Tinubu made this known on Friday, January 30, during the party's Presidential campaign rally in Lagos State.
The former Lagos State governor said that he gave up his ambition because Buhari had more experience and would be able to deal effectively with the country's problems.
"People define patriotism as putting the country first but this is what the 'Poverty Development Party' refuses to understand. We chose Buhari not because Bola Tinubu is not interested in the Presidency. I am capable, competent, qualified, younger and richer but there comes a time that people must make sacrifices for their nation," Tinubu said.
"I prayed that Nigeria would get better and we would not need a man like him (Buhari). But today, we are in a great crisis; we face a lot of challenges. When South Africa was in a great dilemma and was about to disintegrate, they called Nelson Mandela of 74 years old. He used his wisdom to save his country. When the United States was in economic depression, they called 73-year-old Ronald Reagan because he was frugal and incorruptible," he added.
"When America was faced with depression and war, they called a retired General, Dwight Eisenhower, to rescue the country and the country was returned on a path of success. “When France was faced with war and economic depression, they called a retired General, Charles De Gaulle, to rescue the country," Tinubu continued.
"So what do we need now? Buhari. This is the time for us. General Buhari, whether you are qualified or not qualified, we are calling you to come and rescue us in Nigeria," he concluded.
Speaking also at the campaign rally, Governor Babatunde Fashola remarked that President Goodluck Jonathan had done nothing for Lagosians despite the fact that he got over 1.2 million votes from the state in 2011.
Fashola claimed that every project that the federal government was expected to assist the Lagos state government to implement has been abandoned by the Jonathan-led administration, and urged the people of the state to vote for the APC at all levels.
Buhari, who is usually a man of few words, was the last person to speak at the rally He said that the failure of the PDP-led federal government was unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
"We all know what we have gone through in the past 16 years under the PDP. The APC has identified three core problems that must be tackled immediately. First is insecurity, two is the destruction of the economy and three is corruption. But whatever we have to do, we will have to secure Nigeria first. What is happening in the North-East where hundreds of people are being killed is unacceptable. We known that the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army are capable of bringing peace and stability into the country but they just need good leadership," Buhari said.
Meanwhile the APC has denied reports that Buhari was stoned during the rally as alleged by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos governorship aspirant, Musiliu Obanikoro.