2023: “I’m The Courageous Leader Nigeria Needs – Tinubu

* APC National Leader meets current, past Speakers, deputies

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said Nigeria needs a courageous leader like him as President in 2023 to effect drastic changes that will bring revenue and build the nation.

He made the statement during a one-day parley between current and former speakers and deputy speakers of state assemblies who are APC members, held at The Providence Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The theme of the one-day parley hosted by Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, was “The Legislature, Changing times and Nigeria’s Democratic Journey.”

He said: “Nigeria needs me even as I need Nigeria. Nigeria needs drastic courageous changes that will bring revenue. I was raised to be courageous and this has been working for me. I want to bring the same to bear as President of Nigeria. Accelerated development of our nation is about thinking and doing, and I am ready to do that again because I am a thinker and doer.

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“I am pushing and requesting your support to be elected president of Nigeria in 2023. I am begging you to do me a favour so I can do Nigeria a favour. No one should leave here without a commitment to vote for me as a delegate. It is a very challenging time and we need to decide it right. I did not take any appointments so that I can assert my position.

“How many of my fellow contenders have my experience as governor, even of a governor my caliber? I am the first governor to grant autonomy to the House of Assembly even as I am knowledgeable in legislative duties. I survived the non-allocation of local government funds in Lagos, functioned and created jobs. We made progress out of adversity. Revenue generation, not allocation, has made Lagos the number one economy in Africa.”

Tinubu stressed further that: “Nigeria should not be an index of poverty, frustration, banditry, hooliganism, and the likes, but a country that we will all be proud of. We need to get it right.

“Nigeria needs me even as I need Nigeria. I will be a good example. I have a can-do spirit, I am confident, and I have never lost an election. I was raised to be courageous and this has been working for me.

“We can change the fortune of this country without giving excuses. I have demonstrated it in Lagos, and though people talk about traffic, I tell you that if there is no good economy, there won’t be traffic. We can rebuild this nation, reverse the carnage, but you need the visioner. I am the best visioner available and so I plead with you to decide well on who the APC candidate will be.”

Speaking on the qualities that distinguished him from other aspirants in the presidential race, Tinubu said he has the required qualities to lead Nigeria and address some of the challenges facing the country.

“I want to become President legitimately through the ballot. I started my teething age of politics in the Senate; I was the youngest and I did well. I am well educated, sound, brilliant, vibrant, and one of the best alumni of Chicago State University. I was a student-tutor and one of the most sought-after graduates after school as I had five job offers even before graduation.

“In the face of tyranny and all odds, I have survived, stood and fought for democracy, survived the exile, lived without family, while financing other pro-democracy groups. I have contributed to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy more than any other person. I am a very passionate being. I have contributed immensely more than any other person contesting today. I equally have it better when it comes to legislative experience. I am married to a senator, and have allowed her to practice her religion well,” he said.

In his welcome address, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended the lawmakers for desiring an interactive session to move the nation forward.

He urged them as critical stakeholders to work for Asiwaju Tinubu victory during the APC presidential primary and general election, adding that they must all work together to ensure that Nigeria gets a leader with capacity, exposure and audacity like Tinubu.

Speaking at the event, former Nigeria Ambassador to Austria, Vienna and United Nations, Hon. Jerry Ugokwe; Chairman, Conference of Speakers and Speaker of Bauchi State of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman; former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adetipe Ademiluyi and his Anambra State Counterpart, Rita Maduagwu, among others unanimously agreed that whoever will be the President of Nigeria must be someone who understand Nigeria and ensure cordial relationship within the three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary.

They said Tinubu been a former member of the Senate has an upper edge among all the presidential aspirants and therefore assured him of their support in getting the APC presidential ticket as well as winning the February 25 presidential poll.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Lagos APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, said Nigerians must choose someone with a sound mind and impressive records like Asiwaju Tinubu to succeed President Buhari in 2023.