To illustrate his point, he defended the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) decision to choose a Muslim and a Muslim as their presidential candidates.
We are qualified to serve as president. It’s only fair that Lagos gets this. It’s necessary in Lagos, and if God allows it, the result will be a stronger country and state that you can be happy to have helped build.
On Thursday, at the 96th Anniversary Lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club, the governor of Lagos made this announcement. He said that the qualities of leadership, character, intellectual audacity, and problem-solving prowess should be paramount in Nigeria’s next presidential election.
We failed to remember that in 2011, Action Congress endorsed Malam Nuhu Ribadu for president, and Mr. Fola Adeola ran as his running mate. Mr. Sanwo-Olu noted that the two candidates were Muslims running together on a single platform. But now people want to drive a wedge between us because there is a chance that this ticket will turn out to be a winner. For the simple reason that we are not like that.
The APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, he stressed, was not about spreading any particular faith, but rather “is about leadership.”
That’s why traits like honesty and loyalty are so important. Reasonable bravado in thought is at issue. The capacity for abstract reasoning and problem-solving lies at the heart of this. To discourage potential candidates is not our intention. Their precedents are painfully obvious to all of us. And we are all aware of their qualifications. The Lagos governor said, “But we realize that as a nation, we need a robust launch pad.
Also, he said, “We need to be able to put our best foot forward and think beyond the box.”
The governor praised the Yoruba Tennis Club’s decision to host an event with Mr. Shettima as the featured speaker.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu said, “Let it be on record that in 2026, during our centenary celebration, with the grace of God, we will have Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu coming here to celebrate as president on our centenary.” The celebration is now commemorating the organization’s 96th anniversary. In four years, we will all be here to celebrate the fact that I am still your governor thanks to your good graces and votes.
