The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Bola Tinubu on Saturday at the campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, dismissed speculations of a rift between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. He stated that but for constitutional democracy, he would have asked the president to stay on in office.
Unlike his statements at Abeokuta and Ekiti rallies, Tinubu did not make any speech on fuel scarcity and scarcity of new Naira notes. At both rallies, Tinubu had made scathing criticism statements that were directed at Buhari. Tinubu had said that fuel was being hoarded and the new Naira notes were scarce in an attempt to scuttle his victory at the presidential election.
Tinubu’s relationship with Buhari has been the subject of speculations since the Naira redesigning debacle, dedicated a large part of his speech to praise the president.
Close allies of Tinubu, including Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Umar Ganduje of Kano State, have in separate interviews, alleged that there are “elements” around the president conspiring against Tinubu and the APC.
In his speech in the presence of president Buhari, the former Lagos State governor was silent on the scarcity of new notes and fuel across the country. Instead, he talked about how Buhari dismissed the idea of a third term.
“Today, to have you here to talk about democracy and our party, it is a joy and great honour. It is 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 unexpected downfall in oil prices and violent attacks on our persons, on our soil. You faced this courageously.”
“Yes Nigeria is surviving as a nation and we believe because of constitutional democracy we would have asked you to stay but you said no, ‘this is a constitutional democracy, I am going back to Daura, my farm, my house, I miss them. Not that I don’t miss you people, not that I don’t appreciate you people, but there is more to do in life and with time to transform Nigeria. I will step aside and allow you people to continue.’
“It is a joy for me to see that you are a poster boy 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 is not about the individual but nation building. It is about honesty, integrity and character. You are a great man with a political credential,” the APC presidential flag bearer said.
On his part, Buhari who spoke in Hausa and English languages to the crowd, said he he will continue to campaign for Tinubu. He said Tinubu will win the presidential election.
“I am very pleased to be here today at this campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria, and for the governor of Nasarawa State for his second and final term. I thank you very much for defying the weather and standing in the sun for hours.
“I congratulate you and assure you that we are going to win through and through. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, I knew him more than 20 years ago—all the problems that we had, I mentioned earlier—there is no local government that I have not visited between 2003 and 2011. I visited all the states in 2019 when I was asking for a second term. I will continue to campaign for Bola Tinubu,” the president said.