President Bola Tinubu has said that he almost dropped out of the 2023 Presidential election race.
The President made this known last night while speaking at a special Iftar at the State House in Abuja.
The event coincided with his 73rd birthday celebration.
Broadcasting what when down at the occasion, via a statement he released, his Special Adviser Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said his principal cited general economic hardship, including government-imposed naira scarcity, and odds that were stacked against him as reasons he almost quit the race.
The President reportedly stated that his chances seemed so slim that some persons close to him gave him no chance.
“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns, one of them came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle.
“He told me, ‘the currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’
“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it,” he quoted Tinubu as saying.
According to Onanuga, the President said that his uncle later called to confirm receiving the money but admitted that he had only given the messenger N10,000, keeping the rest.
“I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me. When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back.’”
President Tinubu noted that he assumed office during a time of economic uncertainty and had to take immediate, difficult decisions, including removing fuel subsidy.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal,” he said.
