A prominent Nigerian politician has revealed how pressure from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led him to abandon plans to contest the governorship of Lagos State, despite what he described as widespread support for his candidacy.
Speaking on the political calculations behind the decision, the politician said many supporters had strongly pushed for him to enter the race, insisting it reflected “the desire of everybody”.
“You all wanted me to run as governor of Lagos State,” he said. “But when the President, the one whom I serve and to whom I am forever loyal, explained certain things to certain key people, that was it.”
He added that the explanations offered by Tinubu were convincing enough for him to immediately step back from the contest without resistance or public outcry.
“What he said made sense,” he said. “When he said those things, I did not carry a placard or protest.”
The remarks are likely to fuel fresh debate over the influence of political power brokers in Nigeria’s internal party politics, particularly in Lagos, widely regarded as the country’s political and economic nerve centre.
