2023: Tinubu Says He Will Run For Presidency

By Gideon Njoku

Finally, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Tinubu has let the cat out of the bag. He has declared, literally, that he would run for the office of the President in 2023.

For over one year, speculations have been very strong that the former two-time Governor of Lagos State will run in 2023.

He has been exploring and consulting. Different political groups and organisations had been set up to root for him. They have been in the field, campaigning. Everybody knew he was behind them. He never said so. But he, also, did not distance himself from them. He kept mum, and let them do the work. During festivals, they package bags of rice to distribute, with Tinubu’s photograph on them. They have been touring different States, meeting those that they think matter, including Traditional Rulers, many of whom already endorsed him as the man for 2023, especially, those from the South-west.

The strongest inkling that Tinubu’s running in 2023 is a done deal was when the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, launched a political group to promote Tinubu’s aspiration. He called it the South-west Agenda. That was a day before Tinubu’s return from months  of medical trip abroad – the Unted Kingdom.

While he was there, his London residence was a Mecca of sorts for politicians in Nigeria. His first high profile visitor was President Muhammadu Buhari who was on his own medical trip to the UK same time. But he made out time to visit the Asiwaju of Lagos.

Mr President’s visit opened the flood gate for visitors. National Assembly members. House of Assembly members Governors. Local Government Chairmen.

During the visit of the Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives to him, led by the Deputy Speaker, one of them called Tinubu Mr President. “See you soon, Mr President, he quipped. Tinubu lapped it up.

On his return to Nigeria, nothing changed. Both his Ikoyi and Abuja homes have remained a Mecca of sorts. Politicians of all shades, including serving Ministers, even Afenifere, led by Tinubu’s strong critic, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, trooped to his homes to welcome him.

He has been living it up as a President-in-waiting. And he has been consulting too. He has embarked on high profile visits of politicians. After a visit to the Kano petrel, Tanko Yakasai, in Abuja, the old man let it be known that Tinubu sought his support for his Presidential aspiration, and he gave him. He said he would support Tinubu in 2023.

But on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, Tinubu gave the most hint that he would run for the office of the President in 2023.

Speaking after a closed door meeting with members of one of the groups rooting for him – Northern Alliance Committee – Tinubu declared that he would not turn down the calls by his teeming supporters to run for the Presidential seat. Even though he said he was still consulting, and would consult widely, he let on, when asked if he would heed the clamour of those Nigerians asking him to run.

“I am not going to turn them down. But I will still effectively and widely consult. I will, particularly, brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out and tell Nigerians,” he quipped.

The Minister for works, Babatunde Fashola, a two-time Lagos State Governor, who succeeded Tinubu had, a couple of weeks ago, said it was his understanding that Tinubu would speak on his ambition in January, 2022.

That date is only about three weeks away. And Tinubu is warming up for the big day.