All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi yesterday said those whipping up sentiments about age are threatened by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chance of becoming the next president.

He said their campaigns of calmuny will fail, urging patriotic Nigerians who want Tinubu to contest to remain committed to their lofty cause.

Akanbi, who represented Oyo South District in the Upper Chamber, said antecedent and capacity should be the yardstick for measuring an aspirant’s suitability for the 2023 presidential race.

Akanbi spoke in Badagry, Lagos State, during the on-going tour of the state by the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) 2023.

He said the youths should root for a presidential aspirant with evidence of quality service delivery.

Akanbi said:”It’s not a matter of being young; it’s a matter of marketing a product. We are talking about empirical evidences; what he has done in the past and presently doing.”

He also noted that Tinubu has demonstrated that he is a leader who spots and utilises human talents to achieve results.

Akanbi stressed: “The team of a government determines the mind of the leader. Let me give you an example. When Bola Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, his team members were quite young. He is a talent hunter, he looks for younger people who have quality and what it takes, brushes them up and makes them take the mantle of the leadership of the country.

“At the moment, look at Tinubu’s governorship and commissioner’s list in the present Federal Government and look at the role they are even playing. That is even a pointer to convince the youths to support Tinubu.

There were many older people around in Lagos, but he chose to take the risk on the youth, look at the result. See Tinubu as a captain of a team.”

Akanbi, who is the National Vice Chairman of SWAGA 2023, also recalled that as governor, Tinubu, with the support of his cabinet, ran Lagos successfully when the Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government withheld the state’s monthly federal allocation.

The SWAGA train, led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has visited Badagry to pay homage to the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno, Aholo Menu- Toyi,  and other monarch to seek their royal blessings and endorsement for Tinubu’s ambition.

The Akran, who spoke through Oba Agano Toniyoni Aholu of Agbamathen, said:” We are strongly behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we pray that God will make our request a dream come through.

Even the blind and deaf in the country can attest to his good deeds.

“We are also optimistic that Nigerians in their large numbers will give him the necessary support.”

Other monarchs at the palace of Akran were   Oba Oyekan Ilufemiloye, Possi III, Alapa of Apa kingdom; Oba Moses Ayinde Agboke Joye, Onilogbo of Ilobbo Kingdom; Oba Friday Oladele Kosoko Oniworo of Iworo kingdom, Aholu Saheed Adamson, Aholu of Ajido Kingdom; Oba Isreal Adewale Okoya Okikiola, Onibereko of Ibekereko Kingdom; Oba Abraham Ogabi Oyikilu Ajagun of Imeke Kingdom; Oba Olalekan Ogungbe James Okiki, Arolagbade II, Aholu of Kuweme Kingdom.

Others included Oba Samuel Owolabani; De-Yeti I, Aholu of Ajara Topa kingdom; Oba Agano Toniyoni, Aholu of Agamathen Kingdom; Oba Ebenezer Koshoedo; Thalunno I of Ajara Vetho Kingdom; Oba Samuel Olusegun Wheto, Aholu of Dale-Whedakoh; and Oba Jimoh Fabiyi; De-Sano I, Aholu of Ikoga Kingdom.

The event was witnessed by political leaders, including Prince Akinsanya Sunng Ajose, Deputy Chairman of APC, Lagos State; Teliat Onilude, Badagry Local Government Chairman;  Samson Olatunde, Chairman Olorunda Local Council Development Area.

The Chairman Badagry West, Joseph Gbenu, gave the vote of thanks.

On the SWAGA’23 entourage were representatives from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun ,Osun ,Ekiti and Ondo states.

They included Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, , Senator, Tony Adeniyi, Monsuru Alao,  Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi.