National Leader of All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says his meeting with members of the Progressives Governors Forum on Monday was in continuation of his consultations with various political stakeholders on his aspiration for the presidency in 2023.
Tinubu had earlier on Monday held a meeting with the APC governors at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declared his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Some of the APC governors at meeting include Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Mai Mala Binu of Yobe, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, and others.
Tinubu’s meeting with the APC governors held less than 24 hours after Osinbajo hosted the governors at his Aguda House residence on Sunday evening; where he announced his intention to vie for the APC presidential ticket.
But Tinubu, who briefed newsmen after the meeting with the APC governors, said that he met with them to seek their support for his ambition to become Nigeria’s president in 2023.
“My mission here is to seek collaboration, support, and encouragement of my party, the APC, for my ambition to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure,” he said.
But when asked about Osinbajo’s declaration for the same position in 2023 ambition, Tinubu replied, “I don’t have any son grown up enough to make such declaration.
“The fact that we have people in our party that express desire to lead the party into the highest office in the electoral contest shows how much this our party has resonated with Nigerians and our party members.”
Explained further on the purpose of the meeting, Bagudu told newsmen that Tinubu met the governors to formally briefed them on his intention to lead Nigeria after Buhari’s regime in 2023.
According to him, “He met members of the PGF and stated what he has said publicly, his intention to seek the office of the President come 2023 which he had already announced before now.
“He briefed us on his reasons, thinking, and message. The governors graciously listened to him to digest everything he said. He acknowledged the role of the governors in the last convention of the party by helping in the evolution of the leadership that is acceptable and widely acknowledged by all party members.”
Bagudu stated that he responded on behalf of the governors and assured the presidential aspirant that they (governors) would discuss the matter during their meeting and make informed decision on his message.