The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has extolled the Emir of Ilorin and chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, describing him as a lucky man.

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin while on a presidential campaign visit to Kwara state, Tinubu commended and recalled the Emir's bravery while still in service as a judge.

According to the APC presidential candidate, the one-time judge now turned Emir had stood firmly by him during his trying time.

“Your bravery saved me from being convicted when I was arrested and kept in custody.

“God used you to save me and make me who I am today.

“You are my father. I was born into your hands. You raised me. You nurtured me to become what I am today.

“I can never forget what you have done in my life. When I was arrested, arraigned and brought before you, I was asked to sign some documents of acceptance which some other people had signed.

“Infact the Attorney General was brought to the court that day in order to ensure that I was nailed and convicted, rather I threw the papers into my mouth and chewed them.

“You were so brave to say that you were ready to resign from your position than to dispense injustice to me.

“You granted my release and surprisingly, you didn't leave the court until after 8 p.m. You observed your Mogrib and Ishai prayers in the office, waiting for the perfection of my release documents. What a great man!

“With this, I shall remain indebted to you forever. Today, I have come to you to seek your blessing to become the next president of Nigeria.

“I want you to pray for me; that is all I have come to tell you. I want to come back here to thank you as the president of this country,” said Tinubu.

In his remarks, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari congratulated the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on having Senator Kasim Shettima as his running mate in the forthcoming poll.

“I will not take your time, rather, I will use your time.

“Asiwaju Tinubu has been saying good things about me everywhere he goes.

“When you were made the chief launcher at a book launch event held in Gwandu, you donated the sum of N20 million and you took permission to recognize somebody very special to you. I was interested in knowing the person and surprisingly, you mentioned my name.

That was a very big honour.

“May Allah continue to honour you and grant your heart's desires.

“Kindly ensure that you support our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to get re-elected for the second term because he has done well for us in Kwara and we are proud of him,” said the Emir.

Ealier, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Imam Soliu, said that the “Emi L'okan” slogan has further confirmed God's endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's desire to be the next president of Nigeria even as he prayed Allah to grant him victory at the poll.

On the entourage of the presidential candidate were Kashim Shettima (running mate), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC national chairman), Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor Simon Lalong (APC presidential campaign director general), Adams Oshiomole (former APC national chairman), Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki of Ilorin), Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq (Mutawalle of Ilorin), Mallam Lanre Onilu (Campaign Media Team), and all candidates of the party in Kwara state, among others.

All the first class traditional rulers in the state and chiefs in the Ilorin Emirate were present during the visit.