President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that he almost withdrew from the 2023 presidential race following a discouraging encounter with a relative, but was persuaded to stay in the contest by former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari and other key allies. The President made this revelation during a special Iftar dinner held in his honor at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday night, as detailed in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Reflecting on the challenges he faced during the campaign, Tinubu recounted how a relative confronted him in his living room at 3:30 a.m., blaming him for the nationwide cash scarcity that left even wealthy individuals struggling to access basic funds. The relative demanded N50,000 for food supplies, claiming, “The currency is gone because of you.
People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?” Tinubu responded firmly, “I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.” After handing over the money, the relative left with a parting shot: *“I don’t think you will make it.” The President admitted that the encounter nearly made him abandon his ambition.
However, Masari, who was then Chairman of the North West political bloc, reassured him, urging him not to back down. “When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back,’” Tinubu recalled.
The President also acknowledged the economic turmoil he inherited upon taking office, which forced him to make tough decisions, including the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies, a move not originally included in his inaugural speech. “On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal,”* he said, defending the controversial policy as necessary for Nigeria’s long-term stability.
The Iftar event was attended by prominent figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and several governors, who praised Tinubu’s leadership amid adversity. The revelation underscores the personal and political struggles Tinubu faced before securing Nigeria’s presidency in one of the country’s most contentious elections.
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Sources: Daily Post, Vanguard and CreebHills
