TheCable

Umaru Al-Makura, senator representing Nasarawa south, says Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), can be likened to leaders of the First Republic.

The First Republic spanned between 1960 and 1966 when the country had its first military coup.

The former Nasarawa governor said Tinubu belongs to the league of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ladoke Akintola, and Sir Ahmadu Bello — who played key roles in helping Nigeria secure its independence.

Speaking with NAN on Monday, Al-Makura said none of the presidential candidates can match the competence and achievements of the APC standard bearer for the 2023 election.

He said the combination of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, his running mate, would put the country on the path of progress and development.

“You cannot find any of them that can come close to the combination of Tinubu and Shettima,” he said.

“Take them one by one and compare with any of the two pairs in other parties, you won’t go far before you realise that it is not a contest.

“Take Tinubu and what he has done in Lagos state and the country physically, politically, socially, culturally and economically, I do not see any presidential candidate that can match his competence, achievements and vision.

“In the course of trying to defend Nigeria’s democracy, Tinubu had to flee the country. Tinubu and others stood their guns to ensure that democracy was rooted in the country.

“How many brave Nigerians could do what Tinubu has done to this country way back in 1993? He sacrificed his time and comfort for the sake of democracy.

“For that alone, he has no equal among the presidential candidates. Take infrastructural development and transformation of Lagos.

“Look at the way he mentored people. I call him mentor of mentors. You can liken Tinubu to our leaders of the First Republic. The Sardaunas, Akintolas, the Awolowos, the Azikiwes, who made people what they were at that time.

“And this to me is a leader that is cut in their image. Talk about any prominent Nigerian.

“Get a number of prominent Nigerians that have excelled and attained certain very enviable positions, you find substantial number of them were mentored by Tinubu. Examples are all over the place to see.”