A presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu has recalled his role in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, maintaining that the former military leader would have lost the election if not for his efforts.
Bola Tinubu made the comment on Thursday while addressing party delegates at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“If not for me that stood behind Buhari, he wouldn’t have become the President. He tried the first time, he failed. The second time, he failed. The third, he failed,” Tinubu told the delegates.
“He even wept on national television and vowed never to contest again but I went to meet him in Kaduna and told him he will run again, I will stand by you and you will win, but you must not joke with Yorubas and he agreed.”
“I have been there from the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), through the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and which eventually metamorphosed into the APC.
“I have served for over 25 years and helped many achieve their political ambitions.
“Your governor, Dapo Abiodun, could not have become governor without God and my support.
“Go and check the video, they did not want to hand over the party’s flag to him as the APC flag-bearer for the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ogun.
“I was the one that insisted that it should be given to him.
“If not for me that stood solidly behind Buhari and encouraged him to go ahead, he could not have become president,” he said.
“Since his assumption of power, I never took ministerial position, begged him for any contract or loan.
Read Also: How I sacrificed vice presidential position for Osinbajo in 2015- Tinubu
“All I am saying is that it is the turn of the Yoruba speaking people to become president and within the yoruba people, it is my turn.
“I have adopted and protected many political children, but in the face of danger, one has to first protect himself.
“I have served enough. I do not want to become history. It is my turn to become president. It is a matter of right for me.
“Bring it on,” he said.
Mr Tinubu urged the delegates to shun endemic or indigenous sentiments while voting at the presidential primaries.
He disclosed to them that he sacrificed the position of vice-president offered to him by Buhari in 2015, for Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo whom he nominated.
Mr Tinubu, therefore, appealed to the delegates to vote for him to clinch the party’s ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
NAN
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