Thursday, December 18, 2014
PDP made me lose the VP slot -Tinubu is vexed...
Add BBN on 2BAFB965
As Buhari and Osibajo prepares for the big contest against the Jonahan/Sambo ticket from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tinubu, in a statement certain to set tongues wagging, claims that he turned down Buhari's offer for the vice-presidential slot owing to "national sacrifice and patriotism".
Tinubu, who in reality was forced to yield the ground to his protégé, Osibajo, after his candidacy was rejected by other stakeholders of the party, said he remained committed to working in the best interest of APC and the nation.
In the statement issued, the former Lagos governor, however called for the excision of religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed.
"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.
Explaining his contributions to building the party, Tinubu said he never gave any thought to seeking elective office, insisting that his "contributions to the party were never based on the expectations of a later political handout but on the conviction that Nigeria is in trouble and that we have passed the moment for such narrow, selfish games".
Tinubu also explained how Buhari offered him the vice-presidential ticket as a mark of honour for his efforts at forging the APC merger.
But he said when his name was raised, the political hatchet men, especially those in the PDP tried to chop it down with rumour and lies, "relying on religion as their only viable weapon of attack".
However, Tinubu said this was a time for cohesion and an overriding sense of mission, while calling on Nigerians to join hands to defeat a common foe and resist all temptations intended to entice them to fight among ourselves.
"There came a time during the course of the events when our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari offered the vice-presidential slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honored that he would consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its dimensions.
"I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda of General Buhari and Professor Osibajo. I declare to you, I will work and dedicate myself so that our ticket succeeds and wins the 2015 election -- not for his good, not for my good, not even for the party's good but for the good of the nation we inhabit.
"Some may call what I have done a sacrifice. I call it otherwise. It is my patriotic contribution and duty. I do so with a happy and uplifted heart and clear conscience because I have committed myself to seeking the best for this nation before seeking what is good for myself.
"This is the creed of statesmanship I chose to follow. May this be the creed of our party as General Buhari leads us to historic victory in the 2015 elections.
"I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be seen as self-serving. I plead with the people of this nation to never allow the power lust of cynical politicians to set brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor.
"If you look at those politicians who raise this issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful to any religion other their self-interests.
"I have concluded that the interest of the party, our campaign and of the nation are better served if I retain my position as the national leader of the APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all divides.
"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," he said.
According to Tinubu, collapse, poverty, corruption and bad governance have allowed inept people to use religion to keep Nigeria from solving these challenges for the benefit of all.
An apparently disenchanted Tinubu with the role of religion in Nigeria's politics, said: "Those who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God and he does not like it when you play with his people or use His name to do the opposite of what He intends.
"I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed. I ask you to select the ticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured since this government took over.
"I ask you to remember that too many Christians and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember that the true religion of the PDP is poverty, APC comes to bring prosperity to the people. Please vote for that."
Tinubu, who in reality was forced to yield the ground to his protégé, Osibajo, after his candidacy was rejected by other stakeholders of the party, said he remained committed to working in the best interest of APC and the nation.
In the statement issued, the former Lagos governor, however called for the excision of religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed.
"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.
Explaining his contributions to building the party, Tinubu said he never gave any thought to seeking elective office, insisting that his "contributions to the party were never based on the expectations of a later political handout but on the conviction that Nigeria is in trouble and that we have passed the moment for such narrow, selfish games".
Tinubu also explained how Buhari offered him the vice-presidential ticket as a mark of honour for his efforts at forging the APC merger.
But he said when his name was raised, the political hatchet men, especially those in the PDP tried to chop it down with rumour and lies, "relying on religion as their only viable weapon of attack".
However, Tinubu said this was a time for cohesion and an overriding sense of mission, while calling on Nigerians to join hands to defeat a common foe and resist all temptations intended to entice them to fight among ourselves.
"There came a time during the course of the events when our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari offered the vice-presidential slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honored that he would consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its dimensions.
"I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda of General Buhari and Professor Osibajo. I declare to you, I will work and dedicate myself so that our ticket succeeds and wins the 2015 election -- not for his good, not for my good, not even for the party's good but for the good of the nation we inhabit.
"Some may call what I have done a sacrifice. I call it otherwise. It is my patriotic contribution and duty. I do so with a happy and uplifted heart and clear conscience because I have committed myself to seeking the best for this nation before seeking what is good for myself.
"This is the creed of statesmanship I chose to follow. May this be the creed of our party as General Buhari leads us to historic victory in the 2015 elections.
"I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be seen as self-serving. I plead with the people of this nation to never allow the power lust of cynical politicians to set brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor.
"If you look at those politicians who raise this issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful to any religion other their self-interests.
"I have concluded that the interest of the party, our campaign and of the nation are better served if I retain my position as the national leader of the APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all divides.
"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," he said.
According to Tinubu, collapse, poverty, corruption and bad governance have allowed inept people to use religion to keep Nigeria from solving these challenges for the benefit of all.
An apparently disenchanted Tinubu with the role of religion in Nigeria's politics, said: "Those who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God and he does not like it when you play with his people or use His name to do the opposite of what He intends.
"I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed. I ask you to select the ticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured since this government took over.
"I ask you to remember that too many Christians and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember that the true religion of the PDP is poverty, APC comes to bring prosperity to the people. Please vote for that."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment