A former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu, on Friday said he sacrificed his presidential ambition for
the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu stated this while addressing a crowd of APC supporters at the party’s presidential rally in Lagos.
He said Nigeria was facing an economic
crisis and an internal war and needed a person with Buhari’s experience
because of the General’s reputation of anti-corruption and military
warfare.
Tinubu said, “People define patriotism
as putting the country first but this is what the ‘Poverty Development
Party’ refuses to understand. We chose Buhari not because Bola Tinubu is
not interested in the Presidency. I am capable, competent, qualified,
younger and richer but there comes a time that people must make
sacrifices for their nation.
“I prayed that Nigeria would get better
and we would not need a man like him (Buhari). But today, we are in a
great crisis; we face a lot of challenges. When South Africa was in a
great dilemma and was about to disintegrate, they called Nelson Mandela
of 74 years old.
“He used his wisdom to save his country.
When the United States was in economic depression, they called
73-year-old Ronald Reagan because he was frugal and incorruptible.
“When America was faced with depression
and war, they called a retired General, Dwight Eisenhower, to rescue the
country and the country was returned on a path of success. “When France
was faced with war and economic depression, they called a retired
General, Charles De Gaul, to rescue the country.
Tinubu added that whether Buhari presented a certificate or not, he was still qualified to rule the country.
“So what do we need now? Buhari. This is
the time for us. General Buhari, whether you are qualified or not
qualified, we are calling you to come and rescue us in Nigeria,” he
said.
Also speaking at the rally, the Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said President Goodluck Jonathan
had done nothing for the people of the state despite the fact that the
President got over 1.2 million votes from the state in 2011.
He, therefore, asked the people of the state to vote for the APC at all levels.
Buhari, who was the last person to speak
at the rally, said the failure of the PDP-led Federal Government was
unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
Buhari said, “We all know what we have
gone through in the past 16 years under the PDP. The APC has identified
three core problems that must be tackled immediately. First is
insecurity, two is the destruction of the economy and three is
corruption.
“But whatever we have to do, we will
have to secure Nigeria first. What is happening in the North-East where
hundreds of people are being killed is unacceptable. We known that the
Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army are capable of bringing peace and
stability into the country but they just need good leadership.”
