Following a period of uncertainty during the election campaign, President Bola Tinubu has said that he almost gave up on his 2023 presidential dream.
“I almost dropped the idea of running for President,” Tinubu revealed on Saturday night at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he also thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers on his 73rd birthday.
In an early Sunday morning statement titled “President Tinubu appreciates Nigerians for birthday well wishes, reveals he nearly quit 2023 presidential race,” Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, revealed the President’s speech contents.
The President recalled how a close relative came to see him in the middle of the night and questioned his determination as he reflected on the challenges he faced.
“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns. One came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle.
“He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’
“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”
Tinubu added, “I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me.
“When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back.”
In his speech, the president acknowledged the challenges faced during his ascent to the presidency and reiterated his dedication to furthering Nigeria’s development.
Tinubu said that he had to make quick judgments when he took office because of economic difficulties, such as eliminating the gasoline subsidy on his inauguration day.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal.
“The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone.
“The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future,” said Tinubu.
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Kashim Shettima, the vice president, commended the president’s leadership style and said that his choices had addressed problems that plagued past administrations.
He said, “Thanks to his boldness, future presidents of Nigeria will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts that haunted past administrations, including fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and the suppression of local government autonomy.
“These were the thorny issues that many before him sidestepped. But Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it.
“And in rewriting it, Asiwaju has taken the bullets that many before him simply lacked the courage to face. But that is the thing about true leadership: it is not for those who seek comfort. It is for those who understand that the path to national greatness is lined with difficult choices.”
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As the “most audacious president” in Nigerian history, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the president’s “unwavering passion for national development.”
“If I were a governor under your administration, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor’ and not an uncommon governor,” he remarked, adding that under Tinubu’s watch, governors receive more allocation.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, also praised the President for his political support in 2019, despite their geographical differences.
“Today, he is at the forefront because Nigeria needs him. In 2019, despite not being from his region, he supported me in my most difficult political moment. Nigeria needs leaders who rise above tribal considerations, and he has demonstrated that,” said Kalu.
In the midst of national uncertainty, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma commended Tinubu’s “decisive leadership,” saying that only a leader with “deep conviction and love for the country” could take the necessary but sometimes challenging actions.
He added that a senior World Bank official had recently described Tinubu as “the best reformist leader in Africa today.”
Professor Shaffideen Amuwo, who was a boyhood friend of the President, remembered their early years and credited divine providence for Tinubu’s ascent.
Amuwo said, “Our relationship did not just start in Chicago; we played soccer together as children. While I chose the library, my brother chose politics because he loved to speak.
“Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria.
“The city of Chicago, founded by a Black man, has educated the man who now leads the most populous Black nation on earth. I pray that Allah continues to hold his hand and guide him as he works to save our country.”
As he celebrated his 73rd birthday, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to guiding Nigeria towards stability and progress and thanked the guests and supporters who had stood with him during his uncertain and difficult times.
The event took place on Saturday night and was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana; members of the Federal Executive Council; principal officers of the National Assembly; former and current governors; diplomats; business executives; religious leaders; and several of the President’s childhood friends.
Prayers were led by Dr. Abdulkadir Sholagberu, the Imam of the National Mosque in Abuja, who prayed for God to lead the nation and the president.
