By Uche Amunike
Exactly 13 days after emerging the flag bearer of the ruling APC, the city of Lagos stood still, as residents, motorists and commuters witnessed a gridlock in certain areas, due to the arrival of Nigeria APC Presidential candidate, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was received in the state, Sunday.
The Lagos Traffic Advisory did release a statement on Sunday, explaining that all roads leading to the Presidential wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, as well as those leading to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos where he will be received, will experience heavy traffic jam.
The traffic was indeed thick as his convoy headed to the reception venue where the political rally was planned to hold. Indeed, Surulere, Coker Aguda, Shomolu, Bariga, Oshodi-Isolo environs, Yaba, Mainland, Mushin and Itire/Ikate witnessed a gridlock.
Aside from being hosted by the Lagos State government, the Nigeria APC presidential candidate was also hosted by members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Committee, to celebrate his victory after winning the likes of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, Nigerian Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the youthful Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, amongst others.
In their welcome statement which was titled: ‘Welcome Home, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’, spokesman for the Tinubu Campaign Organization, Bayo Onanuga stated that his victory served as a national endorsement and an eloquent testimony of Tinubu’s Pan-African outlook and disposition.
Hear him: ‘You were chosen for being a firm believer in the Nigerian project and a tireless advocate of the nation’s prosperity and the general well-being of all, regardless of creed, geography or background’.
‘Welcome back home, the visioner of a prosperous Lagos, the worthy flag bearer of our great party’.
Recall that the Nigeria APC presidential candidate, after his victory at the primary poll, wrote a letter to Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, where he thanked the President for being neutral during the primary election and thereby giving all aspirants a level playing ground.
Part of the letter read: ‘Your Excellency, one must admire the sense of purpose, composure, and maturity you demonstrated in the weeks and months preceding the primary elections of our great party. As aspirants and party leaders, we all pleaded with you to “choose” your successor. Naturally, this is expected especially in African democracy. Up until June 6, 2022, the day of the APC Presidential primaries, the whole of Nigeria, including myself, was waiting for you to announce your preferred candidate. All of us thought and believed this was a very simple matter.’
‘Mr. President, as the night of June 6 turned to the morning of June 7, I fully understood and appreciated your stance. ‘You belonged to everybody in the party and you belonged to none of the individual candidates of the party.’ A true leader, brother and friend,” he said.
The Nigeria APC Presidential candidate promised, in his address to run an issue-based campaign ahead of the general election and also eschew having divisive, disruptive and destructive campaigns.
