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 Daily
Independent Online.
* Thursday, July 08, 2004.
2007: Progressives coalition will benefit Tinubu, says AD
chieftain
By Tolu Olarewaju,
Senior
Correspondent, Lagos
Rather
than dim the chances of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, any regrouping of
progressive elements ahead of the 2007 presidential election would be
advantageous to the Lagos State governor’s ambition of contesting for the
presidency.
The
Secretary General of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State,
Alhaji Lateef Raji Oladejo, who stated this in Lagos, said attempts by
progressive elements to regroup is a welcome development which would be
to the benefit of the polity. He stated the AD is favourably disposed
towards such regrouping.
“Tinubu
is qualified to vie for the highest political office in the land. He has
made friends across the nation since the days he was in the Senate to his
activities during the struggle to de-annul the June 12, 1993 presidential
election and now as the governor of Lagos State. Throughout this period,
he was able to demonstrate that he has good leadership qualities; that he
is a tried, tested and trusted progressive. He has bright chances of
emerging, I can assure you this,” Oladejo stated.
According
to the AD scribe, last week’s announcement by Tinubu campaigners has
triggered off a lot of political activities.
Asked
the implication of Tinubu’s intention to run for the in 2007 to his alleged flirtation
with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the AD chieftain said it would not
affect the personal relationship between the duo.
“It is
true that he has a personal relationship with the Vice President.
Politics can never strain that relationship. They will always be friends.
And if invariably they will have to contest against each other, then they
will prove to Nigerians that it is possible to belong to opposing
political camps and still be friends,” he explained.
Oladejo
said while it is true that the Lagos State governor is a member of the
Primrose Group, a political group in Lagos affiliated to Atiku Abubakar’s
People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), he backed out of the group when Chief
Dapo Sarumi decided to join the Interim National Government (ING) to form
the Justice Forum.
“Since
the announcement, there have been alignments and realignments in the
nation’s political terrain. I can tell that from this end alone, calls
have been pouring in enquiring about how they can fit into the scheme of
things”, he declared, adding: “It is very true that Governor Bola Ahmed
Tinubu is interested in the presidential election come 2007. I can assure
you that his chances of emerging as AD presidential candidate are very
bright,” the AD scribe said.
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