![[JUST IN] FULL LIST:10 ministers seeking elective positions resign, Buhari bids them farewell](https://cdn.newspeakonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13133823/Buhari-and-the-ministers-75x75.webp)
By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagis State, on Tuesday, said that former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, remains the man to beat in the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Seye Oladejo, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Lagos APC took a swipe at those attacking Tinubu over his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party advised those kicking against the ambition of the APC national leader to be democratic and lay the facts on the table rather than resorting to blackmail.
Oladejo noted that allegations and blackmail over Tinubu’s source of wealth, educational qualification and age, were unjustifiable because they remain accusations without substantive facts.
“It is very interesting that those in opposition suddenly have access to Asiwaju’s medical record and they have become the authority on his state of health.
“Tinubu’s movement to different parts of the country in the last few months showed that he is medically fit,” the statement said.
Lagos APC said that Tinubu should be commended for making his recent knee surgery public despite being a private citizen, adding that since the APC leader returned from his foreign medical trip, he has been moving from one place to the other.
Speaking on the controversy trailing Tinubu’s age in some quarters, Oladejo said there was nothing hidden about the former Lagos State governor’s age.
Reacting to issues surrounding Tinubu’s source of wealth, he said: “Tinubu’s wealth cannot be measured in monetary value.
“His wealth should be measured by the goodwill and image he has by building men who are willing to play their parts at a time like this. These men are spread all over Nigeria.”
According to the statement, Tinubu has the required qualifications to be President of Nigeria based on constitutional provisions, which stipulated that anybody running for the presidency must be 35 years old, be a card-carrying member of a political party and must be sponsored by a political party.
Oladejo said Tinubu is eminently qualified to be Nigeria’s President because of the confidence people have in him, having distinguished himself.
He said Tinubu distinguished himself during his eight years as governor of Lagos State, as well as contributions to national politics in the last three decades.
He emphasised thsat the former Lagos State governor will never say no to the millions of Nigerians who have been urging him to contest as over 1,800 groups across the country are already clamouring for his candidature.
“We are excited about Tinubu’s aspiration. We are excited because for once we have someone who is aspiring, who is a willing aspirant to say.
“He is not being forced on us and he is not being thrown up by circumstances to run for the office,” the party noted.
The statement said the APC national leader is well-grounded and over time, he has built a whole lot of goodwill and image across the country and across various ethnic nationalities.
“Looking at various issues such as economy, security, education, good health, among others in the country, it is high time for us to have a personality like Asiwaju to run for the presidency and we are very optimistic.
“The opposition will have their say but people will have their way,” he said.
Oladejo added that Tinubu’s decision to contest for the presidency is already giving a lot of people sleepless nights, especially those who are also interested in the position.
The APC spokesperson expressed confidence that Tinubu would defeat aspirants from South West and other parts of the country during the APC presidential primary and general elections.
(NAN)
