Following the dust raised over the Ondo governorship election yet to settle down, President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed the notion that he and the APC leadership are at odds with a National Leader of the party, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing such rumours as unfounded and mischievous.
The president’s media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday said the president was highly embarrassed by such “suggestions”.
He also said Buhari was in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo gubernatorial election.
Shehu said any suggestions that the president and the party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth or any credibility, explaining that the president was impressed by Tinubu’s assurance to the part not to work against APC in Ondo and he honoured his pledge.
Shehu also explained that Buhari regards 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.
He advised rumour mongers to stop spreading the seeds of discord and animosity between the president and Tinubu or the party, adding that the president was proud of the “Jagaban” (Tinubu’s traditional title) and his pivotal role in the party and the movement.
Buhari also commended Tinubu’s spirit of comradeship by promptly congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected governor in Ondo State last Saturday.
The president further noted that at a time his administration was preoccupied with governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the party were counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in APC.
Tinubu, who backed Dr. Olusegun Abraham to secure the ticket of the APC to contest in the Ondo governorship poll, had opposed the Rotimi Akeredolu’s emergence as candidate of the APC, alleging irregularities during the party’s primary.
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