I rejected VP offer – Tinubu

I rejected VP offer – Tinubu

Former governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of All Progressives Con­gress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that his interest for Nigeria is beyond any political office.
He reacted to the rejection of an offer to serve as running mate to presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. The party’s national leader said that his contribution to building APC was not done in expectation of any political reward.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tinubu recalled that there was a time General Buhari offered the vice presidential slot to him, but told the former Head of State that the interest of the party, APC campaign and of the nation were better served if he retains his position as the national leader. Such stand, he added, will allow him to be a bridge builder across all divides.
Tinubu said he was sincerely committed to the rescue agenda of General Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osibajo ticket. He promised to dedicate himself so that the ticket wins the 2015 election, adding that it was neither for the candidates’ good nor even for the party’s good, but for the interest of Nigeria.
“Being a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honoured that he would consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its dimensions. I helped built this party, giving no thought to seeking an elected office because of it. My contribution to the party was never based on the expectation of a later political hand-out. Nigeria is in trouble and we are well past the moment for such narrow, selfish games.
“Although, I declined the position, I want to thank General Buhari for extending the honour to me. Despite all the noise and opposition around my possible selection, he stood firm and steadfast. He showed the traits of a leader in holding to a decision he believed was right despite the errant plots against it. There has been one form of attack that has troubled me. That is the attack based on religion. The PDP and others have stoked fear of a Muslim- Muslim ticket,” he said.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria has too many secular problems –insecurity, economic collapse, poverty, corruption and misgovernance. He urged Nigerians to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed.
“The Nigeria I see is a nation that shall overcome. The Nigeria I see is a nation ready to sweep aside the broken ways of our recent past and the government and politicians who impose distress upon us. The Nigeria I see and seek is one where each person, every man, woman and child may live free of terrorism, free of the despair of poverty and free of the fear that the government meant to serve and protect them has turned its back to them in cold and utter indifference.
“Shall we lift this nation upward so that from its higher vantage point we may clearly see the road to our better destiny? Or shall we continue to march the march of fools into the dark of darkness. We must awaken our own accord, my dear people, before the bell of doom rings upon us. If we wait until that moment, we would have waited too long. Our future, our fate, our destiny would have been cast into the snare of utter misfortune. This is not the song of greatness. It is the poetics of ruin.
“For me, political ambition will never triumph over patriotic conviction. This delicate moment affords no space for emotion to intrude to blind us from what is best. The APC is the best and only vehicle to enact the progressive and broad change this nation cries for. I eagerly lend myself to this fine cause without me having to be on the ticket,” he said.