By Lasun Alagbe
The dream of All Progressives Congress leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to one day lead Nigeria has moved closer to reality as he has emerged the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He achieved the feat by beating his associate-turned opponent, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other aspirants at the party’s Special Convention holding in Abuja.
While he got 1271 votes, Osinbajo could muster only 235.
Indeed, former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, came second, beating Osinbajo by getting 316 votes.
Other scores include: Ahmed Lawan – 152; Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba – 1; Rochas Okorocha – 0; Ahmed Yerima – 4; Yahaya Bello – 47; Ikeobasi Mokelu – 0; Tunde Bakare – 0; Ogbonaya Onu – 1;
With the feat, Tinubu will tackle former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in next year’s election.
It is a battle that pundits believe will be keen based on the political pedigrees of both.
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Atiku is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate who has vied for the presidential diadem some three occasions.
He, as a matter of fact, started as early as 1992 when he contested with the late MKO Abiola during the Social Democratic Party’s primary – held in Jos, Plateau State – which heralded the watershed but truncated June 12 1993 election.
He is thus very experienced, also riding on the legacy of the late Sheu Mus Yar’Adua.
But Tinubu too is not a greenhorn as he has been in the field since the same June 12 era.
He, however, gained the legendary status that changed the game for him in the past few week during this dispensation, after becoming the Lagos State Governor, deepening the state’s fortune and influence – as well as his own status.
