Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has told a large crowd of supporters at the grand finale rally of his Presidential campaign in Lagos that when he won the party’s primary, he requested President Muhammadu Buhari, as leader of the party, to nominate a running mate for him but he turned such request down.Asíwájú said today, February 21 that President Buhari told him: “you know better, you are very experienced and you know the kind of person who will assist you to run the country. So pick that person.”
The Presidential candidate said that before the primary, President Buhari had asked all of those who were interested to go and contest.
“After I was picked overwhelmingly by the delegates, he didn’t ask them to change the results because of my tribe or religion or because I’m not from Daura like him. He accepted me and celebrated with me, telling me ‘you are almost there now’.
“Thank you Mr. President. You gave me the courage, the confidence and the will to pick right.”
Asiwaju Tinubu said that he chose as running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima who he described as a most knowledgeable and independent-minded person.
He said that Shettima has shown determination and grit to perform and be different, describing him as a dependable, reliable and courageous man.
Turning to President Buhari who was physically present at the rally, Asíwájú Tinubu said: “as you worked hard for me, I will work hard for Nigeria. All the plans set out in our Action Plan for Renewed Hope for Nigerians will be pursued rigorously.”
The rally was attended by an unprecedented crowd who had besieged the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere venue of the rally from as early as 8 am, while another large number lined the streets from the Presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja where President Buhari’s and Asíwájú’s planes landed to Surulere in a long convoy of vehicles.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu thanked the people of the state for turning out in large number to receive President Buhari and Asíwájú Tinubu and to also attend the rally.
He said that with the massive turn out, they had shown their love for the ‘City Boy,’ and asked them to go further on Saturday February 25, 2023 and vote Asíwájú for president.
Those who addressed the rally also included APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign and Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong and the wife of the APC candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Also present at the rally were Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Mohammed Inuwa (Gombe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others included former governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) as well as former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, National Woman Leader, Beta Edu, Youth and Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare and Adamawa APC Governorship Candidate, Hajiya Binani.
