Tinubu has made great investment toward promoting the development of Ekiti state.
“That APC is in Ekiti today is traceable to God and Tinubu. He struggled for it and restored progressive politics here. He has made many Ekiti people commissioners, Special Advisers and local government chairmen in Lagos.
“Tinubu honoured our own hero in Ekiti, Adekunle Fajuyi by building a house for him. He has helped so many people, including myself.
“Tinubu brought a paradigm shift to governance in Lagos. In fact, he is a miracle worker.
“As a governor of Lagos State, he was ranked first and no wonder he remained the last man standing when the then AD lost grip of the Southwest”, Adeyeye said.
The Onisan of Isan-Ekiti and Chairman of the Ekiti Traditional Council, Oba Gabriel Adejumo, responded by saying that the constitution allows any qualified Nigerian to seek for any post.
He prayed for Tinubu’s success and for God’s guidance and protection.
Tinubu was escorted to the meeting by Bisi Egbeyemi, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, and members of SWAGA from the state’s 16 Local Government Areas.
