2023: Tinubu Declares Interest To Succeed Buhari

By Adesina Soyooye

The rumours have been strong. The speculations too. But the man around whom they revolve has kept sealed lips. Apparently, he has been exploring. And strategising. And working and discussing behind closed doors. He has been visiting people. And setting up, by proxy it is alleged, groups rooting for him to run for the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.

He even had to celebrate his 69th birthday party in Kano, the State which returns votes, during elections, more than any other State in Nigeria.

His proxies have been talking, hinting on his ambition every now and then. From the North to the South. But nobody, or Group, has said ”He asked us to campaign for him. He told us he would run for the office of the President of Nigeria.”

However, on Friday, the cat, as they say, was let out of the bag. Not from him. But from an Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai.

The 94 year old Yakasai has let it be known that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited him in his Abuja house to tell him he would run for the office of the President, and to solicit for his support.

Yakasai, a strong member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, says he would support Tinubu to achieve his ambition. He told the Punch that the former two-time Lagos State Governor visited him on Wednesday to tell him of his ambition to be the President  of Nigeria.

When Tinubu finally publicly declares his ambition, he is not likely to be short of supporters. Many groups including Traditional Rulers from his South-west zone are rooting for him. And so are a number of APC Governors.

Just before he came back from the United Kingdom where he was, for  medical attention,  the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched a group, the South-west Agenda, for the purpose of realising Tinubu’s ambition.

While he was in the UK, his residence became a Mecca of sorts for Politicians. In the lead was President Muhammadu Buhari, who was also on a medical trip to the UK. He made out time to visit Tinubu to wish him a quick recovery. His visit was followed by that of a number of State Governors, and the Northern House of Representatives Caucus led by the Deputy Speaker of the House. A delegation of the Lagos House of Assembly also visited.

Since his return, nothing has changed. Politicians and groups, including Afenifere, have been trooping to his Ikoyi residence to wish him well.

Some days ago, he visited the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, apparently to brief him on his ambition. Kalu, in a statement, said both of them discussed National issues and how to move Nigeria forward.

A couple of days ago, former Lagos State Governor, and now, Minister for Works, Babatunde Fashola, said on a television programme that even though Tinubu has not, yet, told him of his desire to run for the office of the President, he, Tinubu, would make a statement on that in January, 2022.

Tinubu, a former Senator, National Leader of the APC, is the most visible and the most influential of his class of Governors – 1999 to 2007.

His wife, Remi, is  currently, a ranking Senator.