Erstwhile governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has spoken on why he and other progressives joined forces to form the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).
Speaking at the weekend to an African audience at the Njala University, Sierra Leone where he was conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Civil Laws (Honoris Causa), Tinubu told the excited audience consisting of academics, students, politicians and business leaders that the party was formed so that Nigeria could avoid social calamity.
“We formed the APC so Nigerians from all walks of life and social station might gather under one tent to develop the nation on the basis of equity and shared prosperity. What we seek is a fair social compact that we may avoid social calamity”, he said.
Tinubu also cleared the air on the general perception that APC is just a political party interested in grabbing power, describing the party as a mission, “a calling forth of the nation to realise its better self”, insisting that it is a call for the nation to fulfill its destiny.
“We realised that if Nigeria continues as it is, it will soon collide into the barrier of its internal contradictions. A land of vast wealth yet vast penury; a people of great talent and energy but also of despair and unproductivity born out of their jobless poverty. A land that exports the raw materials that helps fuel, electrify and lubricate the global economy but one that lives more in darkness than in light”.
The APC leader said for that change to take place in Nigeria, all those who desire that things should be done differently must be committed to the same cause. “I have worked too hard and long for the progress of our people to countenance such a broken outcome. We must reform ourselves so that we can fully occupy the destiny our people deserve”, Tinubu said.
Njala University, the best rated higher institution in Sierra Leone, in picking the former Lagos State governor for the award, cited his contributions to the entrenchment of democracy Nigeria and the sub-region and the tremendous transformation of Lagos State when he was governor.
The university, which marked its 50th anniversary, also noted that Tinubu towers above many people considered for the award as he remains active in public service several years after his tenure as governor of Nigeria’s commercial nerve center ended.
Please I am using this medium to appeal to Oyo State Government Senator Abiola Ajimobi to stop deceving the mases and pay pensioner monthly allowance. All pensioner that retire in June 2013 has never been paid even for just a month and today 7th April 2014 make to become 8 to 9 months is owning them and he has never pay any gratitude since he get to the seat of governor. my prayer for u is that God will reward you & your family the same mesure.