President Bola Tinubu, during his visit to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Thursday, reflected on the difficulties he faced in pursuing his presidential ambitions leading up to the general elections.
He expressed his gratitude to the Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and paid a courtesy visit to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta.
While at Oba Adetona’s palace, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges he encountered on his journey to the presidency, emphasizing that it was far from easy. He mentioned how he had to draw strength from the spirit of ‘Baba Emilokan’ to overcome various obstacles, including the implementation of the naira redesign and cashless policies by the Central Bank of Nigeria in preparation for the general elections.
Tinubu said: “Our monies were confiscated. The cashless policy didn’t work, it was terrible then. I realised that I came to this palace to invoke the spirit of freedom which we are noted for.
“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba Emilokan. That’s Baba (Awujale). Being blunt, being decisive, that’s him, he will tell you. The second spirit is that money or no money (we will do the election and we will win).”
Also speaking at the palace of the Alake of Egbaland, Tinubu begged Nigerians to go with him through what he called the baby steps of pains.
He said, “At least, we delivered, despite the hardship of no money, no fuel; I credit you, thank you. I don’t know that it will be like this, I just wanted to sneak in and sneak out, to greet Kabiyesi. Now, I know exactly what it is to be a President.
“Having achieved the prayer point of ‘Emi lokan’ and then being here, I have redeemed a pledge that I will be back with victory and the crown.
“Now, what I ask for is prayers that will help the country and we are determined to help our country, to steer the ship of the nation, build a good team, be positive for this country and deliver on all the promises that I have made.
“The hope is recharged; it’s here. That hope will never fade. That hope will recharge your life in a positive manner.
“I’m here still making that pledge of the campaign promise that there is no difference between us and any members of the Nigerian family.
“I have seen that in France during this discussion and we are the children of the same parents, living in the same house, we are only sleeping in different rooms, just recognise that.
“Let us be united, no distraction, we will arrive at the destination, a positive destination for this country and it is all in our hands to make history and I promise that.
“Let us be united, no distraction, we will arrive at the destination, a positive destination for this country and it is all in our hands to make history and I promise that.
“We will see positive changes as we move along, just go through these babys’ steps of pain, baby steps of pain, I’m taking baby steps as the President, not marching in a hurry, being ready to listen, maintaining an open-door policy, let the freedom flow, let the confidence return to Nigeria.
“This country is the only country that we have. I have been a refugee, I know what it is to be a refugee in another country and my green passport is what I still have now.
“We need your prayers, we need your support, we need your interventions to get our people’s change of mind, so that the economic prosperity of this country being opened up will affect all of us positively.”
