Former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode has said former President Goodluck Jonathan received presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima with “respect and joy”.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that in continuation of his nationwide consultation with critical stakeholders ahead of the 2023 elections, Tinubu met with former President Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday.
Fani-Kayode, in a post on his verified Facebook page, described Jonathan as one of the most civilised, compassionate, capable and humane leaders that the country has ever known, and commended the former President for receiving the standard bearer of the APC and his running mate “respect and joy”.
“I am delighted that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima, the flagbearers of our great party the APC for next years presidential election and our incoming President and Vice President respectively, had the presence of mind, maturity, decency and humility to honor him with a visit yesterday in order to brief him about their efforts and plans for our collective future as a nation and to pay their respects,” he stated.
Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and one of APC’s national leaders met with Jonathan on Tuesday night at the latter’s residence and was accompanied by his running mate and five APC governors, among others, on the visit.
A source, who was at the meeting disclosed that the brief meeting gave the leaders the opportunity to discuss various national issues and the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Tinubu, after the brief meeting, was quoted as saying that he was on a courtesy visit to the former president being a former leader and one of the critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project.
According to the source, “Tinubu told Jonathan of his presidential ambition and sought his support”.
Those who accompanied the APC presidential candidate included Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Gov. Bello Matawale of Zamfara, Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, among others.
The source pointed out that the meeting was part of efforts by Tinubu to get the support of all critical stakeholders for his presidential ambition.
“Truly, Jonathan was at home with us. He was very receptive. You know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no longer accords him that respect.
“He is more comfortable with us. He is happy that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu visited him, he is at home with his aspirations,” the source said.
Tinubu also recently had a similar meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta.
