The Pan Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, has endorsed the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Mr Tinubu had visited the national leader of the group, Reuben Fasoranti and other leaders of the group at his country home in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
According to Vanguard, those present at the meeting include leaders of groups from the six South West State including Kwara and Kogi.
He visited the leader of the group to present the 80-page Action Plan document on how he intends to tackle the economic and other problems the country is grappling with.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Fasoranti said that Tinubu had earlier asked for his blessings in April this year, but he informed him to first get the party’s ticket before coming for his blessings.
“l am happy that you’re here today after getting your party’s presidential ticket,” he said.
Fasoranti thereafter prayed that the candidate will win the election and that he would be alive to witness his inauguration in May of next year.
Other leaders of the group, including the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae and the former Secretary General of the group, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, joined Pa Fasoranti to pray for the electoral victory of Tinubu.
Speaking later during a reception for the candidate, Pa Fasoranti, described Tinubu as not only a Yoruba man but a complete Nigerian.
Mr Fasoranti was optimistic that the candidate would replicate and do even more than he did when he held sway as the Lagos state governor.
Speaking through, the former Secretary General of the group, Sehinde Arogbofa, charged Tinubu to be a leader that will unite Nigeria and work for the progress and development of the country.
“You are not just a Yoruba man but a Nigerian. When you become President take Nigeria into consideration in all you do but never forget home. Our demands are what you know already.
“Restructuring, security and fixing the economy. Our country is no longer safe. We want state police so that the country will be safe,” he said.
According to him, the leaders ”are in no doubt that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria offers the best opportunity to produce a government of that will usher in a new Era of hope, peace, security, harmony, gainful employment for the multitude, economic development, social and political stability.
“Don’t let us have any regret supporting you when you get there.”
Also speaking, the former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, charged Tinubu to work to fix the economy.
Mr Falae decried the falling value of the Naira, adding that he used all his life to serve Nigeria and in his old age he does not want all he used his life for to be wasted.
According to him “When you become President please work to fix this country. We are here to offer advice. I am old and no longer looking for a job. We need to fix security, and fix our economy.
“Our naira is almost becoming useless and will soon become N1000 to a dollar.
“We must change that. I know your ability. We will always be here to support and I wish you well. We will be here when you bring the trophy home by the grace of God.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who received Mr Tinubu and his delegation on behalf of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said Ondo State people are Afenifere and will support Tinubu to win.
“Asiwaju has the reach, the competence to lead Nigeria,” the deputy governor said.
In his remark, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji assured the Yoruba leaders that all the governors of South West and Ekiti people are solidly behind Mr Tinubu.
“We are happy to receive our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, today. I want to assure him and our fathers that we will support him to the end,” he said.
The governor of the opposition People’s Democratic Party in Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, who spoke through his deputy, Bayo Lawal, said though they don’t belong to the same party that Mr Fasoranti invited Mr Makinde to the event.
Mr Lawal said that the administration of Mr Makinde supports any discussion on Yoruba and at home with the stance of the group.
He was however, not categorical that his governor has also endorsed Mr Tinubu’s presidency.
According to him, “though we are not in the same party but from the same race, we are pacesetters and we will continue to be pacesetters and associate with other pacesetters in every sphere.
”My governor doesn’t joke with Yoruba matter, even though, we are not united by the party, but region united us and everything discussed on Yoruba, he would support.”
In his response, Mr Tinubu who didn’t respond to the group’s call for restructuring and state police spoke on the intrigues that characterised his emergence as the party’s candidate.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari, governors of parties from the North and other Northern leaders have proved to him that Nigeria can survive its unity and other challenges.
Mr Tinubu said he had come to fulfil his promise that he would come back to visit Mr Fasoranti after winning the party’s ticket and asked him and other Yoruba leaders to help him thank President Buhari and Northern Governors for their steadfastness and for being promise-keepers.
“The North proved to me Nigeria can survive its unity. Some people want President Muhammadu Buhari to announce someone but the President said no.
“He insisted the process must go on democratically. The President said anyone that would mess up the APC process would see the other side of his eyes. He remained upright and saw to the process to the end.
“Northern APC Governors resolved that the Presidency must go to the South and especially South West. Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje and others supported me to the end.
“The battle was tough and at a point, I was in doubt. There were many rumours and I became confused about what to believe.
“President Buhari told me I promoted his name with the way I won the primary election because the process was clean and transparent and nobody can accuse him of manipulating the process. President Buhari said I gave him credibility and I deserved to be President.
“When I asked him to nominate the VP candidate for me, he said I should pick whoever I want and it is the reason I chose a competent man in Kashim Shettima who never lost any election and protected Christians in time of trouble in his state,” he said.
Present during the visit includes included the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the Retired Methodist Bishop, Ayo Ladigbolu, Pius Akinyelure, Isaac Adewole, Olu Falae, Gbenga Daniel, Alani Akinrinade, Olu Bajowa, Sola Iji, Kunle Olajide, General Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders, Cornelius Adebayo, Iyiola Omisore, Bisi Akande, Dare Babarinsa, Pius Akinyelure, deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
Others are Segun Adesegun, representing former Governor Segun Osoba, Tony Adefuye, Dayo Adeyeye, state leaders of Afenifere, Apagun Kole Omololu, former minister Musiliu Obanikoro, state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, the minister of state, Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye and the former Minister of state, Niger Delta, Tayo Alasoadura and former governorship aspirant of the party, Olusola Oke.