An Islamic human rights group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has begun a campaign for the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ahead of 2023 election.
This is as the group warned the Yoruba race to be more united and avoid ethnic hostilities in a statement issued against the backdrop of the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ibarapa area of Oyo State and Ondo which took ethnic dimension.
Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and generally believed to be nursing a presidential ambition.
The group, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, recommended Tinubu, saying he had all that it would take to win the presidential race if given the necessary support.
The statement reads in part: “Equally germane to the crisis at hand is the need for the Yoruba race to jettison separatist tendencies and ethnic hostilities at this crucial time for the quest for central power in 2023. Any group that fails to get its acts together early enough should kiss Aso Rock goodbye in the next general elections.
“It is on record that the Yoruba have complained bitterly about marginalisation. This has resulted in the emergence of separatist groups calling for the establishment of Oduduwa Republic. However, the reality staring the Yoruba in the face today is the complex nature of the process of separation vis a vis the proximity of a big opportunity of gaining political power in 2023 through an already well known democratic process.
“Fortunately the Yoruba do not have to search too far as a former governor of Lagos State and leader of the ruling party has shown interest. Here is a candidate that brandishes impeccable pedigree. Nobody can deny his political dexterity. He is known to have fought and won several political battles. The best the Yoruba people can do for the region is to rally behind this candidate and ensure that he clinches power in 2023.
“But they have to drop all irredentist, insurrectionist and belligerent propensities in order to be able to focus fully on their presidential ambition. The tribe seeking to rule must be seen to be accommodating, tolerant and resilient.
“Power shift to the South has become mandatory as President Muhammadu Buhari would have spent eight complete years by 2023 and all eyes are presently on the South West. Therefore the region cannot afford to lose the opportunity due to restlessness, recklessness, unnecessary protests, issuance of quit notices to other ethnicities and a general lack of stability.
“MURIC invites all the socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, Yoruba World Congress, Yoruba Welfare Group, Agbekoya Reformed Society, Reformed Oodua People’s Congress, etc, to come together and speak with one voice in a bid to realize the Yoruba presidential ambition. It is needless to reiterate that the Yoruba stand a better chance of occupying Aso Rock come 2023 with a candidate that is well known, fully prepared, full of experience and one that has already spread his political tentacles to all parts of the country.”
