Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that he fought hard to clinch the ticket of the ruling party for the 2023 elections.

Tinubu recalled that his victory at the party’s presidential primaries did not come easy, stating that when he was almost fed up, he resorted to prayers.

Speaking on Sunday at the Oba of Lagos palace, the former governor noted that the gang up against him led to his outbursts in Abeokuta, Ogun State with the famous remarks: Emi lo kan (It’s my turn), O lu le (he was defeated – President Buhari’s defeat) and Eleyi (referring to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun).

According to him, “I took up the fight to break this jinx. The battle to secure the APC ticket was hard. When I was almost fed up, I resorted to prayers. I also poured out my mind when I felt there was a gang up against my person. Thank God that I have brought home the presidential ticket.”

Tinubu stated that no indigene of Lagos has attained the Presidency of Nigeria despite the state’s contribution to the nation’s development.

He said: “There is no Lagos indigene that has had the opportunity to become President of the Nigeria, despite the contribution of the state to the national stability and progress. The highest position attained by any Lagosian in national leadership is the position of Chief Judge of the Federation.

“The task ahead is to galvanise our people to get their voter cards and vote to enable us realise this ambition. Getting our people to vote is the most important task before all of us. We need to take this message to our people across communities and sensitise them on the need to vote in the general election.”

Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, who described Tinubu as his “stubborn son”, said it was time for political leaders in South-West region to close ranks and work for the victory of Tinubu at the 2023 presidential election, saying the massive support received by the APC National Leader across the country must be complemented by politicians in the region.

The monarch said: “Your emergence as presidential candidate of your party is the beginning of another journey in your political career. All Yoruba ancestors shall be with you on this journey to make our fatherland a better place.”

Tinubu writes Buhari, confident of victory in 2023

Earlier, all roads leading to the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) were a beehive of activities as residents of Lagos State trooped to the airport to receive the presidential flagbearer of APC.

Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos, returned to the state for the first time after clinching the APC presidential ticket during the primaries held early this month in Abuja.

Tinubu arrived Lagos airport in company of notable APC leaders.

Various groups of artisans, women and youths joined thousands of APC faithful in Lagos to welcome the presidential candidate back to his base. Also, there were various cultural troupes and musical bands, entertaining the massive crowd.

At 3:40p.m., Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in company of his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, received Tinubu and his entourage, which included the Governor of Kano State, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, Sen. Kashim Ibrahim, former APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, among others.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinmma, Sen. Solomon Adeola, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Lagos APC chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and members of Lagos Executive Council joined the roll call of dignitaries who received the APC presidential flag-bearer at the airport.

Tinubu’s homecoming turned to a carnival immediately his motorcade rolled into the town.

Crowd of residents lined up along the convoy’s route, with Tinubu acknowledging cheers and waving his broom from the window.

The convoy moved to the palace of Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, where the APC National Leader received royal blessings.

Tinubu left the palace to his house on Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi, where the APC Governors, led by chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, were waiting to receive him.

Other dignitaries who received Tinubu at his Bourdillon home included Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and former Governor Gbenga Daniel, among others.

The Star