January 10, (THEWILL) – Former Lagos State Governor and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Monday said he has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest for the position of president in 2023.
Tinubu said it was a lifelong ambition and that he has the confidence, the vision and the capacity to build on the vision of President Buhari.
Tinubu spoke to State House correspondents after meeting behind closed-doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said he was at the State House to see the President on general issues concerning Nigeria including some of the concerns in the APC as well as security issues.
Asked whether he has informed President Buhari of his ambition to contest for the President in 2023, he said, “I have informed the President of my ambition but I have not informed Nigerians yet, I am still consulting.”
On what was the response of President Buhari, Tinubu said, the President as a democrat did not ask him to stop from contesting.
He however refused to be drawn into the question of a potential race for the APC ticket between him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whose support groups have been mobilising for his candidacy.
On Osinbajo’s potential ambition, the APC national leader maintained that he would not discuss any individual.
Asked why he would not remain a kingmaker rather than being the king, he said there is nothing that stops a kingmaker from becoming the king unless he has committed murder.
He said: “I answer that with categorical yes. I’ve informed the President of my intention but I have not informed Nigerians yet. I’m still consulting. And I have no problem consulting. And I’ve noticed a parameter of limitation to the extent of how many people I will consult.
“You will soon hear, all you want to hear is the categorical declaration. You’ve gotten that truth from me that I have informed Mr. President of my ambition, I did not expect more answers than that.”
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