Ayodele Olalere
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the February 25, 2023 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged Lagosians to come out enmasse and vote for him, on Saturday, and leave him to handle the aftermath of the election.
He spoke at an interactive session with the Yoruba South West Leaders of Thought at Eko Hotel and Suites during a summit organised by the leaders to endorse him as their candidate for the February 25 presidential election.
Tinubu said he has traversed all the 36 states of the federation , adding with what he has done in terms of campaign, what remains is for the Yoruba people to come out and use their PVC to vote for him.
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He added whatever happens after the voting day should be left for him to handle.
“With what we have done, what remains is for you to use your PVC. The election is just a day so it should not be difficult for you to leave that day and come out to vote. The President has said he would hand over which we are happy about.
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We have done what we are supposed to do, so I urge you to calm down. After casting your votes, leave the rest for us to handle. We will.bring the ‘trophy’ home,” Tinubu said.
Among those present were traditional rulers from all Yoruba states such as the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Kabiru Sotobi, Olugbo of Ugbo, Obateru Akinrutan, among other first class traditional rulers.
In his welcome address, Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged the traditional rulers to use their influence in their domain to convince their people to vote for Tinubu.
He said Tinubu is the only one that can turn around the fortune of the country and described him as a ‘completely detribalised’ politician.
While eulogising Tinubu, Oluwo of Iwo said the Yoruba Obas are the leaders in their various domain and therefore have more say than any other leader, adding since the Obas have endorsed Tinubu to be the next President of Nigeria, no other person has authority to say otherwise.
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With reference to Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo. who has voiced his support for the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Oluwo said the Obas ‘cannot leave our son and go and vote for another person.
“Anyone in Afenifere that accepts Bola Ahmed Tinubu we accept him, anyone in Afenifere who doesn’t accept Tinubu, we are king over him and it is Tinubu we want.
The pronouncement of the Kings have erased whatever they have said,” Oluwo said.
Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Sotobi said the presidential election is ‘payback time ‘ for Tinubu adding all Yoruba Obas have prayed for the APC candidate. He said Lagos is overdue to produce a president and urged the people not to allow the fuel scarcity and cash shortage to stop them from coming out to vote on Saturday.
Former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba said every successful person in Nigeria made it from Lagos and as such Lagos deserves to produce the president of the country. He promised seven million votes for Tinubu in Lagos.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who was also a former governor of Ogun State said Tinubu has been accepted across the breadth of Nigeria. He therefore moved a motion for the adoption of Tinubu as the candidate of the south west leaders. The motion was seconded by former deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Samson Iyiola Oladokun.
The convener of the summit, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said the past Yoruba leaders advocated for a federal system of government at the time of Independence but blamed the military for truncating it.
He said it is the turn of the south west to produce the next president and called on all the traditional rulers to ensure their people vote for Tinubu.