Emeritus leader of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Sunday endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
The APC candidate met Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State capital.
However, some members of the group, including the group’s leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and the secretary-general of the association, Sola Ebiseni, who had endorsed Peter Obi for the Presidency were not at the meeting.
Tinubu presented his manifesto to the nonagenarian Yoruba leader.
He said, “Baba has prayed for me and I said once I got it I will come back. I thank God Almighty that the dream of that time has come to reality. The battle was much. There are many of them that wanted Buhari to anoint another person but he (Buhari) said no. Some of the northern governors came together and resolved that it (power) has to go to the south.
“One thing that is certain, no Yoruba men and women opposed this ticket. They support this ticket. I want to tell you that I will bring the trophy home. It is not just a Yoruba thing. It is a Nigeria project.
“The North proved to me that Nigeria can survive its unity. Some people want President Muhammadu Buhari to announce someone but the President said ‘No’. He insisted the process must go on democratically. The president said anyone that would mess up the APC process would see the other side of his eyes. He remained upright and saw the process to the end.
“Northern APC governors resolved that the Presidency must go to the south and especially south-west. Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje and others supported me to the end. The battle was tough and at a point, I was in doubt. There were many rumours and I became confused about what to believe.”
Tinubu added that when he asked President Buhari to pick a vice-presidential candidate for him, Buhari gave him leave to pick whomever he wanted.
“It is the reason I chose a competent man in Kashim Shettima who never lost any election and protected Christians in time of trouble in his state,” he said.
In his response, Fasoranti prayed for the APC candidate and declared, “Tinubu will win the election”.
