Roads leading to the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, were practically blocked on Sunday, as party members trooped out to welcome Bola Tinubu, the presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos, returned to the state for the first time after clinching the APC presidential ticket during the primaries held on June 6, 2022, in Abuja. Tinubu touched down in Lagos in the company of key APC leaders.
Various groups of artisans, women and youth joined thousands of APC faithful in Lagos thronged the airport to receive Tinubu back to his base, accompanied by cultural troupes and musical bands, which entertained the massive crowd.
Real love for #BAT2023 from the street of isale Eko…#Tinubu #TINUBU2023 pic.twitter.com/DMtoBo9Mhs
— kingharzyz1 (@kingharzyz1) June 19, 2022
At 3:40pm, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the company of his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, received Tinubu and his entourage, which included the governor of Kano State, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, Kashim Ibrahim, former APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, among others.
Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinmma, Solomon Adeola, Tokunbo Abiru, Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, and members of Lagos executive council joined the roll call of dignitaries who received the APC presidential flag-bearer at the airport.
Tinubu’s homecoming turned into a carnival as his motorcade rolled into the town. A crowd of residents lined up along the convoy’s route, with Tinubu acknowledging cheers and waving his broom from the window.
The convoy moved to the palace of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, where the APC national leader received royal blessings.
Tinubu recalled that his victory at the party’s presidential primaries did not come easy, noting that he fought a hard battle to clinch the ticket.
“There is no Lagos indigene that has had the opportunity to become president of Nigeria, despite the contribution of the State to the national stability and progress. The highest position attained by any Lagosian in national leadership is the position of the chief judge of the federation.
“I took up the fight to break this jinx. The battle to secure the APC ticket was hard. When I was almost fed up, I resorted to prayers. I also poured out my mind when I felt there was a gang up against my person. Thank God that I have brought home the presidential ticket.
The task ahead is to galvanise our people to get their voter cards and vote to enable us realise this ambition. Getting our people to vote is the most important task before all of us. We need to take this message to our people across communities and sensitise them on the need to vote in the general elections.”
Read also: Tinubu’s arrival: Lagos to experience traffic jam Sunday (See routes to avoid)
Akiolu, who described Tinubu as his “stubborn son”, said it was time for political leaders in the Southwest region to close ranks and work for the victory of Tinubu at the 2023 presidential election, saying the massive support received by the APC National Leader across the country must be complemented by politicians in the region.
The monarch said: “Your emergence as presidential candidate of your party is the beginning of another journey in your political career. All Yoruba ancestors shall be with you on this journey to make our fatherland a better place.”
Tinubu left the palace to his house on Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi, where APC governors, led by the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, were waiting to receive him.
Other dignitaries who received Tinubu at his Bourdillon home included Jigawa State governor, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru; Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule; Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, and former governor Gbenga Daniel, among others.
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