Date: 2021-11-28

The Tinubu Legacy Forum (TLF) has taken the campaign for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's 2023 presidential ambition to the Emir of Ilorin, His Eminence, Sheu Ibrahim Sulu Gambari. While receiving leaders and members of the forum in his Ilorin palace, Sulu Gambari accepted the position of the Grand Royal Patron of the forum in the North-central zone.

Led by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Alhaji Ganiyu Akeem, members of the national executive and other members, the forum sought the monarch's support for Tinubu's ambition. In his opening remark, Akeem said: "Your Eminence, sir, we're here, today, firstly, to salute your frantic efforts on fostering peace, unity, oneness and progress among Nigerians, irrespective of people's region and religion, creed or colour.

"Secondly, we're here on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, BAT's 2023 presidential agenda. Sir, we need your royal blessings and full support on this project. We want to also humbly present it to Your Eminence that we've resolved to appoint you as our 'Grand Royal Patron - North Central' and we will feel proud to have you sir, as our patron."

Responding, Sulu Gambari saluted TLF leadership for the visit to Ilorin, the city he described as "the city of Alimi and Sheik Alimi's palace." He said: "Firstly, I've noted your request and by His grace, you have my support and you are always welcome, and I have as well accepted the patronship. Firstly, there is no presidential aspirant, either in person or proxy that has visited me on his ambition except Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that you brought his agenda before me, here, today. That you're here today to represent Asiwaju's interest, I must accord you the same honour and respect that I would've accorded him if he was here today in person.

"I and Asiwaju Tinubu have been together, as friends, for long and we're still intimately together till now. I was in Lagos between 1990 and 1995 as Presiding Justice of Court of Appeal, Lagos State and we have always been affable towards each other since then and till now." The emir maintained that the type of Asiwaju Tinubu is needed to succeed President Buhari in order to continue his masses-oriented programmes and better the lot of Nigerian citizens.