Tinubu has not publicly declared for the presidency, perhaps, waiting to finish consultations with the right people
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has asked elder statesman and one of the founding members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tanko Yakasai, for his support ahead of his declaration to contest the 2023 presidency.
Tinubu has not publicly declared his interest to replace President Muhammadu Buhari in the Villa on May 29, 2023, but his body language suggests that may be his primary goal for now.
His foot soldiers have been mobilizing support for him, especially in the South West, while he has been spending a lot of his time in Kano, the northern state that holds the biggest chunk of votes in the region.
Tinubu celebrated his 69th birthday in Kano and has been courting the friendship of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, is also from Kano, a key figure in the politics of the north.
An online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, quoted Yakasai as saying that Tinubu wants to run for the presidential race in the 2023 general election.
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The newspaper said Tinubu was at the Abuja residence of Yakasai on Wednesday, November 24 to solicit support for his presidential ambition in the coming election.
Yakasai said, “He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that anyone of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person.”
Yakasai further said that Tinubu did tell him about his Presidential ambition and as well sought his support during the election.
Yakasai said interested aspirants must first scale the hurdles of primary elections in their various political parties “then we will begin to compare them.”
There are indications that Tinubu’s likely obstacle in clinching the APC presidential ticket may be Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who, like Tinubu, hasn’t publicly indicated interest for the top job, but has been getting high profile endorsement, especially from the North.
A group of northern politicians has been touring the region to canvass support for him. They began by visiting the Katsina State governor, the Emir of Daura, who is President Buhari’s traditional ruler, and all the 34 local governments in the State.
