Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi,has implored other aspirants who contested for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket to come together and work for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in next year’s general election.
Speaking through his Presidential Campaign Media Committee on Wednesday,
Amaechi congratulated the former Lagos State governor on his victory and his subsequent emergence as the Presidential flagbearer of the party at the just concluded presidential primaries of the APC.
In a statement signed by his Presidential Campaign Media Committee’s Chairman, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, the former governor of Rivers State, urged all the aspirants to put the outcome of the primary election behind them and come together to work for the victory of Tinubu and APC in the 2023 presidential election.
He said:“We acknowledge that his victory follows a highly charged contest, which as expected, could only produce one winner.It is, therefore, our hope that following the emergence of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our party’s presidential candidate, all aspirants will now close ranks and work hard to ensure our party’s victory at the 2023 Presidential Election.
“We thank all who in many remarkable ways supported the Presidential aspiration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi and urge them to see the outcome of the primaries as a victory for democracy, which signposts the maturity and evolution of the political culture of Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria.”
Meanwhile,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,has assured assuring Nigerians that nothing will stop the march to a just, egalitarian society
Addressing delegates and Nigerians shortly after he was pronounced winner of the APC presidential primary, the former governor of Lagos State noted that President Mohammadu Buhari has laid a firm foundation to the country’s march to greatness promising to leverage on the foundation to fight insecurity, reform and grow the economy and fight corruption.
While he acknowledged that the nation has problem, some self-inflicted,he promised that the country’s development is a task that must be achieved, adding that he has the vision and ability to make it happen.
An excited Asiwaju said he was literally intoxicated by the nomination of the party because he never thought he would win.
With the victory, the APC flagbearer will now square up against Atiku Abubakar, standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP),Peter Obi (Labour) among others in the 2023 presidential election
In a delegate election that lasted over 20 hours, Tinubu polled a total of 1,271 votes out of a possible 2223 delegate votes to top 13 other contestants including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi,Senate President Senator Ahmed Lawan etc. for the ticket of the party.
He defeated his closest rival , Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by a margin of 955 votes. The former Minister of Transport polled 316 delegate votes while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo scored 235 to finish a distant third. Senator Ahmed Lawan,the Senate President polled 152 votes.
Other aspirants and their scores are Dave Umahi (38), Tunde Bakare (0), Ahmed Sani Yerima (4), Sen Rochas Okorocha (0), Yahaya Bello (47), Ben Ayade (37), Ogbonnaya Onu (1), Tien Jackrich and Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu both polled zero. Thirteen votes were declared invalid.
Announcing the result, Convention Planning Committee Chairman Atiku Bagudu said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored majority of the votes and consequently declared him the party’s presidential flagbearer.
Addressing the delegates, Tinubu lauded leaders of the party and urged all the aspirants to join him in the defeating the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2023 election describing the main opposition party as a common enemy of the APC that must be beaten back..
He described the the convention as a shining moment in the evolution of the APC and the life of the nation and hailed the party for making him its standard bearer.
” And I humbly accept the nomination of this convention to be the presidential candidate of our enlightened, humanitarian and great party, the All Progressives Congress.
“I also offer my sincere gratitude to President Buhari for his calm and prudent leadership throughout this process. I thank him, also, for his steadfast determination to ensure a level playing field and a free and fair primary process for every aspirant.
“Without him, I would not be standing here today as the new flagbearer of Nigeria’s party. I thank the governors for their invaluable contribution to internal democracy and unity. commend the party leadership and organizers for the conduct of a successful convention.
“Thank you, the delegates, for the confidence you have shown in me. I will prove that your choice was a wise one. You have moved our party and country towards its best future. On your mandate I shall stand.’
