Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday, December 31, 2022, dismissed reports that he secretly met with the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He said the reports were in bad faith and with evil intention.
The APC standard bearer, who is currently performing Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, believes the reports were published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors.
In a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman in Abuja, Tinubu said he was focused on his campaign.
” While in the United Kingdom, Asiwaju Tinubu noted some articles in some national newspapers in Nigeria, alleging a secret meeting was held in London between him and the G-5 governors who are members of Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.
“These reports, to say the least, are not only in bad faith but also evil intentioned.
“They were published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors.
Tinubu, however, said he was entitled to meet with any political actor or stakeholder that is important to his campaign and plans for the country or who desires to engage with him.
He advised the sponsors and writers of unsubstantiated articles and those peddling rumours about him to stop.
The former Lagos State governor said he usually takes time off his busy schedule as the year comes to an end to rest before proceeding to Saudi Arabia to observe Umrah (Lesser Hajj).
“Tinubu came to London on Boxing Day Monday, December 26, 2022, to spend a few days preparatory to his trip to Saudi Arabia.
“After spending some time in London, he has now proceeded to Mecca where he is at present observing Umrah.
“He is scheduled to return to the country within the next two days to continue with the campaign,” the statement added.
‘Their BP is rising’ – Wike Mocks Atiku, Critics Tells Them ‘Leave G5 alone’
Nyesom Wike, the Rivers state governor, has reacted to the statement credited to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku Abubakar said he was not perturbed by the plots of five aggrieved governors, popularly known as G-5 governors, to endorse a presidential candidate of their choice outside PDP.
He opined that he is an elephant that has seen everything, noting that before any man can boast of stopping him (Atiku), the person should first make himself president of Nigeria.
Reacting on Friday, December 30, 2022, during the flag-off of the construction of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road, Wike queried the reason his critics (Atiku’s camp) are having high blood pressure on issues relating to G5 which they labelled ‘unimportant’.
He demanded to know why they are bothered when they told Nigerians they are not worried about G-5 governors.
Wike who noted that nobody can threaten him, warned his political foes that they have not seen trouble yet.
Meanwhile, the Rivers governor dismissed speculations that the G-5 governors have struck a deal with a presidential candidate.
His words: “We will go and swim, you are worried, yet you tell Nigerians you are not bothered. They said I had conversation with BBC, where is the picture and video. We don’t have Journalists again we have pressmen. You can see people not being able to give the correction information. Newspaper and Television houses are now running and standing for election.
“When I want to do something I will do it. You don’t need to speculate. They said there is trouble, there is no trouble. What we have is the introduction to the trouble that will come. Please my dear people, don’t border yourselves. They said we had meeting with somebody, what is your problem with it. Has Atiku not held meetings with governors of APC, ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on?
“So, why do you border about us, G- 5 governors you said you can win without us. Leave us alone.
“Leave me alone, leave Seyi Makinde alone, Leave Ortom alone, leave Ikpeazu alone, leave Ugwuanyi alone and focus on your problems.
“My dear people, I just want to tell you that whatever decision I am going to take, I will let you know. I cannot make any decision without taking advice from you.
“I am not one who will go and see someone and hide. Who am I hiding from? Who is that person that will threaten me? He said he will sack me, go ahead, I am not worried. You that is sacking is worried.
“Try and see how you will survive it. So I just went to enjoy myself and family. Don’t you see the way I am looking now? Don’t you like the way I am looking.
“If you check their BP (blood pressure) it’s very high. My BP is like a kid … bring a doctor to check. Their own is running high every day. They are killing themselves for nothing.
“So, just focus on what we are doing and forget their rumour mongering. Instead of them to focus on their campaign …. Am I contesting election? You that is contesting go and focus on your campaign. Tell the people what you will do when you enter.”
