Abeokuta declaration: Magic wand for Tinubu President-Elect

By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

The Abeokuta declaration of ‘Emi Lokan’, meaning it is my turn as pronounced by former Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Tinubu may have paved way for his victory at the just concluded Presidential election.

Penpushing reports that investigation showed that Tinubu’s outburst which was linked to frustration he was facing from his party to secure ticket to run the race, served as a magic wand to destabilize his political tormentors within the rank and file of the party.

The rugged politician it is recalled threw the salvo on June 2, 2022 at the Presidential lodge of Ogun State Government located within the Government Reservation Area (GRA),Ibara, Abeokuta, when he came to solicit support from the leadership of the party in the state ahead of the party primaries.

Penpushing further reports that Tinubu went memory lane disclosing that, he was to be the running mate for Buhari, on the election which brought him to power, but had to jettison the arrangement, following a campaign of calumny against him under the excuse that he was a Muslim like Buhari.

The former Lagos State Governor recalled that, the argument then was that, the Muslim-Muslim ticket cannot work, hence, he had to step down, and having being offered opportunity  to bring a replacement for the slot, he submitted the name of Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, who  became the Vice President

‘Between me and God, Buhari called me to come and be his running mate. We were to run together, but at a point, a campaign of calumny started against me, with argument that Buhari and myself were Muslim, so the arrangement couldn’t work’, Tinubu said

‘I was offered the opportunity to bring a replacement. I surrender my right for Osinbajo, and that is the truth. I am saying this for the first time. It is high time I speak out. If it is about education, I am well educated, if it is about age, I am older than them’, he added

Penpushing also reports that, the frankly speaking Tinubu pointed out that, he had been serving people to bring them to limelight, declaring that it was his turn for them to serve him, and ensure that his longtime dream of becoming President become a reality.

‘I have been serving for long. It is my turn and time to become President of this country. When Buhari was in difficult situation to become President and failed thrice, he cried, but I wiped off tears from his eyes. This power is not meant for the North alone’, Tinubu added.

‘For you delegates from Ogun State, don’t turn yourself to delicate when you get to Abuja, for the primary. It is time for the South-West to rule, and to represent you and the South-West is me’, Tinubu emphasized

Penpushing reports that, the host Governor, Dapo Abiodun in his closing remarks at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, in Abeokuta, assured Tinubu that needful will be done, in supporting his Presidential ambition

‘We shall do the right thing, you have justified reasons why power must come to the South-West. God will answer your prayers, as you embark on your lifelong ambition, and we will do our best towards this’, Abiodun added

Penpushing further reports that on August 17, 2022, Tinubu was equally in Abeokuta to visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his pent house located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in the ancient town.

The then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) later in the day moved to Moshood Abiola International Stadium in the town, where he addressed the party supporters, expressed appreciation to them, and told them it was not yet time to campaign, but was in the state to greet them ahead of party primary

“The campaign has not started yet. I am just here to greet you and to say hello to you. May God bless Ogun; May God bless Nigeria and May God bless your children. I acknowledged the good works of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the support people of the state had continued to give to him. May God bless you and your family. I am glad with the good works that the governor is doing; I am glad with all the supports that you are giving’, he said.

Penpushing reports that, Tinubu was accompanied by former Governors Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Rt Hon Kunle Oluomo(Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker),Prince  Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State Governor)Engr(Mrs)Noimot Salako-Oyedele(Ogun State Deputy Governor).

The others on the entourage include Alhaja Salimot Badru(former Deputy Governor of Ogun State), Alhaji Gbenga Kaka(former Deputy Governor of Ogun State) Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Gboyega Isiaka( All Progressives Congress House of Representatives Candidate) Dr Femi Majekodunmi and Tunde Oladunjoye(Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC)  Ogun State Chapter

Penpushing reports that others are Speaker  House of Representatives Speaker,Rt Hon  Femi Gbajabiamila; APC national leader, Chief Bisi Akande;(former national chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC) Nuhu Ribadu(former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) among others

The former Lagos State Governor on January 25, 2023 having finally secured the party ticket was again in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital where he raised alarm of plot to scuttle 2023 elections by unnamed individuals and groups.

Penpushing further reports that Tinubu gave insight to the alleged plot at the Presidential rally of All Progressives Congress (APC) which took place at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

The Presidential Candidate accompanied by number of the party chieftains and welcomed by thousands of All Progressives Congress (APC) members disclosed that the plot is being designed through the use of fuel scarcity to cause crisis across the country.

Penpushing also reports that he raised alarm that if this plot works out, it is aimed to spread and therefore prevents elections coming up, but quickly added that the plot remains a still birth as far as he (Tinubu) was concern

‘This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. We shall take over from them. They don’t want election to take place, but we won’t accept. They want to hide under fuel scarcity to cause crisis, so that there won’t be election’, Tinubu said

‘Whether there is fuel or not, we would vote. Without fuel we shall vote. You know me very well, we are going to win, we are going to take over from them. We shall meet on election day. This election is a revolution, we are going to vote and we are going to win’’ he emphasized

Penpushing  reports that the  then Presidential Candidate of the ruling party assured Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State of winning his second term bid, stressing that he would give him the needed support

The notable party chieftains at the rally include Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Dimeji Bankole, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, Alhaja Salmot Badru, Senator Gbenga Kaka, and Senator Gbenga Obadara among others

Penpushing further reports that Tinubu on January 26, 2023 took his political plight to doorsteps of Yoruba traditional rulers, seeks urgent intervention appealing to them to discourage President Muhammad Buhari from possible scuttle of the forthcoming general elections.

The politician made the passionate appeal when he met Ogun State traditional rulers at June 12 Cultural Centre,  Kuto, Abeokuta, asking them to raise a common protest to Buhari to prevent the forthcoming elections from being scuttled through socio-economic malfeasance.

“The current scarcity of fuel and paucity of money in circulation, in a consumer economy, are ominous of destabilisation of the forthcoming elections”, Tinubu lamented.

Penpushing also reports that the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressing a close-door meeting of traditional rulers, chiefs and religious leaders said since he obtained God’s and people’s consent for his desires through the now popular “emi lokan” slogan, he has found it necessary to return to Abeokuta to seek the intervention of traditional rulers and religious leaders, to protect the sanctity of the elections processes.

The Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) was accompanied by his runningmate, Senator Ibrahim Shetima, Prince Dapo Abiodun  Governor of Ogun State who also is seeking second term and other party loyalists including former Governors of Ogun State  Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel , former Chairman of the Party, Adam Oshiomole, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Dimeji Bankole, Ogun and Lagos States Deputy Governors, Noimot Salako-Oyedele and Prince Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat respectively, among others

Penpushing reports that Tinubu appealed to the traditional rulers to engage Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife to lead Yoruba protest to President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any surreptitious policy that might hamper the success of the national elections.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland,  Oba Adedotun Gbadebo earlier on behalf of all the four Paramount Rulers in Ogun State and other monarchs , prayed for God’s blessings on Tinubu and other contestants, as well as electorate as elections draw nearer

Penpushing further reports that on February 25, 2023, Tinubu having campaigned through length and breadth of Nigeria embarked on a contest with other seventeen presidential candidates of various political parties.

The resilient politician at the end of the poll was able to defeat all other contestants with 8,794,726 votes, and was thereafter on Wednesday March 1, 2023 officially pronounced as the President-Elect of Nigeria by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, and the rest is history

Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji is a Nigerian journalist writes this piece from Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, South-West Nigeria. He can be reached on +2348033186392, +2348073463653 or email [email protected]

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