From Magnus Eze, Abuja
Former Lagos State governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said Nigerians fulfilled his birthday wish last year with the victory of his party in the March 28, 2015 presidential election.
Speaking at the Eighth edition of the colloquium to mark his 64th birthday in Abuja yesterday, Tinubu said his only wish this time last year was for the then opposition party to defeat the erstwhile ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and enthrone Muhammadu Buhari as president.
He described PDP as a party of the past and stressed that those criticising the government and programmes of Buhari belonged to the past.
Tinubu thanked President Buhari for the honour done to him by chairing the occasion.
“The president has done a great honour to me today and, to the entire country by refocusing us on the critical path to our salvation and our recovery. I want to thank him most especially for finding time to be present; to preside over and chair a birthday that would have just been regarded as next to ordinary.
“But, just a year ago, when the party was realised and we merged and formed APC, he became our candidate and we were going for the election, the only birthday wish I requested and prayed for, was to ask Nigerians that we achieve victory in that poll.
“And, that my wish was granted by all Nigerians and particularly the Almighty God. I thank God for it and I thank the people,” Tinubu stated.
The visibly-elated APC leader confessed that he was overwhelmed by the quality of attendance; particularly by the APC Governors’ Forum and the traditional institution.
He declared that he has been energised to do more for the country.
Reiterating that Nigeria’s renaissance must come from within, Tinubu charged all Nigerians to support the efforts of the Buhari-led administration in redirecting the nation, adding that “we have the land, we have the mind and we have the capacity, the intellect and the ability”
In a jocular mood, Tinubu, said politics today is sexy, adding that if politics were not sexy, his wife Remi would not be in politics.
Rendering his appreciation at The Bola Tinubu Colloquium, which held in Abuja yesterday, his 64th birthday, the former governor of Lagos state appreciated Yemi Osinbajo, whom he referred to as “my attorney-general” for initiating the colloquium eight years ago.
He lauded his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, a two-time senator, for her role in his life and her tolerance through the years. After a documentary on his life and times in politics, Tinubu said his wife was behind the drive to make politics sexy for the youth to participate.
“My wife, as you have (seen) from the documentary, was one of the youths who were criticising us, the politicians. She said ‘make politics sexy so that youths can participate,’” he said.
“I got to the podium and said look at my wife, if politics is not sexy, what is she doing here? Remi, thank you for tolerating my trouble.”