- * Vows Not To Succumb To Intimidation, As He Visits Alaafin, Olubadan-elect
By Dare Ajayi (Oyo State Correspondent)
One of the prominent leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a presidential contender on the platform of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gave hint at the weekend that he would engage in "dirty" politics to score up with political forces that may want to stop him or intimidate him out of his quest to rule Nigeria in 2023.
Tinubu made this declaration when he visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and the Olubadan-elect, Chief Lekan Balogun, on Sunday, February 20, 2023, to consult with them on his decision to contest the presidency in the coming elections. Tinubu has also visited many leaders across the country including President Muhammadu Buhari and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd)
While at the palace of the Olubadan-elect, Tinubu said said he visited Ibadan and Oyo towns as a mark of his respect for the high traditional offices of the Olubadan and the Alaafin the duo he had come to seek their royal blessings, cooperation and prayers to vie to become the president of Nigeria come 2023.
Tinubu vowed that “No amount of intimidation can stop me. I am ready to get dirty. I am out to become President of Nigeria. We are at the crossroads.”
However, the Olubadan-elect in his own response, told Tinubu that he political leading light of Nigeria in recent years. He also said: "We have known you and we know your antecedents as a progressive. You laid the foundation of today’s Lagos. You are the leading light of Nigeria. You contributed to making Nigeria what it is today.
“Without Yoruba, Nigeria will not be what it is today. Nigeria is badly divided. We are looking forward to a Yoruba president who will unite this country. We need a leader that will have a national focus and national acceptability. The road may be rough but by His grace, you will triumph.”
At the Alaafin’s palace earlier, the former governor of Lagos State said: “I cannot embark on a project of such magnitude without seeking for prayers and cooperation of the traditional rulers. I am here to inform our fathers of my decision to run for the position of the President of this country in 2023.
"What I need from our highly revered traditional rulers are their prayers and cooperation. Today, by the special grace of God, in Yorubaland unlike before, we have the Vice-President, the Minister of Works, Interior and Sports but we still need more", Tinubu stated.
The Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who invoked the spirits of his fore-bearers, said Tibubu's requests had been granted. The Oyo Monarch also said all the ancestors of Yorubaland would work in Asiwaju's favour and accede to his political prayers.
The Alaafin turned to the 10 Oke-Ogun traditional rulers in attendance during the visit and asked them whether they were in support of his decision, and they responded : “We are in full support.” This however elicited a thunderous ovation and laughter from the gathering. NNL.
