‘He fought corruption in Lagos’ — Faleke, group ask Tinubu to run for president

James Faleke, member of the house of representatives, has asked Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, to run for president in 2023.

Faleke said this on Saturday in Abuja at the unveiling of the former governor’s legacies and inauguration of state steering committees of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG).

The lawmaker representing Ikeja federal constituency at the lower legislative chamber said Tinubu left office in 2007, yet he remains popular to date because “he is focused, consistent and persistent”.

“This is a man who left office in 2007 yet remains popular till today because he is focused, consistent and persistent,” he said.

“He has been the central figure in Nigerian politics.”

The legislator said Tinubu is a man who is ready to make sacrifices for the country, adding that he will build on Buhari’s work, including the fight against corruption.

“We have discovered a man who is ready to sacrifice all he has for his fatherland,” he said.

“A man who had comfortable control of the entire south-west and six solid governors yet threw everything into the alliance with President Muhammadu Buhari with 12 million votes but with one governor to build a new pan-Nigerian party of his dream.

“A man who ran a state that gave opportunities to citizens for appointive and elective positions on merit, without regard for their religion, ethnicity or class.

“The TSG was set up by all of us who believe that only Asiwaju bola Tinubu has the divine gift to continue the progressive strides of President Muhammadu Buhari and put to shame to the design of the enemies of Nigeria, who conspire to sponsor rebellion and insecurity to checkmate the anti-corruption war launched by the APC administration.

“In the same way, Asiwaju fought corruption with technology and native intelligence in Lagos state, we are convinced that he has all it takes to lead us to further the journey to a greater Nigeria already embarked upon under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

“On behalf of the millions of supporters of Tinubu Support Group, we are calling on our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally announce his presidential aspiration.”

On his part, Umar Mohammed, TSG director-general, said they are working to ensure that Tinubu has a “formidable and popular grassroots support base”.

“In our search for credible leadership to consolidate and improve on the enormous gains of the Buhari administration in the next dispensation, we have painstakingly and consciously undertaken to observe, study and critically analyse the challenges confronting the nation as well as our immense resources potentials and strength,” he said.

“It is on this note and given the above narratives, that we therefore call on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avail the nation of his enormous wealth of experience, outstanding and visionary leadership qualities, to contest the 2023 presidential election.”

Tinubu is yet to formally declare his intention to run for president.