AFTER its end-of-year deliberations on the state of the nation in Lagos yesterday, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a man with the requisite qualities to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari next year.
The group’s National Chairman Olawale Oshun, who addressed reporters after the meeting, said the country needs a personality that is prepared “to dispassionately look at the challenge confronting the country and be ready to take bold even if uncomfortable decisions to steer Nigeria away from the precipice”
He said Asiwaju Tinubu, more than any other candidate in the race, “tilts the scale and will deepen our democracy and should be supported”.
The elder statesman, who was the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives during the aborted Third Republic, said Nigeria needs a bold and knowledgeable leader to steer the ship of state away from the current turbulence towards stabilty.
Oshun, who read out a prepared text jointly signed by himself and ARG Secretary, Ayo Afolabi, stressed that “the need for a patriotic, experienced, competent and non-tribalistic manager” to preside over a complex country like Nigeria narrowed the choice to the APC flag bearer amongst the other presidential candidates.
The former Federal lawmaker noted that the current situation needs bold and imaginative political and constitutional reforms “to enable every Nigerian to partake in safety, and in equity in the wealth and peace of Nigeria”.
The ARG chieftain said the determination of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy technology to ensure that next year’s general election is free and fair is commendable.
He urged all Yoruba sons and daughters as well as other Nigerians to take advantage of the assurances of the electoral agency and go out massively to vote for candidates of their choice.
Oshun urged all Nigerians to forsake ethnicity and religious differences and focus on the experience, competence and capacity of the candidates before voting.
From: thenation
