Tope Ajayi: Tinubu Invited Me To Asokoro, I Asked Why He Wanted To Be President; His Face Changed

Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, has revealed the conversation that convinced him to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 election.

Speaking on Symfoni News on Sunday, August 23, 2026, Ajayi recalled a private meeting with Tinubu at his residence in Asokoro, where he directly asked the then-presidential hopeful why he wanted to become Nigeria’s president.

Ajayi said discussions about Tinubu’s possible presidential bid were already gaining momentum at the time, but he wanted to understand his personal motivation before deciding whether to support him.

He recalled telling Tinubu that he needed a sincere answer to the question before he could back his ambition.

According to Ajayi, Tinubu initially reacted by adjusting his seat and changing his expression before acknowledging that the question was important.

Ajayi quoted him as saying, “Tope, you’ve asked me an important question.”

The presidential aide said he then made it clear that Tinubu needed to answer the question before he could receive his support.

Ajayi recalled that Tinubu responded by saying he wanted to become president because he believed he could make a difference in the country.

“I want to become a president because I know I can make a difference,” Ajayi quoted Tinubu as saying.

According to him, Tinubu further explained that he was aware of important decisions that needed to be taken but had remained unresolved for years, holding the country back.

Ajayi said Tinubu also acknowledged that some of the decisions would be difficult and could make him unpopular among Nigerians.

“The decisions are tough, they’re decisions that will not make you popular,” he quoted Tinubu as saying.

He added that Tinubu distinguished between pursuing popularity and providing responsible leadership, telling him that his priority would be the country’s interest.

“When I get to the office, I will not be leading for popularity but as a statesman,” Ajayi quoted Tinubu as saying.

Ajayi described the encounter as a defining moment in his decision to support Tinubu’s presidential bid, saying the former Lagos State governor’s response gave him the conviction to stand behind his ambition ahead of the 2023 election.

COURTESY: Mynewzupdate