Smarting from his landslide victory at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential Special Convention, former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has vowed to crush the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he mocked as ‘geckos’ in the presidential poll slated for 2003.
Tinubu had defeated 13 others to set up an electoral challenge with Atiku Abubakar, who clinched the main opposition party’s ticket on May 28.
Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to defeat his closest rivals, former minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who scored 316 votes and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who garnered 235 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Tinubu stressed the need for unity, cohesion and understanding among all party members to ensure electoral victory for the party.
He said he held no grudges against those who contested against him, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure PDP is stopped from coming back to power in 2023.
“The competition is now over, those who did not support me, you have nothing to fear. I hold no grudges or grievances.
“Let us each agree to join hands in defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and beating back our common foes of poverty, terror and violence.
“We now have a date with destiny in February 2023, let us win so Nigeria can become the nation it is intended to be.”
He added: “Today is another historic day and we thank God Almighty that we are alive to witness today. This victory has gone beyond the party and has become a Nigerian project….
“Now that we are here, we will roar, we will develop the building. Tell the Property Development Party, the PDP, that we are capable enough to fix Nigeria.
“Then to the Progressive Governors Forum, we are truly progressive. We are confident that this nation is back on track. I didn’t know what I did that gave you the confidence to nominate me as the candidate of the party. We will worry and eliminate the intruders in the party. No intruders, no destroyers can bring Nigeria backward.
“I must thank our men in uniform for their sacrifices and fight for the survival of this country. You will certainly get reward and enjoy your sweat.
He promised insurgents and bandits hard times.
“We are not the barbaric human they think we are. The Bible told us to love our neighbours not to kill them. We have to learn to accept mistakes not to take lives. The hate you spill cannot cure your hunger. We have to learn to tolerate one another. We are all human beings that should leave together. We have to be tolerant and perseverance. Don’t take the lives you did not create.”