I Owe No One Apology For Canvassing For Tinubu’s Presidential Bid, Ex–Lawmaker, Makinde

A former member of House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Makinde has took a swipe at those who criticized him in his recent interview for appealing to the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to vie for the country’s to job in 2023.
 
Makinde, a member of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (SWAGA 23), said he owes no one apology for making consistent appeal to Asiwaju Tinubu to heed the call to run for 2023 Presidential election.
 
He added that Tinubu is not only qualified but preferred by vast majority of Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations and that the South West region of Nigeria cannot afford to lose the golden opportunity at its disposal.
 
It would be recalled that Hon Makinde’s Sunday media chat which was published in various online platforms sent social media into frenzy, particularly the headline ’’2023: Asiwaju Tinubu Will Consolidate President Buhari’s Indelible Achievements, Says Rotimi Makinde’’.
 
In his reaction, Makinde said those that doubted and repudiated his commitment to the struggle for a true, progressive, prosperous and better Nigeria on the ground that he was making clarion and genuine call to Asiwaju to contest in 2023 are the true enemies of Nigeria who will criticize anything just because of the hatred for the President.
 
“Regardless of anyone’s disposition towards me, I will continue to hold on to my views and express them openly and very firmly too. I owe myself, my God and my nation that much if nothing else. Asiwaju is my mentor, a man with clear mind and vision; his political credentials are robust enough to take him higher politically. I can put anything on the line to defend his interest and show him support no matter whose ox is gored” he said.

He said people’s opposition and negative views to the Muhammadu Buhari’s government for the last 6 years shouldn’t be used to measure his (Makinde) honest and genuine plea for Asiwaju Tinubu to be the next President of Nigeria.

“It is really sad to see people especially intellectuals drawing negative conclusions from the headline of a published interview which I granted recently without reading the full story. No government is perfect anywhere in the world and the headline cannot be used as a barometer for such diatribe and mindless criticisms. I have no doubt within me that Asiwaju will build on the achievements of the current government should he contest and win the 2023 presidential election.

‘’I am overwhelmingly confident that Asiwaju will definitely intervene on many perceived wrongs that might have been noticed in this administration by the critics who always want to be politically correct all the time, but are yet to absolve themselves of the moral burden on them, and this obviously gives them no right to criticize or make any wrong or unfair conclusions about the President or anyone else.” He stated.

He continued, ‘’I think these vituperative critics should be utterly ignored.  I must tell them that no one can distract me when I am on a good and noble course; I remain dogged, irrepressible and committed to give my full support to Asiwaju. I want well meaning Nigerians to know that these are the same people who criticized the former leader of the socio-political group, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, when he expressed support for the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Tinubu. You will recall that members of SWAGA which I am part of, paid Baba a courtesy visit in his country home in Akure. Once again I make bold to say Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has all it takes to rule Nigeria.
Considering his activities and track record, he deserves to be President, come 2023 and God willing he will receive the presidential baton from President Buhari and continue from where he will stop. Makinde stated