2023 Presidency: Tinubu Must Apologize For Saying He Doesn’t Believe In One Nigeria

The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been warned that a previous statement credited to him in which he said he doesn’t believe in one Nigeria may scuttle his chances of becoming president in 2023.

To this end, Tinubu has been told to apologize to Nigerians now that he is gunning to become the president of a united Nigeria.

The challenge was made by a chieftain of the APC, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga while speaking with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital on behalf of some APC stakeholders in the state and some northern states.

Naija News understands Tinubu had in an interview with Thisday publication of April 13, 1997, said he doesn’t believe in one Nigeria.

“I don’t believe in one Nigeria,” he was quoted to have said.

Speaking to journalists on the matter, Zazzaga said the failure of Tinubu to apologize will affect his chances and that of the APC as well in the 2023 elections and therefore urged him to do the honourable thing by apologizing.

He said: “In Thisday publication of April 13th, 1997, Tinubu granted an interview in which he was quoted as saying, ‘I don’t believe in one Nigeria’. And that interview has resurfaced since his presidential ambition declaration, people began to raise eyebrows, asking damaging questions.

“So many people have been calling and mocking us, saying if he does not believe in One Nigeria, how come he wants to contest for the Presidency of a nation he did not believe in.

“This has been agitating the minds of members of the APC and it is not good for the well-being of the party as the nation counts down to the 2023 general election.

“Therefore, the most honourable thing for Tinubu to do is to come out and apologize to Nigerians on the comments which he made before this democratic dispensation which began in 1999, and he should as well explain the rationale of the interview to Nigerians and point out if he was misquoted or not.

“Whatever his explanation would be, at least it will calm people’s nerves and save the party from being projected in a bad light.

“And that will not only project him as a true leader of the party or as a presidential aspirant but it will prove that he is a man of honour and dignity and someone who will take responsibility for his words, deeds and actions.”

It will be recalled that Tinubu has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest the 2023 presidency on the platform of the APC.