The former Lagos State Governor, stated this while reacting to his emergence as the flag bearer for his party in 2023 Presidential election.

He also said Nigeria is back on track following his victory at the just concluded APC National Convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, please forgive me for taking you this long. I didn’t expect to win, I must be intoxicated for victory,” the APC while mounting the podium to give his acceptance speech.

“We are confident, courageous that this nation is back on track. All our state governors here present, it is not my job alone.”

Tinubu called for unity among other contestants, saying the common goal was to defeat the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He added,  “The competition is now over. Those who did not support me, you have nothing to fear. I owe no grudges or grievance, let us all agree to join hands in defeating the PDP.”

The APC Chieftain had won the election with  a total of 1,271 votes beating Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who each had 235 and 316 votes.

According to him, his exploits as the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 made him qualified to become the party’s flagbearer.

The Director of Media and Communication of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, Tinubu had appeared before the screening committee of the APC on Monday to defend his presidential ambition in the presence of a committee led by a former national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Onanuga said, “He (Tinubu) confidently told the panel why he is qualified to fly the flag of APC as its presidential candidate.

“He cited his success as governor of Lagos State, raising the internal revenue generation of the state from a paltry N600 million monthly, which has now grown to N51 billion today.”

Onanuga added that Tinubu demonstrated a vast knowledge of economic management and a perfect understanding of Nigeria’s political economy in his answers.

Tinubu was also said to have cited his invitation to Enron to start the first state-backed power generation project in the country and how Nigeria would need to take the power transmission lines as a highway.

Questions asked the APC National Leader included his upbringing, and educational and professional background.

“Tinubu impressed the panel during the screening process with the way and manner he answered and provided insight into many of the questions asked.

“The screening committee expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s knowledge of the economy and socio-political issues that are affecting the country,” Onanuga stated.

Recall that some support group purchased and submitted the N100m Presidential form of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of Adesina.

But reacting,  in a statement issued on Tuesday, titled, ‘Statement by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank’, Adesina maintained that he is not running for president.

The statement read, “I am very touched by all who have gone to a great extent, with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration.

“The coalition groups of youth, women, farmers, physically challenged and well-meaning Nigerians that have done this have expressed their genuine free will, political right, freedom of expression and association for my consideration, with the interest of Nigeria at heart.

“While I am deeply honoured, humbled and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept to be considered.

“I remain fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given me for Africa’s development.”

The VP’s Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Laolu Akande disclosed this in a press on Monday.

According to the release, the vice president stated this during a dinner with speakers and deputy speakers of a number of State Houses of Assembly on Sunday at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement quoted the VP as saying, “government by partnership is so important.

“That is the kind of relationship that I think makes governance easier. The only way to make a complex country like this work is by consultations. There is no other way.”

The former Professor of Law also stated that he would apply this partnership model in governance if he was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its presidential flagbearer, and he is elected as President of Nigeria, according to the statement.

“People want to be engaged, they want to be spoken to, they want to hear what government is doing, they want you to hear what their opinions are.

“That engagement taught me something very crucial, the most important thing of all in this country, is for us to be able to sit down and talk on any issue. People want to be able to express their views, and they want to be heard/helped, and we must create the time to hear them to understand their views.

“Whatever policy that is, engagement is always the best approach, I think that has succeeded in so many instances. I am confident that the partnership model is one that will always work,” Osinbajo said.

The statement also quoted the Senior Advocate of Nigeria as restating the value of his experience as the VP in the last seven years to lead Nigeria as President in 2023.

“In terms of training on the job, I think I am quite well trained. So, I believe very strongly that, although there are other contestants who are also very capable and competent, I believe that just in terms of readiness, I think that if there is anyone who is prepared for that, I am certainly that person.

“So, if by the grace of God, I am nominated by the party and the electorate, I think that God helping us, we will be able to do much in office. And one of the very important things for me is what I would describe as a partnership.”

The party made this statement in Lagos on Monday during a press briefing to unveil the three newly-elected state executive members, Lanre Ogunyemi (Secretary), Mr Seye Oladejo (Publicity Secretary), and Mrs Abimbola Ladigbolu (Assistant Legal Adviser).

Commenting on whether Tinubu had briefed the state leadership of the party on his rumoured presidential aspiration, Ogunyemi, who is the party’s secretary, said the former governor was eminently qualified and had a right to aspire to be president in 2023.

Ogunyemi said, “Tinubu has all it takes to lead this country and he has all the fundamental rights as a Nigerian to aspire. It’s now left for Nigerians to accept or not. It’s now left for the party to decide who they want as the presidential candidate come 2023.

“Whether he has briefed us or not on his aspiration, whether he is expressing any body language, whether people are against it or not, we are sure that he has everything to lead this nation.”

The Minister, who spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital yesterday, disclosed that if the APC fails to put its house in order Nigerians won’t vote them in 2023 adding that if the APC is not careful about the frustration being faced now, the party may find it hard to get votes in 2023.

He said: “APC must put its house in order. “In the last two elections, Buhari got 15million votes in each and that is because he is on the ballot.

“From the north alone he got 12 million on each occasion if APC is not careful to put its house in order for people not to be sent out from the party.

“Where will the vote come from in 2023 if the mandate of Buhari is no more on the ballot? I think that’s food for thought for those who can think well.”

Describing the talk about the third term as “idiotic,” Adebayo said that Buhari was not in any way interested in such venture.

“The issue of the third term for Buhari is idiotic. Our constitution prescribes two terms. It is the handiwork of some confusionists. Buhari is not interested in such agenda.

“He cannot do anything that would tarnish his image and integrity. It is a mere waste of time for some people to be talking about third term,” he said.