With the screening of the 23 presidential aspirants of the two-day All Progressives Congress (APC) commencing yesterday in Abuja, speculations have been rife about the fate of a leading hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Some sinister content even reported that he had been disqualified by the party’s screening panel.
But a statement by the Tinubu Campaign Organisation reflected a “successful screening process before the Chief John Odigie Oyegun-led APC Screening Committee”.
According to the its Director of Media and Communication, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the former Lagos State Governor “impressed the panel during the screening process with the way and manner he answered and provided insight into many of the questions asked”.
Giving details, Onanuga reported: “Some of the questions bordered on his upbringing, educational and professional background. He confidently told the panel why he is qualified to fly the flag of APC as its presidential candidate.
He cited his success as Governor of Lagos State, his raising the internal revenue generation of the state from a paltry N600 million monthly, which has now grown to N51 billion today.
“He also cited his invitation to Enron to begin the first state-backed power generation in Nigeria and how Nigeria will need to take the power transmission lines as a highway.
“Tinubu, in his answers, demonstrated vast knowledge in economic management and perfect understanding of Nigeria’s political economy.
The screening committee expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s knowledge of the economy and sociopolitical issues that are affecting the country”.
Tinubu, who is also the National Leader of the APC, was the first member of the party to indicate interest in the topmost seat when he announced his intention public on 10th January shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
In his interview with State House reporters, Tinubu said it has been his age-long ambition to lead the country one day.
“I have informed the President of my ambition but I have not informed Nigerians yet, I am still consulting. And I have no problem consulting. And I’ve not set a parameter of limitation to the extent of how many people I will consult.
“You will soon hear. All you want to hear is the categorical declaration. You’ve gotten that truth from me that I have informed Mr President of my ambition, and you don’t expect more answers than that”, he said.
Probed further by the reporters on Buhari’s response, Tinubu said: “He is a Democrat. He didn’t ask me to stop. He didn’t ask me not to attempt and pursue my ambition, it is a lifelong ambition. So, why do I expect him to say more than that? You are running a democratic dispensation, and you must adopt the principles and the values and the virtues of democracy. That’s it”.
