Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has said there was no truth in
reports suggesting that he and the leadership of the All Progressives
Congress, APC are at loggerheads with a national leader of the party,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying that Tinubu never worked against the interest
of the party in the just concluded Ondo governorship election.
Buhari said the reports going round about a rift between the party and
Tinubu were unfounded and mischievous.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, said the President was highly embarrassed by such reports as
he was in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the recent
Ondo State governorship election.
The statement clarified that any suggestions that the President and the
party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth
or any credibility.
The statement stated that the President was impressed by Tinubu’s
assurance not to work against the party in Ondo and that he honoured his
words, adding that Buhari regarded Tinubu as a priceless political asset
to the party whose immeasurable contributions to the development and
progress of the ruling party are known to all.
The statement advised rumour mongers to stop spreading the seeds of
discord and animosity between the President and Tinubu or the party,
adding that the President is proud of the Jagaban and his pivotal role in
the party and the movement.
“President Buhari commended Tinubu’s spirit of comradeship in promptly
congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected Governor. The President
also noted that at a time his administration is preoccupied with
governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the
party are counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in APC. He
appealed to APC members and supporters to ignore rumours that could harm
party unity,” the statement said.