The Speaker made his decision public in a statement
he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Tambuwal said the decision to suspend his bid was
taken after due consultations and considerations of
the overall interest of the party.
The Speaker, however, stressed that he had what it
takes to be the President of the country.
This, he said, led him to embark on extensive
consultations towards taking a decision as to whether
or not to participate not to actualise a personal
ambition, but rather to actualise “our dream for a
new Nigeria.”
The statement partly read, “Having consulted widely,
taking into consideration the concerns of some
elders of the party, I have decided to suspend my
participation in the presidential contest for now.
“I have done so as a sacrifice for the cohesion and
unity of the APC. I am suspending my participation in
the presidential race for now, because I do not have
any inordinate ambition to occupy any office. Nigeria
is a country too great to sacrifice on the altar of
partisan politics and personal ambition. What anyone
becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God.
Only God gives power to whoever He pleases.”
He noted that since the news of the possibility of his
participation in the presidential contest got into the
public domain, it had generated monumental
interest, analyses and commentary.
Although he made no direct reference to his next
political move, Tambuwal said, “I am overwhelmed
by the outpouring of support and interest. On my
part and with the greatest sense of modesty and
responsibility, I wish to assure Nigerians that I am
fully prepared, ready, willing, determined, available
and armed with the requisite plans, programmes and
ability, to undertake the great mission of rescuing
our dear country from the clutches of
institutionalised corruption, gross incompetence,
greed and divisiveness.
“I am prepared for the great task of rescuing Nigeria
from the security problems, the scandalous youth
unemployment, and the economic and social malaise
that plague her.”
He expressed confidence that when given
the chance, an APC government would operate a
clean, corruption-free, competent and purposeful
government to deal with the inexplicable paradoxes
that had held the nation hostage for over 100 years.
“I have carefully considered the concerns expressed
by some of our leaders, whom I deeply respect and
whose support and counsel I enjoy, to the effect that
my entry into the presidential race at this point may
necessitate having to rework some equations on the
political chessboard of the party,” he said.
