My Selection Of Fashola As A Successor Was A Masterstroke..Tinubu

A former Governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu, said on Thursday that he had no regrets pushing for Mr Babatunde Fashola as his successor in 2007.

“When I was pushing for him to become governor in 2007, they said that he could not do anything.

“Today, I am vindicated. Thank you for not disappointing me and Lagosians and for not putting me to shame,’’ he told thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters in Lagos at the party’s convention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 4, 691 delegates from the 36 states and Abuja converged on Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island for the event.

Tinubu said:` `You (Fashola) have actualised our vision and dreams. We are proud of your performance.’’

He also commended some political leaders, including retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, for their efforts in deepening the country’s democracy.

Tinubu also named former governors of Kano State and Ogun, Ibrahim Sekarau and Chief Olusegun Osoba, respectively,  as among those helping to deepen the nation’s democracy.

On the merger of four parties into All Progressive Congress (APC), Tinubu said the initiative was to bring about the necessary change in the polity.

“We demand a change in the governance of the country. Nigeria must be a prosperous, safe and secure nation.

“The challenges facing us as a nation – insecurity, kidnapping, mass poverty, unemployment and poor wages – must be addressed.

The ACN national leader said Thursday’s convention would be the last to be held by the party.

“This is not a sad ending for us in ACN, but the beginning of a new beginning into the merger.’’

Tinubu called on leaders to shun their parochial interests and partisanship for national interests.

Earlier, the Chairman, Convention Committee, Sen. Lawal Suaibu, said history was being made in Nigeria’s democratic experience with the merger of the parties.

NAN reports that Buhari, Shekarau, Malam Nuhu Ribadu,  who was ACN’s presidential candidate in 2011 poll;  Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Tom Ikimi and former Imo governor, Achike Udenwa, were among dignitaries at the convention, which ratified the party’s new name – APC.

Others include Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, governors of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Edo, National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, Prince Tony Momoh, senators and House of Representatives members.

NAN reports that the ACN, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples’ Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, have agreed to come together under APC.