*Says he surrendered his right, nominated Osinbajo for VP slot
The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a presidential aspirant , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that without him, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have become the president in 2015.
Tinubu stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while addressing the APC delegates ahead of the party’s national convention on June 6 to 8 at the Eagle Square in Abuja
He was accompanied to the event by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Kano State counterpart, Umar Ganduje, and former Borno State Governor, Kasim Shettima.
Tinubu also narrated the high wire politics and what transpired before the emergence of Buhari as the President of the country after three failed attempts.
Addressing the delegates and other party faithful in Yoruba, Tinubu said, “You have not heard this from me before. This is the first place I am saying this.
On how Buhari emerged victorious in 2015, Tinubu said “If not for me that led the war front, Buhari won’t have emerged. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again.
“But I went to his home in Kaduna, I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yoruba.
“Since he has emerged, I have not been appointed minister. I didn’t get nor request a contract. This time, it’s Yoruba turn and in Yorubaland, it’s my turn.
Tinubu further disclosed that, “Since the time we started with the Action Congress(AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC), I wanted to contest for president that time.
“This is me telling you between me and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his Vice President. He said because the first time he contested, he picked (Chuba) Okadigbo, flamboyant, Catholic, but Nigerians didn’t vote for him.
“The second time he picked another Igbo, (Edwin) Ume-Ezeoke, Nigerians didn’t vote for him. And he said that even if he went to bring the Pope to run as his deputy, Nigerians won’t vote for him, but he said, ‘You, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my deputy
“He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that is why he wanted me as his deputy, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party after we brought in people from the PDP, (Bukola) Saraki now saw that those from the PDP would not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim, became the president and I, also a Muslim, became his deputy. He won’t get the Senate President because the Senate president cannot also be a Muslim; that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.
“And I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I could nominate so that the party would not break. That was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).
“I was asked to submit three names, Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I told them if I submit three names, they would play a game, they might make it four and pick the fourth one. I gave them one name and that was Osinbajo.”
On why he is the best choice among other aspirants in the South-West, Tinubu said, “It is my time, I’m educated, I’m experienced. I have been serving people for a long time. Bring me the presidency, it is my turn.”
Tinubu hits Dapo Abiodun, says he helped him to become Ogun Gov
In a related development, Tinubu also slammed Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying that he was the one that assisted him to get the APC governorship ticket and won the election.
Tinubu stated this during the meeting with the delegates and party chieftains in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He reminded Governor Abiodun that the powers that be at the state APC did not want to give him a ticket in the build-up to the 2019 polls.
It is instructive to note that there was a serious crisis in the APC prior to the 2019 elections, following the refusal of former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun to support Abiodun as his successor.
But Tinubu said he stood behind Dapo Abiodun to ensure his success at the governorship poll.
Speaking in Yoruba language, Tinubu said , “That one (referring to Governor Abiodun) that is sitting down here, could he have become governor without me?
“We were all in the stadium where they tore all the posters. Even with the candidacy of the party, they didn’t want to give it to him.
“It’s been over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting at my back, Dapo, could he have become a governor if not for me?
“If he wants to hear, his life will be long. If he wants to meet God in his position, he would admit that he wouldn’t have become governor if not for God and I.”
