Kunle Adelabu
-Lagos Speaker, lawmakers, political leaders commend move
It was an emphatical statement by the traditional rulers under the aegis of Lagos State Ijebu Traditional Rulers, when they converged in Igbogbo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to urge the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare for the Presidency in 2023.
The traditional rulers, who made their decision public at their gathering at the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo, also pledged their support for Tinubu if he accept their call to contest.
The declaration of support for the Asiwaju Tinubu by the royal fathers, however, attracted commendations from the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, lawmakers at state and federal level and political leaders present at the meeting.
Special prayer was offered to the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Tinubu by the Ranodu of Imota, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewake Shotobi, the Chairman of the Ijebu Obas Forum, speaking on behalf of the Obas, said that they came to conclusion after reviewing the unfolding events and resolved that Tinubu is the best man to help build a strong country.
“At a time like this in the life of a nation, we need a statesman, bold, courageous, visionary leader and a bridge across ethnic groups and tribes to pilot the affairs of the nation post President Muhammadu Buhari government” they said.
“The core manifesto should be about building a strong economy and creation of a just society, equitable access to our commonwealth and development of enabling infrastructures for businesses to strive and for the people to find opportunities for self-fulfillment.
“In the deliberations of the Forum and having considered the Nigeria political events and activities as they unfold, we have decided to come into the open to urge the Governor Emeritus of Lagos State, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to contest for the Presidency in 2003.
“Our decision was taken based on factors we considered will help build a strong national economy, equity, justice, and a nation of opportunities for all with corresponding enabling infrastructures as pre-conditions for peace and security in Nigeria.
“We have singled out Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a time like this as the best man for the job”, Oba Shotobi declared on behalf of other Obas.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is s strategic thinker, an exceptional manager of resources, a quintessential and visionary leader. He is a detribalized Nigeria. By the grace of Almighty Allah, hard work, consistency and forthrightness, Asiwaju has built a nexus of international relationship and goodwill that would become helpful in the course of his service to the nation as a President”, the royal father said.
At the occasion where a cake was cut in celebration of Asiwaju Tinubu’s birthday which came up 24hours later, the traditional rulers also urged the nationally revered politician to make himself available to serve the country.
“We, the Ijebu Obas Forum in Lagos State, wish to use the occasion of Asiwaju’s 69th birthday to make a clarion call to him to sacrifice all that it would cost him to contest for the Presidency in 2023 to serve our fatherland.
“We know he has the zeal, the capacity, the robust intellect and intelligence coupled with his patriotism and pedigree to do Nigeria proud.
“It is on this note that we wish to felicitate with the Emeritus Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his 69th birthday anniversary.
“We pray Allah will keep and preserve him and grant him a robust health, peace of mind, and sound mind in his continued service to Allah and mankind”, royal fathers prayed.
Rt. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who was a special guest of honour at the royal fathers’ meeting, commended them for the initiative and described the call on Asiwaju Tinubu to contest as a significant move.
“I commend our Kabiyesis because what they are doing today is making a very significant statement”, Rt. Hon. Obasa said.
“You have displayed an act of a good father who will always support his child and accept his child first before an outsider.
“This gathering is so appreciated by me and I am sure also that it is appreciated by everyone in our great party.
“We thank you, we commend you and we appreciate you for this that you have done. This is what we (politicians) should be doing. It should be our initiative, but you have started it before we do.
“I want to assure you that we will always remember you, glorify and give thanks to you and I believe that the Almighty Allah will support your course and accept your prayers”.
While endorsing the royal fathers’ decision to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition, Obasa stated that Tinubu remains the only qualified Nigeria that has all that it takes to lead the country.
“If we are to bring anybody out for the position of President, I cannot see or find other person that is highly qualified and deserving than Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“I cannot see anyone from Lagos and throughout the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa lands that we can present except our father, Asiwaju Tinubu.
“In actual fact, those in the north that we were with yesterday (Saturday) were saying that they too could not find any other person that is qualified as Asiwaju Tinubu, but anything that is good need prayers, hence, we implore our royal fathers to continue assisting us with prayers for what we are planning to come to fruition.
“We will also continue to pray for those that are not with us in achieving this cause.
He said that the political class would take up the cause and continue spreading the campaign for Tinubu for president across the country for it to enjoy wider acceptance.
“We are all aware of Asiwaju’s roles morally, financially and in other areas in the formation of APC. This is the time for us to reward him and since you who are royal fathers have started it, it means that we are going to achieve it.
“We are going to follow your lead and work towards the achievement of Tinubu for President by spreading the gospel across the nation to tell others that we need their support in achieving this cause”.
Rt. Hon. Obasa also urged people in other parts of the country, especially those in the north, to reciprocate the roles played by Tinubu and the Yoruba nation in the emergence of President Mohammadu Buhari in order to further the partnership for future engagements.
“I have been telling people that whatever decision that we take towards 2023 will have ways of determining what to come thereafter, especially between the Yorubas and Hausas”, he said.
