2023: I will become President first— Tinubu tells Nigerian youths 

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu has told Nigerian youths that they can only become president of the country after he has become one.

The 69-year-old politician said this during a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Sunday.

Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Oyo town was part of his engagement with traditional rulers across the six geo-political regions in respect of his 2023 presidential ambition.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “You won’t give room for the elderly to pass and you haven’t become president. What if you become president, you will chase us out of town?”

“You will grow old, you will become president but I will become president first.”

Tinubu who visited Ibadan today for his aspiration vowed that no amount of intimidation could halt his presidential ambition in 2023.

He said this during his consultation with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan-designate, Oba Lekan Balogun.

Tinubu had in January visited President Muhammadu Buhari to register his readiness to contest in the 2023 elections.

Speaking at the Olubadan-designate’s palace in Ibadan, the National Leader of the APC insisted that no amount of intimidation could stop him from fulfilling his ambition.

He said his visit to Oyo and Ibadan was borne out of his respect for the royal stool, and to seek their blessings, cooperation and prayers to lead the country come 2023.

I am ready to get dirty–Tinubu

He said: “No amount of intimidation can stop me. I am ready to get dirty. I am out to become President of Nigeria. We are at a crossroad.”

Speaking earlier at the Alaafin’s palace, he said: “I cannot embark on a project of such magnitude without seeking for prayers and cooperation of the traditional rulers.

“I am here to inform our fathers of my decision to run for the position of the President of this country in 2023. What I need from our highly referred traditional rulers are their prayers and cooperation.

“Today, by the special grace of God in Yorubaland unlike before we have the Vice-President, the Minister of Works, Interior and Sports but we still need more.”

Responding, Oba Adeyemi, who invoked the spirits of his fore-bearers, said his request has been granted.

He said all the ancestors of Yorubaland would work in his favour and answer his prayers.

He, therefore, asked the 10 Oke-Ogun traditional rulers in attendance at the meeting whether they were in support of his decision, and their response was: “We are fully in support.”

You’re the leading light of Nigeria– Olubadan-designate.

At the Olubadan-designate’s residence, the monarch said: “We have known you and we know your antecedent. We know your antecedent as a progressive. You laid the foundation of today’s Lagos. You are the leading light of Nigeria. You contributed to making Nigeria what it is today.

“Without Yoruba, Nigeria will not be what it is today. Nigeria is badly divided. We are looking forward to a Yoruba president who will unite this country. We need a leader that will have a national focus and national acceptability. The road may be rough but by His grace, you will triumph.”