It was a homecoming of sort for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday at the party’s campaign grand finale rally in Lagos.
At the rally, President Muhammadu Buhari lifted up Tinubu’s hand, again proclaiming him the next president of the country, God willing.
The rally was attended by an unprecedented crowd who had besieged the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere venue from as early as 8 am, while another large number lined the streets from the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja where President Buhari’s and Tinubu’s planes landed till they arrived in Surulere in a long convoy of vehicles.
Addressing the rally, Tinubu, facing the president said: “As you worked hard for me, I will work hard for Nigeria. All the plans set out in our Action Plan for Renewed Hope for Nigerians will be pursued rigorously”.
At every turn, he thanked President Buhari for standing firm for democracy, accountability, transparency and fairness.
“The President asked all of us interested to go and contest the primary of our party. After I was picked overwhelmingly by the delegates, he didn’t ask them to change the results because of my tribe or religion or because I’m not from Daura like him. He accepted me and celebrated with me, telling me ‘you are almost there now'”, he recalled..
Tinubu also said that when it was time for the choice of a running mate, the President turned down his offer to choose for him, telling him ‘you know better, you are very experienced and you know the kind of person who will assist you to run the country; so pick that person’.
“Thank you Mr President, you gave me the courage, the confidence and the will to pick right”, he said.
The APC candidate said that he chose as running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima who he described a most knowledgeable and independent-minded person.
He said Shettima had shown determination and grit to perform and be different, describing him a dependable, reliable and courageous man.
Tinubu promised to do all in his power to continue where President Buhari would stop, and consolidate on his achievements.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu thanked the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to receive President Buhari and Tinubu, and to also attend the rally.
He said that with the massive turn out, they had shown their love for the ‘City Boy,’ asking them to go further on Saturday to vote Tinubu for president.
Also at the rally were the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong; and the wife of the APC candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Also present were Senate President Ahmed Lawan; House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Mohammed Inuwa (Gombe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others included former governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) as well as former House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, National Woman Leader, Dr Beta Edu; Youth and Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare; and Adamawa APC governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani.
