A political group under the aegis of South West Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ’23) on Monday said former Lagos State Governor and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu remained their joker for the next presidential election in the country.
To this end, the group has sought the support and blessings of prominent Yoruba monarchs for the candidature of Tinubu as president in 2023.
In a deft political maneuvering, the group comprising serving and former National Assembly members, political office holders in some States of the Southwest geopolitical zone and other interest groups stormed the palaces of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji to receive royal blessings of the monarchs.
The SWAGA 2023 was on a mission to rally South-Westerners to encourage, market and support the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for president in 2023.
Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye, the SWAGA Planning Committee Chairman, said that the group was on a political mission to the ancient city of Ibadan, the political capital of Yorubaland.
Adeyeye said that the mission was to project the agenda of the South-West and present Sen. Bola Tinubu as a capable candidate for the nation’s presidency come 2023.
Adeyeye had thundered: “after Buhari, who’s next? Let me restate the obvious that there was an unwritten agreement on the rotation of presidency and there is the need to respect zoning.
“The South is next after Buhari. The Southwest has the right to the presidency and we will fight for it.
“We have our joker that other zones didn’t have. And Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is our joker for 2023.
“No other politician of his standing amongst other tribes in the South.
“We came to tell the Olubadan and indeed other monarchs that we have a mission, a major project ahead of us which is to have one of our own in the South-West as the next president of Nigeria after President Buhari.
“And we came to also let him know that we have a joker, that we have somebody we think is much equal to the task.
“A man that fits the bill, a man that is more than qualified, really really well prepared for this time and that is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The former Minister of State for Works, described Tinubu as a good product, adding he is a highly experience politician who has paid his dues from the days of National Democratic Coalition(NADECO).
In their separate responses, the Alaafin and Olubadan, described the mission as well thought of and timely for national growth.
The monarchs recounted the contributions of Tinubu and other well meaning Nigerians to the NADECO struggle which led to the enthronement of the current nascent democracy in Nigeria.
Oba. Adeyemi expressed support for the mission, saying the country needed a listening and political savvy president who can take the nation out of it’s current quagmire.
“I believe in your mission. This mission is I well thought of. What Nigeria needs today is a listening President. Someone who understands politics in and out.
“A political savvy president who can take the nation out of its current political quagmire,” the Alaafin said.
Oba. Adetunji commended members of the group for embracing the ‘Omoluabi’ character of a true Yoruba, having sought their blessings and support.
“We know the contributions of all of you s
since the NADECO days. You have done well by seeking our blessings and support on this laudable mission.
“The king is the father to all irrespective of political affiliation. Your mission is in order. If you don’t ask for your right, you won’t get it,” the Olubadan said.
On the SWAGA 23 team are Sen. Adesoji Akanbi, Hon. Bosun Oladele, Hon Rotimi Makinde, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Hon Kafilat Ogbara, Hon. Deji Jakande and hosts of others.
