2015 elections- `I sacrificed my presidential ambition for Buhari', Tinubu says

Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday said
he sacrificed his presidential ambition for the All Progressives
Congress candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu stated this while addressing a crowd of APC supporters at
the party’s presidential rally in Lagos.
He said Nigeria was facing an economic crisis and an internal war
and needed a person with Buhari’s experience because of the
General’s reputation of anti-corruption and military warfare.
Tinubu said, “People define patriotism as putting the country first
but this is what the ‘Poverty Development Party’ refuses to
understand. We chose Buhari not because Bola Tinubu is not
interested in the Presidency. I am capable, competent, qualified,
younger and richer but there comes a time that people must make
sacrifices for their nation.
“I prayed that Nigeria would get better and we would not need a
man like him (Buhari). But today, we are in a great crisis; we face a
lot of challenges. When South Africa was in a great dilemma and
was about to disintegrate, they called Nelson Mandela of 74 years
old.
“He used his wisdom to save his country. When the United States
was in economic depression, they called 73-year-old Ronald Reagan
because he was frugal and incorruptible.
“When America was faced with depression and war, they called a
retired General, Dwight Eisenhower, to rescue the country and the
country was returned on a path of success. “When France was faced
with war and economic depression, they called a retired General,
Charles De Gaul, to rescue the country.
Tinubu added that whether Buhari presented a certificate or not, he
was still qualified to rule the country.
“So what do we need now? Buhari. This is the time for us. General
Buhari, whether you are qualified or not qualified, we are calling you
to come and rescue us in Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking at the rally, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde
Fashola, said President Goodluck Jonathan had done nothing for the
people of the state despite the fact that the President got over 1.2
million votes from the state in 2011.
He said every project that the Federal Government was supposed to
have assisted Lagos in executing had been frustrated by the
Jonathan administration.
He, therefore, asked the people of the state to vote for the APC at all
levels.
Buhari, who was the last person to speak at the rally, said the
failure of the PDP-led Federal Government was unprecedented in the
history of Nigeria.
Buhari said, “We all know what we have gone through in the past 16
years under the PDP. The APC has identified three core problems
that must be tackled immediately. First is insecurity, two is the
destruction of the economy and three is corruption.
“But whatever we have to do, we will have to secure Nigeria first.
What is happening in the North-East where hundreds of people are
being killed is unacceptable. We known that the Nigeria Police and
the Nigerian Army are capable of bringing peace and stability into
the country but they just need good leadership.”

-punchng.com