Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, addressed Chatham House in London.
Tinubu, on Friday, departed Nigeria to the United Kingdom, to share his campaign plans at Chatham House — a globally admired and respected platform for intellectual engagement on different issues of contemporary interest to people around the world.
It was the second time the APC candidate delivered a speech at the forum, having first done it in 2011.
He was accompanied to the event by key party and campaign council leaders, including Governors Nasir El Rufai, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Director General of the Campaign Council, Hadiza Bala Usman, and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, among others.
Speaking on “Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: Security and Economic Development and its Foreign Policy Imperatives”, Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s role in Africa, as a big brother and a beacon of hope to the continent and the ECOWAS sub-region.
The former Lagos State Governor assured that if elected President, his administration will continue to provide quality leadership to the sub-region, while upholding democratic ideas.
The APC Presidential candidate, in his address, vowed that Nigeria will epitomise the values of democracy during elections anywhere in Africa, by ensuring that democratic ideas are followed and all forms of electoral violence rejected.
His words: “Every election, wherever it is held, is important to the people or entity directly concerned. It is also important to the global democracy community as well. Equally, there are also countries whose elections, on account of their weight and influence, carry wider implications way beyond their immediate geographical boundaries. Nigeria is one of such countries.
“I stand firmly against all forms of electoral violence and intimidation. Having spent most of my career in the political opposition, I have long fought against electoral malpractice and any attempts to extinguish the legitimate choice of voters. I will continue to do so.
“And I urge all my fellow contestants in this election to do the same. Let the sovereign will of the people decide the path of our nation. And let this election be determined by voters making their choice freely rather than the domineering intimidation of the troublesome few.
“For one, as Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s largest economy, it is generally acknowledged that the fortunes of the African continent and indeed the Black race is tied directly to the health of Nigeria.
“Also, the Nigerian elections of 2023, are coming up at a time when the country’s immediate geographical neighbourhood of West and Central Africa, is undergoing serious political turmoil that has manifested itself in the incursion of the military to power in a number of countries. In spite of the legitimate concerns being expressed by observers, Nigerians are resolutely committed to democracy, regardless of their political differences.
“Nigeria shares direct land borders with four sister African countries, with whose peoples, Nigerians also share historical and cultural affinities.
“This effectively means that the relationship between Nigeria and its immediate neighbours is much more than just a geographical expression.
