Senator Bola Tinubu, the presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress( APC) on Saturday at the campaign rally in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, dismissed crapshoots of a rift between him and President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that but for constitutional democracy, he’d have asked the president to stay on.
Senator Tinubu, whose relationship with President Buhari has been the subject of crapshoots since the Naira redesigning debacle, dedicated a large part of his speech to praise the president.
The speech was a departure from the one he gave in Ogun and Ekiti states, where he stated that insufficiency of the redesigned notes is part of deliberate troubles to sabotage his campaign.
Some close supporters of Senator Tinubu, including Governors Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna and Umar Ganduje of Kano State, have in separate interviews, affirmed that there are “ essentials ”around the president conspiring against Senator Tinubu and the party.
READ MORE: IGP Orders Arrest Of Violators, Sales And Abuse Of Naira
howbeit, in his speech in the presence of President Buhari, the former Lagos State governor was mute on the insufficiency of the new notes and fuel across the country. rather, he talked about how President Buhari dismissed the idea of a third term.
The Nigerian constitution only permits two terms of four years for the president and state governors. It would demand the correction of the constitution for a president and governors to have extra terms.
Senator Tinubu also likened President Buhari to a former United States President, Abraham Lincoln, the American civil war icon .
Today, to have you here to talk about democracy and our party, it’s a joy and great honour. It’s a joy for us, who joined hands with you some 20 years ago, to reshape Nigeria, to fight corruption, to fight destitution, to fight failure and hunger, including the abrupt downfall in oil prices and violent attacks on our persons, on our soil. You faced this boldly.
Yes Nigeria is surviving as a nation and we believe because of constitutional democracy we’d have asked you to stay but you said no, this is a constitutional democracy, I’m going back to Daura, my ranch, my house, I miss them. Not that I don’t miss you people, not that I do n’t appreciate you people, but there’s further to do in life and with time to alchemize Nigeria. I’ll step apart and allow you people to continue.
It’s a joy for me to see that you’re a Aspirant for APC and Bola Tinubu — standing up there we see the poster of Bola Tinubu so prominently on you. Those who think there can be cracks in our friendship and relationship will continue to be disappointed and their short time joy limited.
Ours isn’t about the individual but nation building. It’s about honesty, integrity and character. You’re a great man with a political credential, ”the APC flag bearer said.
Tinubu will win“ through and though” — Buhari
President Buhari, who spoke in both English and Hausa, said he’ll continue to campaign for Senator Tinubu and his party.
