LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The crowd at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the campaign rally of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may alarming, but it was President Muhammadu Buhari’s smile that caught our fancy.
The Nigerian President seemed to be in a really happy mood when Lagos stood still for Tinubu, her former Governor and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the final leg of the campaign rally.
He was on the stage when the APC’s flagbearer mounted, and was beaming with smiles, an indication that he was proud to be part of the campaign train.
“Mr President, I have so much to say but I’ve kept you for too long and it’s not today. But I assure, as you work hard for me, I’ll work hard for Nigeria.
“As you give Nigerians the hope to renew their faith in their country, I will sustain that hope.
“Those who look helpless today will be helpful in this country. All the agenda set in our programme – Renewed Hope manifesto – will be pursued diligently, vigorously, with all our energy,” Tinubu, the man fondly called Asiwaju of Africa told President Buhari.
The former Nigerian Senator said Buhari had set the country’s feet on the path to the future, to achieve greatness because, according to him, it is desirable for Nigeria to be great.
“You said, for anybody to succeed you, he or she must work hard, must follow the law, that the election must be very transparent and that your party will be a shining example like a sun shining on the mountain.
“You didn’t ask them to reverse it, based upon my religion. You didn’t ask them to alter it, based upon my tribe. You didn’t ask us to change it, because I was not from your village in Daura. You celebrated [and] said to me, ‘Congratulations’.
“I came to you to nominate for me – just exactly as I did to you in 2015 – a vice president. But instead of giving me the same coin, you said no, you know better, you experienced better.
“You encouraged me and after that, I announced to you [I’ve] made my choice. I chose one of those most knowledgeable, very close individual and independent in thought, attitude, capacity and knowledgeability.”
Check out other pictures from the event as documented by Ace Photojournalist Emmanuel Osodi:
