A leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for withdrawing from the race for the party’s presidential ticket.
Mr. Tambuwal had, on Tuesday, suspended his presidential ambition barely one week after some of his colleagues in the House purchased the party’s presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for him.
“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 now,” the Speaker said in a statement.
“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.”
In a statement by his media office on Wednesday, Mr. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, said Mr. Tambuwal’s bold decision to suspend the pursuit of his presidential ambition is cast in the mould of wise political decisions that set the tone for positive and progressive thinking so badly needed to lift our country up.
“This sacrifice you have made will not be in vain. It must be noted by all democrats across the country as an act of great patriotism,” he stated. “We all appreciate the position you have taken and the sacrifice you have made. There are lessons to be learnt from all that is unfolding towards building a better future. This is noted by the party and Nigerians.”
Mr. Tinubu added: “You have demonstrated the true spirit of democracy. You have indeed shown the way to all other party members on the kind of sacrifice expected of them. You are a good example to the young and old and the leading lights of our party.”
Mr. Tinubu noted that rather than pursue a selfish ambition, the Speaker humbly submitted himself to the service of the common good.
He that whatever anyone might say, the speaker had made history.
The former governor said since Mr. Tambuwal joined the APC, the party had become stronger.
He stated, “You have brought strength to our party through a political profile that is unrivalled. Having travelled through over 300 federal constituencies, the widespread support you enjoy across the country validates you as a leader for our generation and a political asset for our great party.
“Undoubtedly, you have what it takes to lead this country to a better future and we take note of your astuteness, brilliant political trajectory and preparedness for higher service,” Mr. Tinubu said. “Your sacrifice for the cohesion of the party and a greater Nigeria will go down in history as one of the greatest pragmatic and progressive political sacrifices ever made in the politics of our country.”
