* Ruling party ‘ll win 2023 polls again-Senate President
*APC Reps Caucus endorses former Lagos Gov
The Senate Caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday received the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who paid a courtesy visit to the lawmakers over his 2023 presidential ambition.
The development came just as the House of Representatives Caucus of the APC also received the former Lagos State Governor and endorsed his presidential ambition.
Receiving Tinubu and members of his delegation at his Conference Room, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, expressed optimism that 2023 will again be a year for the APC, saying that he is confident that the ruling party will be victorious in the general elections scheduled for February next year.
Tinubu was at the National Assembly to intimate the APC Senate Caucus of his ambition to vie for the ticket of the APC for the presidential poll in February 2023.
“2023, Your Excellency, by the Grace of God, will be a year for APC in Nigeria again,” the Senate President said in response to Tinubu’s earlier announcement of his intention to seek the APC ticket to run for presidency in 2023.
Lawan said: “Most of the challenges that we face today in our country are challenges that have international dimensions and that is not to say that we are running away from responsibilities.
“We took our responsibility head on in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari declared that he was going to deal with insurgency in the north east then, and he did, quite successfully too but of course, we have insecurity in other parts of the country today. These are some of our challenges.
“I’m very sure, given the kind of results that we are getting recently, before May 29, 2023, the security situation of this country would have improved by the Grace of God.”
The Senate President also appreciated Tinubu for according recognition to the APC Senate Caucus as a critical stakeholder of the party.
He said, “Your Excellency, we have all listened to you with rapt attention and we are happy that you are here to talk with us as a Caucus.
“Your Excellency, all of us here, I dare say, know who you are but this is just an effort to have some kind of face-to-face engagement with us and we are very happy this event is taking place and once again, we appreciate this visit.
“The APC National Assembly caucus particularly the APC Senate Caucus is central, fundamental pillar of our party.
“From 2019, this caucus has shown loyalty, commitment, dedication, focus and purposeful orientation to ensure that our victory from 2015 and 2019, as a political party, are fully utilised for the benefit of Nigerians.
“Your Excellency, from 2019, when we were voted in, this APC caucus, this set of senators of APC, has remained committed to the ideals of our party, the APC. They have shown uncommon loyalty to the party and they have shown resolve to work within ourselves and with the executive arm of government.
“Today, the APC administration has achieved so much even though there is still a lot to do but we have achieved so much from 2019 to date because of the commitment of the National Assembly APC caucus.
“We have shown our unrelenting desire to continue to work for the people of Nigeria. Your Excellency, this political party needs the kind of commitment that the members of the National Assembly of APC extraction have shown across the country.
“Your Excellency, you have done so much as a Governor. You were a member of this National Assembly and you remain a member of this special Legislative organisation.
“We have learnt so much from you. What we need today is for us to ensure that our members across the country continue to have faith, show faith, show commitment and wherever we are challenged, we should be courageous and brave enough to take decisions that will reverse any untoward and unexpected situation.
“As an administration, President Buhari has given a very good leadership…we have four locust years between 2015 and 2019.
“By locust years, I mean APC between 2015 and 2019, as an administration, had no opportunity or lost the opportunity to operate at full capacity. Today, Your Excellency, the situation is different.
“From 2019 to date, in both Chambers of the National Assembly, we have almost exhausted the major pillar of our Legislative Agenda, to the Glory of God.
“It has been a story of success, a story of breaking jinxes, a story of having first in terms of legislations. This is supposed to continue. This is supposed to be carried forward and at this point, I want to assure you, that members of the APC caucus in the Senate and indeed in the National Assembly in both Chambers, will continue to work hard until we continue our tenure in 2023.”
At the House of Representatives, members of the APC caucus endorsed Tinubu’s presidential ambition as the lawmakers gave a resounding ‘Ayes’ (an affirmative answer, especially in voting at the Parliament), when the House Leader, Hon Ado Doguwa, put the question to vote.
Doguwa also said that Tinubu had supported several Nigerians to either be President, Governors, Senators or House of Representatives members, adding that “This is the time for you to pay back.”
The House Leader added that the APC members in the House were fully in support of Tinubu’s candidacy.
Doguwa also disclosed that many members of the House and the Senate were occupying their positions today as a result of Tinubu’s support, saying that: “I want to look at you in the face and tell you that this is the time to pay back.
He then said, “We will continue to associate with you for the good of Nigeria and our people. We are immeasurably grateful. We will support you to achieve your lifelong ambition.
“Sometime when we interact with some people, they tell you that the President is a former military officer. You are from this institution and we are looking forward to President Buhari handing over to someone with a legislative background so that we can also boast about it.
“You are here preaching to the already converted because of the numerous contributions you have made to the development of Nigeria. You are the only one we know and will support. You have all it takes to run for the office of the President, you have all it takes to be President”.
With the overwhelming endorsement, the scheduled Executive session was shelved. Members insisted that the message was clear enough.”
In his welcome remarks, Speaker of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said having put the APC together with like minds, it was time for the party to look inward and give back to those who can lead the country to greater heights after the current government.
He said: “We have looked left and right for the number of people who are running for the Presidency in 2023 and discovered that there is only one person going round the country campaigning and selling himself to Nigerians.
“It does not speak well of us when we boast of being the largest party in Africa and so many other things that we boast of. But few weeks to the party primaries for the nomination of candidates, only one person is going round marketing himself in his agenda.
“We are only having names, but only one campaigning. We should not wait for six weeks to election with only one person campaigning. In advanced countries, once the President is sworn in, the very next day, campaign for the next election starts. Names are being dropped and when you ask them, they tell you that they are just facing their job.
“The current attitude is not good enough and it is not good for Nigerians. We should not take Nigerians for granted. But only one man feels that he will talk to Nigerians, one man who care to speak on why he is running”.
Turning to Tinubu, Gbajabiamila said: “You deemed it fit to honour the Parliament, both the Senate and the House of Representatives. You felt that this institution which is the centre of democracy all over the world deserve your attention and we will listen to what you have to say.”
Appreciating the visit, Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, said this was the first time in the history of the Parliament that a presidential aspirant will visit the Parliament to sell his candidacy and sought the support of all members.
According to Wase, Tinubu has paid his dues and described him as a detribalised Nigerian who has helped built the APC and is still helping in the building of the party.
I’m the most competent aspirant – Tinubu
Meanwhile, Tinubu has said that he is the most competent presidential aspirant for the 2023 election.
Speaking with the APC federal lawmakers on Wednesday, Tinubu told them that he is the best candidate to be supported, saying that those criticising his presidential ambition have “nothing to offer”.
He said, “What I want to request you to do is to support me. I have discussed that aspect — my lifelong ambition with Mr President, that after the end of his term I want to step in his shoes and not step on his toes.
“He (the President) responded to me saying well, ‘come out let us see you run and we see how best we can promote your democratic credentials’.
“Most people have nothing to offer but questions and create doubt. I am not here to be defensive. I am here to tell you that I am one of the best products that you can sell.
“I am the only one in the race that is most competent, most qualified to be your president come the year 2023. I am the only one who has been through the tutelage of the National Assembly.
“I have been in the corporate world with a background in the public sector, academic, finance and development.”
