Presidential aspirant Bola Tinubu has said that his statement “I’m ready to get dirty” as headlined by Vanguard was taken out of its right context.
Tinubu had on Sunday gone on consultation and engagement visit to the Olubadan-designate, Lekan Balogun, in Ibadan.
Speaking during the visit, Tinubu, referring to some of the unwarranted attacks against him, used the metaphor of wrestling with the pig, saying “If you decide to wrestle with the pig, you must be ready to get dirty.”
Tinubu’s media aide Tunde Rahman in a statement on Monday, however, explained that the APC chieftain was misunderstood.
“This caption and report are inaccurate and erroneous. Sadly, the wrong headline and story have been latched on by some online platforms/blogs and commentators to pour invective on my person.
“These commentaries and remarks are unfortunate because they are groundless, misinformed and misdirected. Hence, this clarification has become imperative,” he said.
Rahman stressed that at no time during the visit and in his speech did Tinubu indicate that he would fight dirty for his presidential ambition.
He added that Tinubu’s words were carefully chosen, stating that the people did not lend credence to such interpretation as given by the Vanguard newspaper.
Tinubu, while addressing the Olubadan-designate, said: “Kabiyesi, all I have come for is to beg you to continue to pray for me, the entire Yoruba race and the country.
“I am out to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there is a wise saying that if you want to wrestle with the pig, be ready to get dirty and deal with the poo-poo.
“I am ready to get dirty. No intimidation, no blackmail, no sort of insult will get me angry to the extent that I will say no more, I don’t want again.”
