2023: Major boost for Tinubu's presidential ambition as Akande plans to meet southwest leaders
- The race for who will succeed President Buhari at the expiration of his tenure has continued to gain prominence
- In light of this, APC chieftain Bisi Akande has said he would hold discussions with leaders of the southwest
- Eminent Nigerians have called on APC national leader Bola Tinubu to throw his hat into the 2023 presidential race
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Ahead of Nigeria's next general election, the former governor of Osun state, Bisi Akande revealed plans to meet Yoruba leaders over the 2023 presidential race, The Nation reports.
The elder statesman who made the disclosure on Sunday, January 17, explained that discussions would be centred on the entreaties by eminent Nigerians that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should declare his intention to run for president.
The decision of Akande, the first interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meet the southwest leaders is following pleas by members of the Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (SWAGA).
Source: Twitter
The group that paid the APC chieftain a visit at Ila, Osun state, to felicitate with him on his 82nd birthday expressed their desire to persuade the party's national leader to join the presidential race.
During the visit, SWAGA team led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye, brainstormed with Akande on the need for the presidential zoning to go to the southwest region and requested that the elder statesman prevail on Tinubu to run.
According to Adeyeye, Nigeria will benefit immensely from Tinubu, if he succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari at the expiration of his second term.
While commending the efforts of the group, Akande assured the members of his total commitment to their cause and pledged to support the group’s efforts by visiting prominent Yoruba elders to explain its mission to them.
The former Osun state governor reiterated his support for zoning and rotational principle, saying that power should shift to the southwest in 2023.
Akande went on to note that he had no doubt that Tinubu was the best, strongest, and most electable prospect.
He also promised to assist them to propagate the desirability, suitability and viability of Tinubu’s candidature in the 2023 presidential race.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that some past officers of states House of Assemblies in Ekiti and Ondo have refused to endorse Tibunu for the presidency election in 2023.
According to former speakers in Ondo and Ekiti, they did not give any endorsement even though they attended the said meeting. They claimed that no communique was issued to that effect.
In a related development, Karounwi Oladapo, southwest APC caretaker zonal publicity secretary, has stated that Governor Kayode Fayemi is hugely favoured in line to take over from President Buhari.
Oladapo, who is a former deputy speaker of Ekiti state stated that although Tinubu has paid his dues, "Fayemi is a Christian from the South and the crown fits him."
The former lawmaker attributed the submission to age and faith factor, adding that by 2023 when Buhari's tenure will dive down, Tinubu would have been "above 70 years of age."
2023 election: Why a northerner should be President again - Shettima | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
