• Blames media, opposition for misinterpretation

Former Governor of Lagos State and presidential aspirant on the platform the All Progressives Congress, has clarified his statement made in Abeokuta on Thursday, saying the statement did not represent disrespect to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former Governor of Lagos State, in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Director Media and Communications of Tinubu Campaign Organisation, also blamed the outburst ‘on recent unexpected interventions in the time table and the heat generated by the proximity of the event might have led to some anxiety.’

Tinubu who also blamed the media and opposition for alleged misinterpretation of his statements maintained that he has a very high regard for the President, reminding that he chaired the re-election campaign of the President in 2019.

“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.

“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. 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.”

Tinubu further clarified that the main target of the speech was Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, which he said, bowed, in a true Yoruba culture to him.

“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 have 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.”

Tinubu had on Thursday launched attack on both Buhari and Abiodun saying neither of them could have had successful elections if not for support.

Tinubu particularly denigrated Abiodun when he addressed him as ‘this one sitting behind me, could he even have become Governor alone without my support?’

He went on to also narrate how he helped President Buhari out of political retirement, saying he had failed three times, wept on a national television and vowed not to contest again before hos intervention.

He said, “Since he became President, I didn’t collect ministerial position, I didn’t bid for any contract, I didn’t borrow soup, I didn’t borrow gaari, I didn’t borrow ‘Fura’ from him, and I didn’t borrow money from him…’