In continuation of his consultation ahead of 2023 presidential election, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC on Thursday visited revered traditional rulers in Osun State.
His first port of called was the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi where he was welcomed by the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola, mammoth crowd of the party members, supporters, loyalists and his admirers, as well as other traditional rulers from within and outside the State.
Speaking at the Oduduwa’s palace Tinubu said the visit was to seek the royal blessing and prayers of the Ooni on his ambition to run in the 2023 presidential race.
Tinubu commended the traditional rulers for their cooperation and support for national integration, unity and peaceful cohesion, just as he declared his ambition to contest for the President.
He said the visit was to intimate the monarchs in particular and Nigerians in general of his ambition to run for presidential election, an ambition he described ‘as timely and prompt’.
“I thank you all. I specifically thank the traditional rulers here present, I came here to seek for your prayers. I am here for your support and cooperation. You have known my intention already. You have known what I am aspiring for; all I need is your prayers.
“I have been supporting the people here and there. We have moved all over the country for one candidate or the other especially in 2013 where we campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari after his emergence, we equally supported him in 2019.
“As you all know, what the Constitution says is just two terms for a president after which another person succeeds him. That is what we are going round the country to let our people know that I am ready to succeed the incumbent President after the expiration of his second term.
“As you all know, what we are doing is to succeed him and I want to vie for President. I want to succeed Buhari and I can’t do it alone without your support. I want your continued support. It is our belief that once Ooni, Orangun, Awujale, Alake, Owa, among others speak, it becomes ours. With your support, it will come to pass.
“I am determined, I am prepared and I am ready for it. God that put our traditional rulers in their various thrones will not forsake us. He will put us there. I want to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I want your continued prayers,” Asiwaju added.
After informing the Ooni of his presidential ambition, Tinubu spoke on the benefits endowed in the nation’s diversity which he says should be utilized as a factor of fostering peace and prosperity for all Nigerians.
Tinubu seized the opportunity to admonish the youth to make peace their hallmark and to be practical in demonstrating the tendency to deliver quality leadership.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank you for nominating our Governor to re-contest. Though there were intimidation here and there before the primary, at the end of it, there was light at the end of the tunnel. So, I thank you particularly for standing by us, especially our royal fathers. I thank you for not putting our party to shame”, he added.
While imploring Nigerians to continue to tow the path of unity, love, peace, greatness, togetherness and prosperity, Asiwaju Tinubu said his determination to run for presidential election was anchored on the need to consolidate on the achievements of President Buhari and set the nation to path of national integration and cohesion.
He tasked the citizens, particularly youths who have been aspiring to become President to champion the virtues of character, capacity, tolerance, endurance, consistency, integrity, diligence and ability to see good things and take leadership position to lead and sustain the country on the path of greatness.
In their separate remarks in their palaces, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, described Asiwaju as the pride of Yoruba race whose great impacts in the lives of humanity cannot be quantified.
The duo declared their readiness to support Asiwaju’s ambition, saying he has paid his dues to be duly rewarded.
