2023 Presidency: Tinubu gets tough call to withdraw from race

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has called on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress to withdraw from the coming election.

Kachikwu, during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, January 25, noted that although old age is something everyone should look forward to, when it involves leading a nation as complex as Nigeria, it is not a good criterion because of the rigours of leadership.

For this reason, Kachikwu stated that Tinubu has no business contesting for the presidency at his age, Nigerian Tribune reports.

He added that instead of Tinubu saying it is his turn to lead, he should know and declare that it is his turn to do the needful - step down from the race.

His words: “There is nothing wrong with being old or sick as we will all get old someday. We also all get sick at some point or the other. I have a problem with a candidate with significant cognitive disabilities embarrassing my nation and making a mockery of the entire political process.

“Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has no business being in this race or continuing this race. He has said it is his turn and I agree: it is his turn to do the honourable thing and withdraw from this race.

“I call on his family, his party, the APC, and President Buhari to prevail on him to do the right thing."

In his opinion, Nigeria may find itself in the same position it was in 2015 when the health of the current president affected his office.

He said: “We are in this mess because we don’t question anything as a people. We are apathetic to politics and governance. We fail to see the connection between government, governance and our lives because the Nigerian Government has merely existed in name of the Nigerian people for too long.

“I believe that President Buhari had some good intentions in mind when he ran for office but alas when his health failed, his government also failed.

“Today, the same APC that failed the Nigerian people monumentally with a sick president has presented another sick candidate to the Nigerian people."