The pressure on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 is generating controversy as some party leaders have said that he is too frail for the job.
Thousands of the former Lagos State governor’s supporters under the auspices of Tinubu Support Group (TSG) at the weekend took turns to persuade the former governor to declare interest in the number one job.
The group’s convener, Hon. James Faleke described Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the maker of modern Lagos, calling on him not to wait any longer in declaring his intention to become the next President.
Faleke said, “on behalf of the millions of supporters of Tinubu Support Group, we are calling on our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally announce his presidential aspiration.”
He added that this is a man who left office yet remains popular till today because he is focused, consistent and persistent. He has been the central figure in Nigerian politics.
According to him, the governing party was lucky to have a person of Tinubu’s towering political status.
But some party chieftains said that the APC has better options that the former governor who recently returned from London where he underwent a knee surgery.
An APC Chieftain in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Alhaji Isah Danladi told Daily Independent that the former Lagos State governor “represents a recycling process that has left the country in ruins.”
He noted that Tinubu is “no better than Buhari. In societies with conscience, his type should be concerned with leaving a good legacy as a statesman who contributing in stabilizing our democracy.
Through wide consultations he built a strong and virile party that was able to oust a running party from power.
That should be his legacy not this infantile craze to grasp power which I think is self serving.”
On his part, outspoken APC leader and social commentator, Dr Garus Gololo said “these people are jokers. You mean to say that a group of persons will gather themselves and in clear conscience seek to encourage an obviously weak and tired fellow to run for the presidency.
Haba! Are we that unserious in this country. This is a man that just returned from the sick bed. And he is still nursing whatever ailment befell him.”
Gololo opined “that making Tinubu Nigeria’s president is same as given Buhari another term in office. Both men are sick and weak.”
“How many times has Buhari left the country on medicals abroad? More than five times. And we want to bring another like him,” he added.
This is as he called on the APC leadership to give the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, to opportunity to lead the nation; adding that both men have proven track record of performance and are strong enough to get the job done.”
Dr Gololo equally disclosed the readiness of some party members to move to other political parties “if APC as much as contemplates giving Tinubu the opportunity to vie for the presidency.”
An APC youth leader in Kaduna State, Mallam Abdulazeez Ayinfa told Daily Independent that “giving Tinubu the party’s Presidential ticket for 2023 is similar to nailing the coffin In its victory at the polls. It may not augur well for the party,” he lamented.
