The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has berated those who have been linking him with ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, spoke against the backdrop of the insinuation that with the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the APC by the party’s National Executive Committee, his ambition to be president in 2023 had been dashed.
President Buhari had at a meeting called by the then Acting Chairman of the party, Victor Giadom, called for the sacking of the NWC.
Before then, Adams Oshiomhole, who is reasonably believed to be close to Tinubu, had been insinuated to be working for his ambition to become president in 2023.
In the statement on Saturday, the former Governor of Lagos State said there was nothing yet in the pipeline for his as it relates to 2023.
He said: “To those who have been actively bleating how the President’s actions and the NEC meeting have ended my purported 2023 ambitions, I seek your pity.
“I am but a mere mortal who does not enjoy the length of foresight or political wisdom you profess to have.
“Already, you have assigned colourful epitaphs to the 2023 death of an alleged political ambition that is not yet even born.
“At this extenuating moment with COVID-19 and its economic fallout hounding us, I cannot see as far into the distance as you. I have made no decision regarding 2023 for the concerns of this hour are momentous enough.
“During this period, I have not busied myself with politicking regarding 2023.
“I find that a bit distasteful and somewhat uncaring particularly when so many of our people have been unbalanced by the twin public health and economic crises we face.
“I have devoted these last few months to thinking of policies that may help the nation in the here and now.
“What I may or may not do 3 years hence seems too remote given present exigencies.
“Those who seek to cast themselves as political Nostradamus’ are free to so engage their energies.
“I trust the discerning public will give the views of such eager seers the scant weight such divinations warrant.
“Personally, I find greater merit trying to help in the present by offering policy ideas, both privately and publicly, where I think they might help.
“I will continue in this same mode for the immediate future. 2023 will answer its own questions in due time.
“I have toiled for this party as much as any other person and perhaps more than most.
“Despite this investment or perhaps due to it, I have no problem with making personal sacrifices (and none of us should have such a problem) as long as the party remains true to its progressive, democratic creed.
“Politics is but a vehicle to arrive at governance.
“Good politics promotes good governance. Yet, politics is also an uncertain venture.
“No one gets all they want all the time.
“In even a tightly-woven family, differences and competing interests must be balanced and accommodated.”