President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he nearly abandoned his 2023 presidential ambition following a moment of doubt during the election campaign.
“I almost dropped the idea of running for President,” Tinubu revealed on Saturday night at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he also thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers on his 73rd birthday.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the excerpts of the President’s dpeech in a statement signed in the early hours of Sunday titled ‘President Tinubu appreciates Nigerians for birthday well wishes, reveals he nearly quit 2023 presidential race.’
Reflecting on the pressures he faced, the President recounted how a close relative visited him in the middle of the night and questioned his resolve.
“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns. One came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle.
“He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’
“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”
Tinubu added, “I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me.
“When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back.”
In his address, the President recognised the difficulties encountered along the path to the presidency and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s progress.
Tinubu also noted that he assumed office during a period of economic challenges and had to make swift decisions, including scrapping the fuel subsidy on his inauguration day.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal.
“The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone.
“The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future,” said Tinubu.
Vice President Kashim Shettima lauded the President’s leadership style, saying his decisions have tackled issues that haunted previous administrations.
He said, “Thanks to his boldness, future presidents of Nigeria will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts that haunted past administrations, including fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and the suppression of local government autonomy.
“These were the thorny issues that many before him sidestepped. But Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it.
“And in rewriting it, Asiwaju has taken the bullets that many before him simply lacked the courage to face. But that is the thing about true leadership: it is not for those who seek comfort. It is for those who understand that the path to national greatness is lined with difficult choices.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio applauded the President’s “relentless passion for national development” and described him as the “most audacious president” in Nigeria’s history.
“If I were a governor under your administration, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor’ and not an uncommon governor,” he remarked, adding that under Tinubu’s watch, governors receive more allocation.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu also commended the President for supporting him politically in 2019, even though they were from different regions.
“Today, he is at the forefront because Nigeria needs him. In 2019, despite not being from his region, he supported me in my most difficult political moment. Nigeria needs leaders who rise above tribal considerations, and he has demonstrated that,” said Kalu.
Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State praised Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” amid national uncertainties, stating that only a leader with “deep conviction and love for the country” could take the necessary but often difficult steps.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, who spoke on behalf of cabinet members, recounted his appointment under the President despite prior activism.
He added that a senior World Bank official had recently described Tinubu as “the best reformist leader in Africa today.”
One of the President’s childhood friends, Professor Shaffideen Amuwo, recalled their early years, attributing Tinubu’s rise to divine providence.
Amuwo said, “Our relationship did not just start in Chicago; we played soccer together as children. While I chose the library, my brother chose politics because he loved to speak.
“Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria.
“The city of Chicago, founded by a Black man, has educated the man who now leads the most populous Black nation on earth. I pray that Allah continues to hold his hand and guide him as he works to save our country.”
For his 73rd birthday, Tinubu thanked guests and supporters who have stood by him through periods of doubt and adversity, reaffirming his resolve to steer Nigeria toward stability and growth.
Saturday night’s event was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana; members of the Federal Executive Council; principal officers of the National Assembly; current and former governors; diplomats; business leaders; religious figures; and several of the President’s childhood friends.
The Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Dr. Abdulkadir Sholagberu, led prayers seeking divine guidance for the President and the nation.
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