Pat Utomi, a former APC chieftain and political economist, has challenged “ailing” presidential candidate Bola Tinubu to undergo a medical test and publicise the result to convince Nigerians he is capable of being the next president.

“Tinubu is not fit. Physically, you can see he is ailing. You can see it. Let’s be true to ourselves. Let him go through a medical that will be made public in Nigeria,” said Mr Utomi on a Channels TV programme Monday evening. “American presidents go through medicals that are made public. Let him go through a medical with Nigerian doctors.”

The former Lagos governor, in May, had deflected words against his failing health, insisting that “governance is not about wrestling,” that “it’s about thinking” and “about the brain.”

Mr Tinubu, according to the politician sympathetic to the Labour Party presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, should not seek an elective position at an old age, especially at the nation’s highest office where physical fitness was a non-negotiable requirement.

“I don’t think the ambition of Tinubu is for the good of Nigeria. If I was his age, I wouldn’t be seeking political office at his age. Certain things are good for certain times. Why is it his turn? What about other people in Nigeria?”

Deriding Mr Tinubu’s “emi lokan” (It is my turn) outburst, Mr Utomi asserted it was not the APC presidential candidate’s turn to be president and that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would have made a formidable candidate for the ruling party.

“If there is any ‘emi lokan’ that is wrong, it is the ’emilokan of emilokan’ because ‘ko’kan’ (Not his turn),” Mr Utomi declared.

He added, “Our country has suffered so much from having ailing leaders, and that was why the vice president stepped up because he thought there was a challenge to that principle and direction.”