The National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said that he wants to step into ‘President Muhammadu Buhari’s shoes without stepping on his toes’.
The presidential hopeful, according to a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, stated this during his visit to the National Assembly to address the APC caucus in the Senate and House of Reps in continuation of his engagement and consultations with critical stakeholders on his 2023 aspiration.
The former governor said he was in the National Assembly to seek the lawmakers’ counsel, collaboration and support for his ambition.
Tinubu also told them he had informed President Buhari of his aspiration, saying he wanted “to step into the president’s shoes without stepping on his toes.”
Tinubu on January 10 informed Buhari of his ambition to succeed him in 2023.
Meanwhile the APC caucus in the House of Representatives endorsed Tinubu’s ambition during the meeting, according to the statement.
House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, who led the lawmakers in the endorsement, spoke of Tinubu’s track record as Senator and governor, as a democrat helping to build and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, and as a party loyalist who did more than any other to create and sustain the APC.
He said the APC leader has all it takes to aspire to the presidency and has physical and mental capacity to run the affairs of the country.
Hon. Doguwa then put the question to his colleagues asking whether it was their wish to endorse Tinubu for the 2023 race to which they all answered in the affirmative without any dissenting voice.
House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila expressed surprise that many of those claiming to be in the race were sitting at home and not interfacing with Nigerians.
“I don’t think it’s good that Nigerians are still waiting six weeks to the primaries to know those in the race. It’s not fair on Nigerians,” he said.
He described Tinubu as one man who had indicated he would not take Nigerians for granted and would consult widely and talk to anyone who cared to listen.
Tinubu in his address during the meeting described the National Assembly as a vital arm of government, noting that the legislators had made important contributions to the unity and stability of the country and sustenance of her democracy as the most direct representatives of the individual constituencies at the Federal level.
The APC leader had begun the consultations at the National Assembly with the Senate caucus.
He said being with the Senators brought back heartfelt memories of his time in the Senate in 1992.
“My entrance into national politics began in this building. I was first a senator and shall always consider myself part of this body,” he said.
Tinubu thanked the Senators for helping to advance democratic good governance and transparent elections.
He spoke about landmark legislation the lawmakers had passed, including the Petroleum Industry Act, which he said rationalised nearly all aspects of oil and gas production and the recent amendments, which included greater use of technology in the electoral process.
“I seek your partnership in my quest to become the Presidential Candidate of our party and to win the general elections in February 2023.
“This is not about gaining power. It is about securing good government for the nation. Together, the Executive and Legislative branches of this democratic tree must strive to cultivate and bring forth good fruit for the welfare of the people,” he said.
