Tinubu Is Southwest Joker For 2023, Concerned Yoruba Politicians Tell Alaafin, Olubadan

For the southwest region of Nigeria to produce a successor who will take over from incumbent Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been seen as the only strong candidate capable for the job.

This was the submission of some politicians who are believed to be loyalists to the National Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) when they paid courtesy visits on two paramount rulers in Yoruba land, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji in their respective palaces in Oyo State on Monday.

The delegation included Dayo Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, Soji Akanni, an ex-senator from Oyo state; Rotimi Makinde, a former member of the House of Representatives; Oyetunde Ojo, an in-law of Bola Tinubu among others. The visits were to drum wide support for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential election bid.

According to New Mail, Adeyeye told the monarchs that the former Governor of Lagos State possesses the rare and uncommon credentials to succeed Buhari, hence the need for the southwest to rally round him. Hr added that the southwest people should begin to see Tinubu’s bid as Yoruba agenda in 2023.

In his words: “Our mission is political. Politics has started and everyone is scrambling. We, the Yoruba people, see it as our turn because it is the agreement that presidency would be rotational,” he said.

“We have both written and unwritten contracts. After President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years, it is the turn of the Yoruba.

“In the south, we have south-east, south-south and south-west. We have a joker in the south-west and the joker is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was part of the struggle for democracy. There are fundamentals of governance and we want someone who is versed in politics to go into the race. We see that Asiwaju Tinubu has the clout and he is qualified. As experienced politicians, we see that Tinubu is qualified.”

While responding, the Alaafin of Oyo said he supported the mission of the politicians, adding that the race for 2023 must begin now before it is too late.

“In Yoruba land, covenant is very important. We believe that with law of retributive justice, if you break covenant the repercussion is great. You may think the race for 2023 is too early but it is never too early to start,” he said.

“Last week, Boko Haram slaughtered many people like goats. We cannot continue like that. If you want to have a country that is forward moving, there must be federal system of government. There is no sincerity in the politics of Nigeria. Things have not changed in this country; there is insincerity. We need to have a president who can listen.

“We have not been fortunate to have the kind of president that we deserve. We are the first to build skyscraper, cocoa industry, we had always been ahead. Money was used for the purpose for which it was meant, so we were prepared and developing. If education during the time of Chief Obafemi Awolwo was on concurrent list, there would not have been free education in the South-West. I believe in your mission,” Alaafin said.