Presidential primaries: Tinubu promises to accept outcome

Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu said, he will accept the outcome of the presidential primary election schedules for Monday and Tuesday even if he fails.

He is however seeking a level playing field for all contestants including himself, stressing that presidency should not be given to anyone as a favour, particularly if the person is not qualified or based on personal reasons that would stop the most qualified person.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) insisted that the exercise which was rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday should be allowed to strictly follow due process.

The politician who is an aspirant said the future of over 200 million Nigerians was at stake which all stakeholders should realise and ensure that a level playing ground was created for all contestants.

According to him, if due process was followed and he lost out, heshall have no complaint and will accept the results.

In a statement he made while on a visit to APC delegates in Abeokuta which was considered denigrating to President Muhammadu Buhari in some quarters, Asiwaju denied the report he made on Thursday

According to him, his speech at Abeokuta when he met delegates from Ogun state was misrepresented by his opponents to present a narrative that he disrespected President Buhari in hopes that such a narrative would convince the president to oppose his aspirations regarding the approaching primary of the party.

He explained that he has has respect for President Muhammadu Buhari, and his office as President and Commander-in-Chief, adding that he will never denigrate him.

“I certainly did not do so in Abeokuta. We have been political partners for a long time and I hope that partnership continues well into the future. I would do nothing to jeopardize it.

“I believe our party is the best hope for the nation to right itself. I believe I have a future role larger than the one I now have.

I also believe President Buhari has a continuing and important role to play even after his tenure as president is over,” he said.

Tinubu explained that he reacted to the unwarranted attacks on his person by some presidential aspirants while addressing the delegates in Abeokuta and call to memory the history of APC to those who have short memory.

“There are many who had no role in the birth of the APC and in its many victories. Now that the party has climbed the political summit, they want to claim credit for something they had no part in.

“However, this cannot be said of President Buhari. I am proud of my role in the advent of the APC and its electoral successes.

“But President Buhari, of course, stands as the main driver of this success. He was elected President twice. He has borne the weight of national governance for seven years. Nothing can rival that. I would not dare belittle what he has done and what he has meant to the party and nation.”

Tinubu, who opined that his aspiration to be President of Nigeria is based on his desire to serve the nation and not a sense of personal entitlement to high office.