Why I Will Back Tinubu For Second Term
-Mrs Jonathan
Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has said that President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Remi Tinubu, worked for her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, during the race to become President in 2011.
As a result, she said, she believes in the Tinubu presidency and will work for him in 2027.
This is coming against the backdrop of rumours that former President Jonathan will return into the ring in two years’ time.
Patience Jonathan ruled out any return to Aso Rock Villa, saying she believed political leadership should be turn -by -turn..
The ex-First Lady, known for her candid views, disclosed this while acknowledging the President’s daughter and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, after receiving the Women Icon Leader -of- the -Year award from Accolade Dynamics Limited in Abuja on Saturday night.
She said, “I was supposed to call her first, but I saved her for last: the daughter of our wonderful President, the President of Nigeria, the one and only one we believe in — President Bola Tinubu. Iyaloja, thank you for standing with women because these are your women. Carry them along; they are with you.“All the way, we are with you. No shaking. We will follow. Direct us, and we will follow, because there is only one president at a time. We don’t have two presidents. I am outspoken — if I don’t like something, I will say it. But if I like something, I die for it.“
I believe in one president. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back—so that the country can move forward.”
She said she had had a longstanding relationship with Remi Tinubu that predated their time in Aso Rock.
Jonathan also recalled how Remi Tinubu and the president supported her and her husband when they contested for the presidency in 2011.She insisted that rather than return to Aso Rock, she would support the First Lady and her husband.
She said, “I didn’t just know her (Senator Oluremi Tinubu) just because she’s the First Lady, no. We worked together. We worked as a group.
We are groups. We worked when I was a Deputy Governor’s wife. We worked when I was a governor’s wife. I know her. I talked with Oluremi. Even when my husband was the vice president, Oluremi stood with her husband and supported us during our first election. They supported us. So, for me, I have a conscience. I cannot abandon my friend, whether you like it or not.“Because, you see, this is turn by turn. Today is my turn—I will go. Tomorrow, it will be another person’s turn—then we go. And when we go, will we still meet? Where will we meet? I don’t know.“I stand by my friend. My friend is great. I told her I would campaign with her. I’m not denying her. I’m not running. I’m not going back to the villa. If you call me, I will not go.“I say it every day. Don’t you like how young I look? People say, “Mama, you are young, you are young!” it is because I have rest of mind, yes. I don’t want to go there—let my friend be there. Let me also “wahala” her the way she used to “wahala” me when I was there! Let me also tease her. Until she comes out, she will be young. But for now, she won’t be young. ”
