Elder statesman and one of the founding members of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has revealed the conversation he had with national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he visited him during the week.
Recall that the former governor of Lagos state had visited the 96-year old elder statesman at his place last Wednesday.
Confirming Tinubu’s 2023 ambition, the elder statesman, Yakasai revealed that the ex-governor of Lagos was at his Abuja residence to solicit his support for the next general elections.
Speaking on the APC leader’s visit, the elder statesman said, “He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that anyone of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person.”
Yakasai, however, said he didn’t disclose to Tinubu, during the visit, that he would support his ambition.
He also said that interested aspirants must first scale the hurdles of primary elections in their various political parties “then we will begin to compare them.”
When asked whether he planned to join the ruling party after Tinubu’s visit, Yakassai said, “I don’t want to join any (political) party but I can support a candidate of my choice. I have said it way back in 1951 that I will not be a party member but I will support a candidate of my choice.”