By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday received the endorsement of the House of Representatives All Progressives Congress(APC) to contest the 2023 presidential poll.
House Leader, Alhassan Doguwa, who moderated the endorsement and spoke on behalf of the members, got not a single “nay” voice when he called for the votes of those against Tinubu’s ambition.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu has everything it takes to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come 2023,” Doguwa stated.
Addressing the lawmakers, Tinubu who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, at his office before proceeding to meet with the caucus, said he was in the green chamber with all humility, but with the requisite qualifications, to seek their support to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
“I am here to seek your support for my life-long ambition.
“To step into the shoes of President Buhari in 2023, and not to step on his shoes,” he said.
Tinubu noted that he was the only person who had come out in the open, running around to tell everyone that he would contest the presidential election, an indication that he remained the most serious, most qualified, most experienced and most prepared to offer service to the nation and Nigerians.
Earlier in his welcome address, Gbajabiamila told his colleagues that nobody else had shown genuine interest or campaigned to be President next year apart from Tinubu.
“No one else is contesting but one man, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the Speaker said.
He also described Tinubu’s visit as “epic” and “historic,” being the first presidential aspirant to visit the House to seek the support of members.
Deputy Speaker, AhmedWase, who also spoke at the meeting, drummed home the message that for a man who had assisted many people to climb the political ladder, there was no better time than now to reciprocate the gesture.
Tinubu, a former senator, received a resounding “ayes” vote from caucus members when the Deputy Speaker put the endorsement to voice vote.
