President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he nearly dropped out of the 2023 presidential race after a conversation with a close relative caused him to doubt his candidacy.
Speaking at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Presidential Villa yesterday to mark his 73rd birthday, Tinubu reflected on the challenges he faced on his journey to the presidency.
Despite those difficulties, he reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress and development.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers, as well as to the guests at the event for their presence, support, and contributions to the nation’s advancement.
He said: “Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns, one of them 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?’
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“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.’”
The President revealed that his uncle later called to confirm receiving the money but admitted to giving the messenger only N10,000 while keeping the rest for himself.
“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’.”
Tinubu stated that he assumed office amid economic uncertainty and was compelled to make immediate and difficult decisions, including the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal,” he said.
Noting that Nigeria had reached a point of no return on the issue, the President said, “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.”
However, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the President’s sacrifices, stating that history would remember him as the leader who confronted the nation’s most complex challenges.
Additionally, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Tinubu’s forgiving nature and unwavering passion for national development.
Akpabio described him as a visionary leader who thinks outside the box and as the ‘most audacious president’ in the country’s history.
He noted that, under Tinubu’s administration, governors had received increased allocations.
More so, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, lauded President Tinubu as a trailblazer who shattered barriers and uplifted the next generation of Nigerian politicians.
He highlighted that the President had spent decades nurturing future leaders from behind the scenes.
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Furthermore, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State commended the President’s decisive leadership at a critical time when Nigeria needed stability.
Also, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijjani shared his personal experience of being appointed by President Tinubu despite his past activism.
The minister recalled a recent meeting at the World Bank, where a senior official hailed President Tinubu as the most transformative reformist leader in Africa today.
Professor Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, a childhood friend of the President, reflected on their early years and how divine providence had guided Tinubu’s path to the presidency.
