The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation on Friday said Bola Tinubu did not disrespect President Muhammadu Buhari during his speech in Ogun.
Tinubu had said on Thursday in Ogun while addressing APC delegates that becoming Nigeria’s president is his life ambition, boasting that he made Muhammadu Buhari president, Yemi Osinbajo vice president and Abiodun governor.
His statement has since been greeted with widespread condemnation.
However, his campaign organisation in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu only tried to convince delegates to vote for him at the party’s convention in light of President Buhari’s criteria for whoever would be the party’s presidential candidate.
“While we recognise that recent unexpected interventions in the time table and the heat generated by the proximity of the event might have led to some anxiety, this campaign organisation believes that the main thrust of Asiwaju’s presentation, was that his huge contributions to the formation and electoral success of the All Progressives Congress should count in his favour as a true party man who desires to be the flag bearer.
“There is also no doubt that the fresh conditions proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari for the consideration of a presidential candidate of the party made it necessary for Asiwaju to labour to convince the delegates that he fits the bill,” the statement said.
The campaign organisation also noted that Tinubu never denigrated any ethnic group.
“At no time did Tinubu play any ethnic card or denigrate any ethnic group. That is surely out of his character, as Engineer David Babachir Lawal, attested in his viral whatsApp statement.
“Tinubu’s speech in Abeokuta did not demonstrate any disrespect to President Buhari, for whom he has a very high regard, and whose re-election campaign he chaired in 2019,” the statement added.
