2023 Presidency: My supporters behind it – Tinubu speaks on opening Abuja campaign office

Bola Tinubu, the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says his supporters might be behind a reported campaign office quietly opened in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

A report by an online news medium said the former Lagos State governor quietly opened the edifice for activities aimed at seeing him succeed President Muhammadu Buhari when the latter’s tenure winds down in 2023.

James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, is said to be coordinating activities at the 2,700 square metres property.

In reaction to the report, Tunde Rahman, media aide to the APC helmsman, said supporters of his principal might be behind the project.

“His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has not even declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election let alone opening a campaign office,” Rahman was quoted by Daily Post as saying.

“He has repeatedly said 2023 is still some years away and that he is at present focused on helping President Buhari to deliver on his mandate as he is doing and coast home to victory.

“That is his position. But you know also that many of his friends, associates and supporters who feel he is eminently qualified for the presidency and has done excellently well to advance our democracy and want to see him contest for the top job are doing everything on their own to see this happen.

“I don’t know the office you are talking about, but it may just be one of those things these people are doing to get Asiwaju Tinubu to do as they wish. And I think they have a right to advance the course they believe in. Asiwaju’s appeal, however, is they allow the present government to concentrate on the good job it is doing and allow the matter of 2023 to take care of itself in the fullness of time,” he said.

Although he is yet to openly declared his interest for the top job, political analysts are of the opinion that Mr Tinubu will definitely contest, judging by his body language.

When Mr Buhari won the presidential ticket of the then newly created opposition party in 2014, he tipped Mr Tinubu to be his running mate but rescinded after outcry by party officials that the duo belong to the same religion.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, also kicked against the muslim-muslim pair which finally forced him to dump the party and return to his former People Democratic Party (PDP).

Weeks later, Yemi Osinbajo, current vice president and a Christian, replaced the former Lagos State governor. Mr Tinubu reportedly handpicked Osinbajo, a former commissioner who served in his cabinet when he held sway as governor of the South-West state.