By Olajide Idowu
Osun based businessman, Dr Khamis Olatunde-Badmus, has appealed to other presidential aspirants in the southwest on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to bury their ambitions in support of former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Aside Tinubu, the other presidential aspirants on the platform of APC in the South west are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former governor Ibikunle Amosun and Governor Kayode Fayemi who has indicated that he may join the 2023 presidential race after his ongoing consultations with stakeholders.
But Olatunde-Badmus, who is Asiwaju Musulumi Of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta said while Yoruba as a group now has a chance at the presidency, the people must present a common and formidable front.
Olatunde Badmos who is also the CEO of Tuns Farms, while speaking with journalists, on Monday in Osogbo said that Tinubu, a former Senator and governor of Lagos State had contributed immensely to the growth of democracy and politics in southwest and in Nigeria in general and should be supported.
He said, “What I am after is the unity of Nigeria.
“In a race where you have about eight of our children coming out for the post of president and there is only one vacant seat, is it not a way of dividing more than 13 million votes that we have in Yorubaland?
“What I am saying is that, only God knows who will be the next president of Nigeria, but Yoruba should not divide their votes, because if we divide our votes, it will not favour us.
“I am throwing my weight behind Bola Tinubu, because he came out first and approached me for support.
“Aside that, Tinubu has done so much for politicians in the southwest and all the political aspirants vying for the presidential ticket on the platform of APC from the zone are either Tinubu’s prodigy or product of his political ingenuity.
“I feel these aspirants should respect Tinubu’s contribution to the growth of democracy and and the impact he had made in politics in the south/west and give him the deserved respect.
“I know politicians have egos and self-interest, but they should rally round Tinubu, considering the benefits they had derived from him politically.