“The present administration did not come into existence without the contributions of the Yorubas. President Buhari had made three unsuccessful attempts to become the president but he was able to achieve his aim when the north and the Yorubas worked together.
“We are reminding them that we need to work together again to make our own candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerge as the President of the country.”
Hon. Wale Raji, member House of the Federal House of Representatives representing the Epe Federal Constituency, speaking on behalf of other federal lawmakers representing Ikorodu and Epe Divisions, also commended the royal fathers and pledged their supports.
“We are totally in support of your gathering today which is to celebrate our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and mandate him to declare for the Presidential race in 2023”, he said.
“I also want to commend you for this move because it is the right thing for us to do”.
While describing Tinubu as the best man for the job, Hon. Raji stated that lawmakers from the north and other parts of the country in the National Assembly have started showing their supports for Tinubu’s presidency.
“I also believe that given the present situation of things in the country, we require the right man and the best man for the job at this our critical moment in Nigeria.
“We do interact in the National Assembly with other representatives in other parts of the country and in fact, you will see some from Kano and Borno States and others wearing cap with Asiwaju’s logo inscribed on their caps.
“That is the extent to which the influence of Asiwaju has spread in Nigeria. Though, it is about Nigeria, but it is our own project too because charity, they say, begins at home.
“I commend you and pledge that we are totally committed to it and whenever you call on us, we shall be available”, he pledged.
Alhaji Akanni Shakirudeen Seriki (Baba Bamu), a member of the apex political body in Lagos, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), while also commending the royal fathers for the initiative, recalled Tinubu’s efforts in the emergence of Buhari as President and the political development.
“I was greatly surprised when I was called by the Kabiyesi late in the night that they wanted to initiate this move.
“It is a thing of joy for me because our traditional rulers are the first in this part of the state to start this campaign.
“Once our royal fathers have started the journey, we are sure that our prayer has been answered.
“When some people were saying that Buhari presidency would not be achievable, it was Asiwaju that said that it can be done and suggested ways to achieve it.
“We will make it if all of us are together and I am quite sure that he will turnaround the economy of the country”.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Vice Chairman, APC Lagos East Senatorial District, also speaking, said that the Ijebu Obas in Lagos must have seen something in the spiritual realm beyond the comprehension of ordinary persons, thus, the lead in propagating Tinubu for President come 2023.
He said that the initiative would challenge the political class to take over the campaign for effective propagation across the country.
“The purpose for which our royal fathers have invited us here today is very savvy and commendable because the initiative that they have taken today is a challenge to the political class.
“May be they are inspired by their spirits because they are spiritual leaders because they commune with gods all the time because they are traditional rulers. They must have seen something in the celestial and spiritual realms that we are not able to see immediately and that is what they are bringing out today.
“What they are making public is a political journey. My prayer is that what our traditional rulers have seen in the spiritual realm, we pray that God Almighty will give His final authority to it.
“We pray that the pronouncement of our traditional rulers today would meet the mercy of God and shall make it to be established and be witnessed by all of us here present and by extension, the whole of Nigeria and consequently, we shall experience a new Nigeria of peace, plenty and a new Nigeria that would offer opportunities to our young ones.
“I am sure that this is what our royal fathers wanted in the country and in their domains because their interests are more permanent than that of the politicians who come and go.
“We will give what you have seen in the spiritual realm and which you are pronouncing today total support and to quicken your steps going forward, we will mobilise beyond Lagos State so as to make a bridge across the Nigeria”, he said.
Dr Tola Kasali, a former Commissioner and Chieftain of the APC in the State, said that the political class is ready to act and follow the authority and directive from the royal fathers”, he said.
“I am happy to be part of this gathering called by our royal fathers because this is a very good initiative and we are ready to follow your authority because I know that you must have seen something.
“The person that you called us here for is our leader, mentor and a builder who has made many of us and we are always proud of him.
“He has made many occupying prominent positions at state and federal levels”.
King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the Mayegun of Yorubaland, also commended the royal fathers, stating that:
“I am privileged to be here today and l am also glad that I am part of this great decision making.
“It is commendable and significant that our royal fathers agreed and decided to do the needful and since you are the authority, I have no doubt that what you have decided today will manifest.
“You have done very well sirs because the person that you gathered here for today is our good boss who has done very well for us”.
The popular musician, who holds a chieftaincy title in Oyo given to him by Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alafin of Oyo, charged Yorubas to see Tinubu as another opportunity to have a claim at the Presidency.
“Yoruba now have another opportunity in Tinubu because Awolowo, who suffered greatly, was not allowed to achieve his aim, so also was Abiola.
“We now have another opportunity which you who are our fathers, have led the way for us to follow”.
Other political actors at the meeting were Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, a Chieftain of the GAC and APC, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos Assembly, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Member of the Lagos Assembly, Hon. Tobun …, Member of Lagos Assembly, Hon. (Chief) Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, former acting Commissioner for Tourism and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture among other lawmakers and party chieftains.
There were also Council Chairmen from Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ikosi – Ejinrin, Eredo and Ibeju – Lekki LCDA.
