Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, Sunday, said he was ready to get dirty in order to secure the presidential seat come 2023.

Tinubu spoke when he visited Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan designate, on Sunday, at his residence in Alarere, Ibadan.

According to him, he was on a visit to Balogun to seek his blessing and the support of the Ibadan people on his presidential bid.

The Asiwaju vowed that no other contender would intimidate him out of the race, stressing that he is out to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor come 2023.

His words: “No amount of intimidation can stop me. I am ready to get dirty. I am out to become President of Nigeria. We are at a crossroads.”

“I have read about a Greek philosopher that if you want to fight a pig, you must be ready to be smeared and I’m ready to be dirty.”

Earlier, the former Lagos State Governor told the Alaafin that it was important for him to seek blessings from the traditional institution before embarking on the journey properly.

He said: “I cannot embark on a project of such magnitude without seeking for prayers and cooperation of the traditional rulers.

“I am here to inform our fathers of my decision to run for the position of the President of this country in 2023. What I need from our highly revered traditional rulers are their prayers and cooperation.”

Tinubu congratulated the new Olubadan for the grace to ascend the throne which he said would give the ancient city a new outlook considering the robust background of Dr. Balogun as an educationist, politician of progressive-leaning and a humanist, even as he prayed for long life and in sound health of the monarch.

Responding, the Olubadan-designate, Dr. Balogun lamented the unsavoury state of the nation’s unity just as he called for a leader that would pull back the country from the brink come 2023.

Speaking through his brother and Senator representing Oyo South senatorial district, Dr. Kola Balogun, during the visit, he said the country was badly divided.

“Kabiyesi has known you for a long time as a progressive politician as well as your antecedents as the governor that laid the foundation of the present Lagos.

“Yorubas are the leading light of Nigeria, our people contributed a lot to make Nigeria what it is and without the Yorubas, Nigeria cannot be where it is today. But, it is very sad to note the ‘to your tent oh Isreal’ that has of recent become the sing-song of the people.

“Nigeria is badly divided today and we are looking forward to a Yoruba president that will unite the country, come 2023. We need a leader that has a national focus and acceptability, the road may be rough, but by God’s grace, you will triumph,” the monarch prayed.

The leader of the campaign group, Prince Tajudeen Olusi in his opening remark traced the historical linkage between Ibadan and Lagos, saying if a Lagosian was seeking the support of Ibadan people as they had come to do, it was not out of place.

“We both own Ibadan, we have been working together before. We bring Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to you and Ibadan. It would be a great thing for Ibadan and the Yoruba race if we can produce the country’s president in 2023,” he said.

In attendance to support Dr. Balogun and Olori Olufunmilayo Balogun to receive Asiwaju Tinubu and his entourage were Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade, former Minister of Industries, Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande and former first lady of Oyo State, Chief Mutiat Ladoja, among others.