The aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, last Saturday got boosted as family heads (Mogajis); Baales, chiefs and other notable groups in Ibadanland validated his quest to lead the country.

They unanimously declared their support for the former Lagos State governor at a well-attended event held at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The event, tagged ‘Ilaji Farm Mobilize For Tinubu/Shettima Endorsement In Oyo State’ was organised by a social political group under the aegis of Rontex for BAT Political Signature, and convened by Chief Dotun Sanusi, the Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort in Ibadan.

Other groups that endorsed Tinubu’s presidency included the Agbekoya, O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC) Fasehun faction, Irorun O’dua and non-indigenes represented by people from Akwa- Ibom.

Speaking at the event, Chief Dotun Sanusi said he could vouch for Tinubu, describing him as the most competent among the candidates eyeing the presidential seat.

Sanusi maintained that he believed in Tinubu’s aspiration and would do everything humanly possible to ensure he emerges as the next president.

His words, “I have never taken contracts from any government. I have not taken anything from anybody, but I do accept destiny and the will of God.

“But, it should be said everywhere that the person I have confidence in, who will end our sufferings in Ibadan and Oyo State is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We are talking of presidential poll, not governorship, not National Assembly and not House of Assembly elections. We stand on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the billionaire businessman declared.

The Ibadan Mogaji, however, called on all groups to mobilise support at the grassroots for Tinubu, who according to him, would bring prosperity to all and sundry.

Sanusi, who said he was born a Muslim and today a Christian assured Nigerians that fears being expressed in some quarters over the Muslim -Muslim ticket only exist in the realm of imagination, adding that Tinubu protected the interests of Christians as Governor of Lagos State.

Also speaking, the President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Yemisi Adeaga, declared that Ibadan would always have a position.

According to Adeaga, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun Alli, had sent him to tell the people that “they are keenly watching the character, nature, disposition and relevance of the candidates”.

He added, “for now, we are still watching and we know that by the grace of God, as it was being done before, Olubadan will give a directive through his council for Ibadan people.

“But then, we must state categorically that nobody goes against his people if that can be decoded,” he said.

In his remarks, Hon. Oyetunji Ojo, the Convener, South-west Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), noted that the body language of the Baales, Mogajis, Obas and groups showed they were in support of Tinubu’s presidency.

The former lawmaker informed that over 10,000 Baales and Mogajis signed a compendium to endorse Tinubu, saying “the body language is all over and you can see their representatives.

“Once the Baales have agreed to that, once the Kabiyesis have agreed to that and once the Mogajis have agreed to that in Ibadanland, you know its a done deal,” he said.

Corroborating Ojo’s position, the National Secretary Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), Hon. Bosun Oladele described the endorsement of the former governor of Lagos state as a mark of acceptability and a new beginning of good things to come from 2023.

The former lawmaker reiterated that the message to the South-west was unassailable

which is 15 million votes for Tinubu. “And we can only achieve that if we mobilise all our registered voters”.

He said, “we are here because of a wonderful and unprecedented event. We are here because we needed to listen to the call of our people. As you know Chief Sanusi is a prominent Ibadan leader, a community and opinion leader here. He has been able to galvanise the chiefs and Baales in Ibadanland, he has been able to bring everybody together under one umbrella. And the reason for that is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate for APC and the next president of the federal republic of Nigeria by the grace of God.

“We have done the street work. Now, we are going into unit-by-unit. We are going to have unit Marshalls, Unit Captains, and Polling Booth Marshalls.

“All these are people that will work with us. So, the campaign has gone to the level of one-on-one”, Oladele added.