As 2019 general election draws closer, the body of professional wrestlers in the country has come out to speak on the politics of who should succeed incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigerian Professional Wrestling Federation has called on Nigerians to consider former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the country’s next President. The Federation made a strong case for Tinubu in a letter addressed to him, signed by the Federation’s President, Prince Ahmed Olanrewaju Mohammed.

The letter to the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a copy of which was sighted by News Express at the weekend, reads: “As patriotic Nigerians, members of Nigeria Wrestling Federation in Nigeria and Diaspora believe we owe it as a duty to speak with one VOICE on matters that affect and concern the Commonwealth. That is why we believe that at this period of Nigerian political history, we should be able to call a spade a spade and tell the whole world who we think and belief could take Nigeria to her promised land.

“Nigeria is no doubt blessed with abundant resources, both human and natural. We are a nation endowed, but not with good leaders who can harness the opportunity nature gives to us to take us to the Glory. It is saddened that we don’t critically look inward to see who among us has the qualities to lead us right.

“In 1999, when the country returned to democratic rule after a long torture journey in the hands of the military, Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, was blessed to have a Leader in person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He took over the reign of the state, a metropolitan Lagos State, with little or no resources, alas, after eight years, Lagos becomes one of the emerging mega cities of the world.

“Even when the Lions at the Federal level did not allow him to rest, withholding the resources of the state, Asiwaju forged ahead. He went ahead to create 37 Local Council Development Areas. He surprised the critics and put the Lions to shame. With the dwindling resources, he jacked up state’s internally generated revenue, created more agencies such as KAI, LASTMA and others to give our teeming youth employment opportunities, thereby reducing social vices among them.”

On how the APC National Leader did the magic in Lagos, the President of the wrestlers said: “We at the Nigeria Wrestling Federation discovered that Asiwaju’s love for his people has no bound. He put his people first in anything he is doing. He began his reign in Lagos State with an Enduring Template which has since stood the Test of Time.

“The Template, which he successful began the implementation during his eight years in power, enabled his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to also successfully stirred the ship of the state for another good eight years. It was this same Template in Governance that Mr Akinwumi Dapo Ambode inherited that made him within two years in power, surpassed the achievements which Fashola attained in eight years. Lagos now become a reference point and a barometer to judge and determine good governance in Nigeria, no thanks to Asiwaju’s visionary and focused Template. There is no way an incoming government in Lagos could fail when building on this Template created and generated by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“While others were busy looting from the Commonwealth Resources, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was busy building future Nigerians for Nigeria. He gave us our present President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. The emergence of the likes of Babatunde Raji Fashola, Muiz Banire, Kayode Fayemi, Tokunboh Afikuyomi, Rotimi Akeredolu, Musiliu Obanikoro, Babatunde Fowler, Femi Gbajabiamila and other great men and women in the political corridor today are proudly from the School of Asiwaju.

”Who has made so much Nigeria than Tinubu? Who has invested so much in Nigeria than Tinubu? You can trace all his investments to Nigeria, but not in Dubai as others are doing. Many former Governors have failed to be leaders in their States, because they failed during their tenures to impact positively on their people. They ended up in the Senate where they are now more or less bench warmers. He is a crowd puller. He is a singular Nigerian who attracts other Nigerians to himself.

“Unfortunately for us as a PEOPLE, we had not have opportunity to be blessed with leaders that would rules with visionary template, as did Asiwaju when he ruled Lagos. That is why we are calling on the good people of Nigeria to give Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a chance to rule Nigeria even if it will be for four years to entrench this Template at the federal level.

“This is what this country needs at this period of our political history for us to have direction to the future so that any successor, irrespective of his tribe or religious, would be able to build on the Template as successive governments are doing in Lagos and we are living witnesses to the testimonies.

“Nigeria Wrestling Federation made no mistake when we awarded Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the most prestigious Good Leadership award on 9 March, 2014 at the nation’s Sports city, the National Stadium, Lagos. The other African we bestowed this award on was the legendary Nelson Mandela of the blessed memory, who equally was a man of vision, who laid a good template for good governance in South Africa.

“Life is strong, not much people are making a difference. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made a lot of changes and a lot of differences.”

Prince Mohammed said they are not doing this because of any financial gain or favour but for the love of the country, saying: “As the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, I have not met Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu face to face or had any physical relationship with him, but as a Nigerian one should come out boldly to say it as it is that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should Rule Nigeria to give us the much needed direction for our future.

“As a leader of the modern cast, he has given us a template, which is indelible, which future aspirations to public leadership can be eternally measured. In the midst of many, he has the Eagle eyes of going for the best.”

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