2023: Tinubu Claims Outburst In Ogun State Against Buhari Misinterpreted; Insists He Is The Man To Beat

By Akinwale Kasali

Under pressure and taken aback by reactions which followed his address to delegates in Ogun State, frontline Presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says that what he told the delegates in Ogun State has been misinterpreted.

Tinubu had told the delegates that but for him, President Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t have become the President. He also told them how  Buhari failed three times, and on National Television, swore he would never contest again.

But not a few people have condemned Tinubu’s address where he also claimed he unstalled both Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Tinubu’s loyal friend and staunch supporter, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, slammed him for denigrating Buhari.

He also scolded Tinubu for claiming he alone installed Buhari, emphasising that it was the handiwork of many people across the country who, unlike Tinubu are not bragging about it. He dismissed Tinubu’s claims as “bullshit.”

But a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, on behalf of  Tinubu’s Campaign Organisation,  said “The campaign was surprised at the way the opposition and Tinubu’s traders had turned his statement to give an interpretation Tinubu did not mean, and did not say.”

On why Tinubu made the statement, the campaign office said it was ” In his effort to convince the party delegates to vote for him at the primaries, he went memory lane to provide specific instances when he brought his political clout and strategic skills to assist individuals, groups and tendencies in the party to gain political power”

In any case, the statement noted that what Tinubu said were not not new, and were already in the public domain.

“These factual references are already in the public realm. They have been reported and analysed in the media in the last eight years. They are therefore, matters of public knowledge”, the statement said.

The Statement reads:

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES: ERRONEOUS INTERPRETATION OF ASIWAJU’S PLEAS FOR LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

“The attention of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation has been drawn to the erroneous, misleading and mischievous interpretation of his  address in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State on Thursday.

“It is on record that the leading presidential aspirant in the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the national delegates of the party in Ogun State , with  Governor Mr.Dapo Abiodun in attendance.

“In his effort to convince the party delegates to vote for him at the primaries, he went down memory lane to provide specific instances when he brought his political clout and strategic skills to assist individuals, groups and tendencies in the party to gain political power.

“These factual references are already in the public realm.

“They have been reported and analysed in the media in the last eight years.

“They are therefore, matters of public knowledge.

“While we recognise that recent unexpected interventions in the time table and the heat generated by the proximity of the event might have led to some anxiety, this campaign organisation believes that the main thrust of Asiwaju’s presentation, was that his huge contributions to the formation  and electoral success of the All Progressives Congress should count in his favour as a true party man who desires to be the flag bearer.

“There is also no doubt that the fresh conditions proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari  for the consideration of a presidential candidate of the party  made it necessary for Asiwaju to labour to convince the delegates that he fits the bill.

“The campaign was surprised at the way the opposition and Tinubu’s traducers had  turned his statement to give an interpretation Tinubu did not mean and did not say.

“At no time did Tinubu play any ethnic card or denigrate any ethnic  group.   That is surely out of his character, as Engineer David Babachir Lawal, attested  in his viral whatsApp statement.

“Tinubu’s speech in Abeokuta did not demonstrate any disrespect to President Buhari, for whom he has a very high regard, and whose re-election campaign he chaired in 2019.

“Since the video of the speech he delivered in Yoruba hit the social media, varied interpretations have been given to the speech, which in the main was about Governor Abiodun, who in the true tradition of Yoruba culture bowed to his leader after Tinubu’s short speech.

“The Tinubu campaign is not surprised why the opposition in the APC has decided to turn and twist the statement.

“The former Lagos governor, a great party man remains the man to beat at the party’s convention on Monday.

“We are least surprised that he is the target of well-calculated and most unkind virulent attacks

“The campaign organisation hereby appeals to the media to avoid over- sensationalising issues of facts and play its constitutional role of informing the electorate to make informed choices at the presidential primaries.”