Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that thousands Olusegun Obasanjos and defectors from the party cannot stop President Muhammadu Buhari from winning the 2019 election for a second term.
Tinubu, who said this while addressing party members at a stakeholders meeting of the Lagos State chapter, said that the President had acquitted himself as a leader so far in spite of the challenges of governance.
The APC leader condemned what he called the frequent attacks on Buhari-led administration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying that the criticisms of Obasanjo are in bad faith.
He emphasized that Obasanjo and his fellow travelers cannot stop Nigerians from re-electing President Buhari, adding: “our president, President Muhammadu Buhari has done well, he deserves another term, and we will support him to win because he is our man.
“Forget about Obasanjo’s letter and his frequent attacks on our president. He cannot stop the president because Nigerians would re-elect him. Obasanjo has spent his own time; he should leave Buhari alone and face his business because he cannot tell us who to vote for.
“He is part of some of the challenges we are facing in the country today, because he did not lay the right foundation when he was president.”
Tinubu said that the exit of some members from the APC would also not stop the re-election of President Buhari.
Tinubu, who is former governor of Lagos State, said that the results of the Kogi,Katsina and Bauchi bye elections, in which the APC was victorious, were a precursor to the pattern of the general elections.
“I congratulate the winners in the election and their victory is proof that our party is getting more popular by the day. Those who want to defect can defect, that is their problem. APC remains unshaken and these people will know the reality in the election.”
He commended the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomole, saying that members are pleased with what he is doing in the party.
He said that the direct primary system is good for democracy, and that the party will adopt it to conduct its primaries.
Tinubu urged members to play by the rules in electing candidates at the primaries even as he advised them to mobilize others to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards as that was necessary for victory in 2019.