Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has declared that the Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural organization, Afenifere does not speak for the Yoruba people over the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Governor Akeredolu said Afenifere was divided in respect of the purported endorsement and emphasized that the group’s views do not represent the stance of the Yoruba people.
Akeredolu who made this known on Sunday evening while speaking on the topic, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Business of Nation Building”, during a Twitter Space session, said Asiwaju Tinubu has always remained a progressive despite the prevalence of political prostitution in the country.
He assured Nigerians that the APC Presidential Candidate, would bring a new vista into governance and ensure that true federalism thrives if voted into power.
The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum said true federalism is one of the strong pillars to build a prosperous nation and it was important in a diverse nation like Nigeria, which he said would address the fundamentals of nationhood.
The Governor said the APC Candidate understands the serious issues affecting the well-being of the country.
Governor Akeredolu said Asiwaju Tinubu made efforts to build Lagos State when he was governor of the state, adding that the APC presidential standard bearer was able to make Lagos State a country within the Country.
He noted that Asiwaju Tinubu promoted national unity by appointing people from different ethnic backgrounds across the country into his government.
“Asiwaju was able to make Lagos a country within a country. As you know, Asiwaju was in the saddle for eight years in Lagos. And you will find out that because of Lagos’s peculiarities, people from virtually all parts of the country were part of his government.
“Asiwaju Tinubu assembled the best brains for the job and these people moved from Lagos to become leaders in their respective states. Aregbesola was there as a commissioner and went from there to become governor of Osun State.
“Everybody has its part to play. Today, we have people who have been senators in Lagos and gone back to their states to contest. Lagos can be described as a mini Nigeria. An Hausa man can thrive in Lagos. An Igbo man thrives in Lagos.
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“Aliko Dangote lives in Lagos and his business is in Lagos and he’s thriving. So many other people thrive in Lagos. Our brothers from the East own the whole of Alaba. They have representatives in the National Assembly and Lagos State Assembly. You must give credit to Asiwaju for laying the foundation for such things to thrive in Lagos,” Governor Akeredolu said.
The Governor expressed confidence that the APC Presidential candidate would make state police happen in the country.
He said: “I strongly believe that the Presidency of Tinubu will give a chance for State Police. He is lucky. Today, all governors in the 36 states of the federation support creation of state police. That should be a centrepiece of his campaign.
“There must be restructuring and Asiwaju is one President that will come and restructure the country by the APC constitution. I look up to him as a leader who would say come 2023, state police would happen.
Expressing his view on the Muslim/Muslim ticket, Governor Akeredolu said what is important to the country is capacity and knowledge, not religion and ethnicity.
“There are lots of discussions about the Muslim/Muslim ticket. And some of us have tried to explain to our people. The ticket itself can not be the issue. The main issue is who will serve the country. When you talk about the issue of tickets, you also want to talk about the issue of inclusivism. Should the presidency go back to the north? No!
“And what are we left with? We are left with Obi and Asiwaju. Then you will weigh the two. Some of us have maddecidediwaju. And the decision is based on what he has to offer.
“When put together on a scale, Tinubu weighs higher. We look at intellect, experience and what we stand to gain from his presidency. Capacity and knowledge are different from religion and ethnicity. We have always voted for experience and capacity.
“We have said it clearly. President must come to the South. It has come to us now to make a choice. In making the choice, we must think about capacity and competence. And the scale tilts towards Asiwaju Tinubu.”
The Governor further assured that Asiwaju Tinubu will promote youth inclusion in his government, adding that young Nigerians will have enough participation in the government.
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