A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday met with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The two-time governor of Lagos state met with some governors of the ruling party at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja on Monday.
The meeting came few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had declared his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.
The governors in attendance include Governors 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, amongst others.
Fielding questions on why the meeting came shortly after the official declaration of his political godson, Tinubu dismissed such insinuations as mere political, adding that he met with the governors to seek support on his quest to land the highest seat in the land.
Speaking further, Tinubu when asked to comment on the declaration by his ‘political godson’ Osinbajo, to contest for President, the former Lagos State governor simply said: “I don’t have any son grown up enough to make such declaration.”
“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 replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure,” Tinubu added.
Equally fielding questions from newsmen after the meeting with Asiwaju, the chairman PGF and Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said that there is nothing wrong in Vice President Osinbajo contesting the presidential ticket against his godfather, Asiwaju, arguing that it is confirmation of the quality of the party.
Asked if the duo contesting for the ticket are putting the governors in tight corner, he replied: “No, no, no. In fact, in the contrary, we appreciate our party because it has become a party that has endeared itself to Nigerians. We have many brilliant people in our party, some serving and some not serving.
“The fact that we have people in our party that express desire to lead the party into the highest office in electoral contest shows how much this our party has resonated with Nigerians and our party members.
“For us, it is a hallmark of success that people are showing interest, but at the end of the day and because they are leaders of the party, they will always put the party’s interest at heart,” he argued.
