Bola Tinubu Advises Former Leaders to Retire.

In reaction to statements by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) who discouraged President Muhammadu Buhari from seeking re-election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu , advised  both of them to join the retirees club and allow the present crop of leaders to rule effectively.

According to Punch Newspaper, Bola Tinubu said despite the challenges he admitted were facing the ruling party, APC would still win the 2019 elections, claiming that the party had a better chance and was determined to organise the most transparent election.

Tinubu spoke with State House correspondents shortly after he and a former interim chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, met President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

When asked about the chances of the APC in 2019, the party leader said, “You are asking me an obvious question. I belong to this party. My commitment is to this party. We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute the elections in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.”

Tinubu said he had already started work on the assignment given to him by Buhari to reconcile aggrieved party members across the country.

He described conflict resolution as part of the democratic process.

Expressing appreciation the statesman said, “I feel greatly honoured with the confidence that the President has reposed in me which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest. He has given me the free hand to put coercion, confidence and trust in the party.

“Democracy is about conflict resolution. You can’t do it without resolving conflicts. We can’t build it without understanding the conflicts and sources where we are coming from. But we want to leave the country with a legacy.

“It’s not about Mr. President. That is what he’s telling the country.  It’s about our country and no other choice to democratic tenets than through political party platforms.

“He is one of those rare beings around the country, around Africa who had experienced both worlds: he fought a battle to save Nigeria and came to politics to save Nigeria. Very rare people have such an opportunity in their lifetime and that’s what we talk about legacy, and where we have all the challenges, do what we should do. I am enjoying the challenges so far.”