The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday,
said the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was at
the official residence of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, inside the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, on Thursday, on an “appreciation visit”.
Sanwo-Olu, who accompanied Tinubu to the Villa, revealed
this on his Twitter handle on Friday.
Thursday evening’s visit was the
first after the former Lagos State governor polled 1,271 votes to clinch the
party’s presidential ticket at the APC presidential primary on Wednesday.
However, Sanwo-Olu said the “appreciation visit” became imperative following Buhari’s non-interference in the party’s special convention and presidential primary that produced Tinubu as APC presidential flagbearer.
Sharing pictures of the visit on his Twitter page on Friday,
said that Tinubu and his entourage appreciated the President for giving all
aspirants a level playing field.
The caption read, “I accompanied our leader, and APC
Presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on an appreciation visit to
His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari.
“We deeply thank him for giving all aspirants a level
playing field without interference.
“He also gave the party members an opportunity to make a
choice of who their flag bearer should be, without hindrance.
“This is a rare attribute, and should be celebrated.
“Therefore, we celebrate you Your Excellency, President
Muhammad Buhari
“We also paid a visit to His Excellency, V.P. Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo.
“The project called Nigeria is a collective task. All hands
will be on deck as we embark on this journey.
“There are no victors nor losers, we’re all winners and
project managers, if we want to give the best to the citizens, and turn around
the fortune of our dear country.
“I salute His Excellency, Prof Yemi Osinbajo for his
magnanimity and spirit of sportsmanship.”
Meanwhile, Buhari had earlier on Thursday, urged the Progressives Governors Forum
through its Chairman, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, to rally around
Tinubu to ensure victory in the next year’s election.
‘‘Today, as a patriotic APC member and stakeholder, I trust
that you will come together to work with our candidate to win the 2023
elections.
‘‘In the past seven years in government, we have achieved a
lot. However, we have a lot more to do. The APC project is far from over and we
need all of you to come together to ensure our progressive journey to peace and
prosperity is sustained.
‘‘Our candidate, His Excellency, Sen, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, is no stranger to you. He is our friend and brother. We know his
commitment, his track record, and his capacity to lead our party to success. So
now is the time for all of us to come together and march forward, as we did in
2015, to a convincing APC victory.
‘‘I look forward to working closely with the APC governors
to support Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all our APC candidates to success
in 2023.
‘‘While I wish our great party success in the 2023
elections, please accept the assurances of my consideration and personal
regards,’’ the President said in a letter addressed to Bagudu.
He said, ‘‘I was pleased to see how you were very
professional and efficient in handling the sensitive political position of
Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum.
‘‘Your commitment in pursuit of equity and fairness speaks
volumes in the cooperation displayed by the APC governors. This indeed
demonstrates the camaraderie that brought us together over eight years ago.
Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat
his closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on
Wednesday.
Amaechi obtained 316 votes while Osinbajo polled 235.
He contested against 13 other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka
Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack
Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed
Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.
Nine aspirants had earlier stepped down, eight of whom asked
their supporters to vote for Tinubu, while one asked his supporters to vote for
Osinbajo.
Those who stepped down before voting began were Governor
Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Robert Boroffice, Ken Nnamani, Ibikunle Amosun,
Dimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Godswill Akpabio.
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