President Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative (OPI), Ginika Tor, has explained why the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has yet to visit the South East geopolitical zone to sell his candidacy.
Tor, while unveiling the Tinubu Campaign Strategies and Support Office in Abuja, said the delay by Tinubu was aimed at ensuring that the ranks of his supporters in the zone were effectively mobilised.
“Tinubu holds Ndigbo in high esteem. He is bidding his time to take his campaign trail to the South East geopolitical zone with a big bang. His supporters are everywhere in the zone. We have been talking, planning and strategising for his visit,” she noted.
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) official faulted the notion that Tinubu would not attract the desired votes from Ndigbo to actualise his presidential ambition in 2023.
The APC chieftain, who met with Ndigbo residents in key states of the six geopolitical zones of the country, reiterated the call on Ndigbo to get to the mainstream of Nigerian politics to actualise the quest for the emergence of a President of Igbo extraction in the years ahead.
Tor said her group was initially rooting for a South East presidential candidate, but filed behind Tinubu when he emerged as the party’s flag bearer.
Jude Idimogu, representing Oshodi/Isolo II in Lagos State House of Assembly, assured that Tinubu would address the marginalisation of Ndigbo in the country.
However, hundreds of youths and supporters of APC from the North Central converged in Abuja, yesterday, to protest against the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the party.
The demonstrators, under the aegis of North Central Progressives Youth (NCPY), began the protest at Unity Fountain and ended it at the Presidential Villa.
Chanting solidarity songs, the youths from the six North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held banners with inscriptions: ‘APC presidential ticket must be for all faith’, ‘Shettima must go now, All Christians say no to Islamisation of APC presidential ticket’, ‘Tinubu and Shettima must do the needful, it is our constitutional right’, ‘Don’t destroy the unity of Nigeria’, among others.
President of NCPY, Musa Attah, described Tinubu, as a man loved and adored by Nigerians, but added that his only obstacle to the presidential seat is his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the former Lagos governor to replace Shettima with a Christian for the good of the party and Nigeria.
In Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard (BATS-Vanguard) is set for inauguration on Thursday, August 25.
BATS-Vanguard is headed by the founder, Dr. Dare Owotomobi, while Dr. Shakirudeen Anifowose is the chairman, Lagos branch.
According to Anifowose, the group is independent and not sponsored by any personality.
“We want someone that can deliver results, performance-based results, not just promises; that is why we choose to work for Tinubu,” he said.
Anifowose explained that their support for Tinubu was hinged on trust for his political philosophy that prioritises the development of human capital and economy.
He highlighted that the group would make use of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to mobilise people.
“We are bringing to the fore a knowledge-driven campaign based on huge contributions of Tinubu to the country’s democracy, coupled with his untiring efforts as a nation and people builder over the years,” Anifowose added.
Also Chairman, Publicity Committee, Lagos chapter, Daniel Abiodun, said: “You cannot become a leader except God ordained you. Tinubu has footprints all over Nigeria. He has helped and lifted many people. He doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion. I urge Nigerians to support him, as he has what it takes to move the nation to its promise land.”
Why Tinubu Is Yet To Visit South East, By Tor – Politics – Nigeria (nairaland.com)