Bola Tinubu seeks support of APC governors over 2023 presidential ambition

Sen. Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and a presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), called on the party’s governors to work together on Monday, April 11.

The call by Bola Tinubu is aimed at realising his presidential ambitions in 2023.

Tinubu made the statement while meeting with several APC governors at the Kebbi Government Lodge in Abuja under the auspices of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

“My mission here is to seek collaboration, support and encouragement of my party, the APC, over my ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari at the expiration of his tenure,’’ he said.

On the 2023 presidential declaration by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is regarded as Tinubu’s political godson, the former Lagos State governor said he did not have a son grown up enough to make such a declaration.

“I don’t have any son grown up enough to make such declaration,’’ Tinubu quipped.

He acknowledged the role the governors played at the party’s March 26, national convention, saying that they helped to ensure a peaceful enthronement of an acceptable leadership for the party.

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Speaking at the event, Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, Chairman of the PGF, said the forum appreciated Tinubu and his message and would discuss it at its meeting.

“Tinubu met members of the PGF where he stated what he had made public already — his intention to seek for the Office of the President come 2023

“He briefed us on his reasons, his thinking, and his message. We appreciated him, his message and will definitely discuss it at one of our forum meetings,’’ Bagudu said.

He added that all the governors in attendance graciously listened to Tinubu.

He said that contrary to speculations, Osinbajo and Tinubu being in the 2023 presidential race would not put the governors under any pressure.

“In fact, to the contrary, we appreciate that our party has become a party that has endeared itself to Nigerians.

“We have many brilliant people in our party; some serving and some not serving.

“The fact that we have people in our party that express the desire to lead the party into the highest office in the electoral contest shows how much our party has resonated with Nigerians and with our members.

“For us, it is a hallmark of success that people are showing interest, but at the end of the day and because they are leaders of the party, they will always put its interest at heart,’’ he said.