Join the club of retirees – Tinubu tells Obasanjo, Babangida

Agency ReporterFebruary 13, 2018

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A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to join the club of retirees and take their pensions.

Tinubu said this in an interview with State House correspondents on Tuesday after he and a chieftain of the APC, Bisi Akande, met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was reacting to the statements by Obasanjo and Babangida in which they advised President Buhari against seeking reelection in 2019.

The former governor of Lagos State described the statements by the two former leaders as shadows.

He asked the duo to allow the present generation of leaders moves the country forward, saying, however, that is interested, they could participate in politics.

“I don’t address those shadows. We should let our former presidents join retirees’ club and take pensions, but they can participate in our politics if they are interested. It is a free world, but this freedom is not served a la carte. But they should allow us to move our country forward. It is a challenge to every Nigerian,” he stated.

Tinubu described his appointment by Buhari as head of the APC reconciliation committee as a very strong political challenge.

President Buhari had last week appointed Tinubu to lead the APC committee that would reconcile aggrieved members of the party.

Asked how he felt about the assignment, Tinubu responded thus: “Well, l feel greatly honoured with the mutual confidence that the president has reposed in me which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest. He has given me free hand to put coercion, confidence and trust in the party.

“Democracy is about conflict resolution process. You can’t do it without resolving conflicts. We can’t build it without understanding the conflicts and sources where we are coming from. But we want to leave the country with a legacy. It’s not about Mr. President. That is what he’s telling the country. It’s about our country and no other choice to democratic tenets than through political party platforms.

“He (Buhari) is one of those rare beings around the country, around Africa who had experienced both worlds: he fought a battle to save Nigeria and came to politics to save Nigeria. Very rare people have such an opportunity in their lives time and that’s what we talk about; legacy. And where we have all the challenges, do what we should do. I’m enjoying the challenges so far.”

The APC national leader said the party has a better chance to win the 2019 general elections which, he assured, would be conducted in a most transparent and democratic manner.

Asked what the chances of the APC are in 2019, Tinubu exclaimed: “You are asking me an obvious question! I belong to this party. My commitment is to this party. We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute election in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.”