Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All ProgressivesCongress, APC behaved like a robot during his Chatham House appearance Emmanuel Bwala, a spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has said.
Bwala was reacting to the backlash that trailed Tinubu’s decision to assign questions asked him during the interaction to some APC chieftains who accompanied him to Chatham House.
For instance, when asked how he would tackle insecurity if he becomes president, the APC candidate directed Governor Nasir El Rufai to answer the question. He also asked APC Women Leader to answer a question on education, while he directed Deleted Alake to answer the question on how he will handle oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila was also directed by Tinubu to answer a question on how his administration, if elected, will handle bilateral relations with the international community.
Not a few opine that Tinubu should have answered the questions directly since the bulk of the job of President will fall on his table. He is abdicating responsibility, his critics say, adding also that some of these aides are not even experts in these specific areas.
In their reactions, some Tinubu spokesmen said it is his style to share responsibilities to subordinates.
But speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Bwala said the manner Tinubu behaved at Chattam House confirmed the critical question being raised by his critics of his health and cognitive abilities.
He said Tinubu does not have the capacity to respond to problems affecting the country, urging him to stop behaving like a robot who cannot speak for himself.
Tinubu has been attacked by critics for making gaffes when he speaks in public, raising more questions about his mental capabilities to handle the job of President and Commander-in-Chief.
Meanwhile, Dele Alake in his response to those criticising Tinubu for his performance at Chatham House, said it is an innovation by Tinubu to assign questions to his team. He said Tinubu only tried to show that he’s team player unlike other presidential candidates.
According to Alake, “This is one of the innovations of asiwaju Tinubu. Don’t forget that one of his main solid strengths has been identifying talents,” he said.
“Anybody who has his head properly screwed on his head would know that Asiwaju is the primus inter pares in team building; that is what he sought to display.
“Everybody acknowledges his talents in showcasing professional and technocratic experts in various fields. Those who are saying what you have just said are ignorant of the nuances and dynamics of leadership. Leadership is not a one-man show.
“Successful leadership is one based on a team that is professional and highly skilled. Asiwaju has been noted to be an advocate of that and that is what he displayed.
“Apart from delegating, he also answered questions personally and directly. He wanted to show the calibre of his team and that is what he equally did at the Eko Hotel town hall meeting.
“That style is being copied by some of his opponents but they can’t get the traction because they don’t have the solid team like he has.”
