A group, the South-west Democratic Watch, has called on President Muhammodu Buhari to distance himself from the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in order to safeguard his global integrity rating.
The group, in a statement, also counselled Asiwaju Tinubu to withdraw from the presidential race to avoid monumental disgrace, arguing that Nigerians will not support any candidate linked to drug.
The position of the group is coming in the wake of issues arising from court documents linking Tinubu to a drug cartel prompting his (Tinubu’s) forfeiture of $460,000 to the authorities of the United States of America.
In a statement issued by convener of the group, Mr. Olajide Thomas and secretary, Kazeem Omotilewa Benson in Lagos, the group said the nation cannot afford to allow an individual with the remotest link to a drug cartel near the Presidential Villa.
The group described the reports as worrisome, calling for the disqualification of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting next year’s general election.
“We are deeply concerned with the contents of the recently obtained court documents linking the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with a drug cartel in the United States of America, it is very saddening, and all concerned Nigerians should be worried too.
“For us, it won’t make any meaningful or rational sense to want to seek justification or excuses or perhaps an explanation on the issue. The most decent thing for Tinubu to do if indeed he loves the country is to step aside from the contest,” the group wrote.
According to the group, the fact that his name came up in a crime bordering on drugs and consequent upon which some monies were forfeited, raises a moral question and issues of serious security threat.
Commenting on the development, Thomas and Benson wrote, “We ask; what business was Asiwaju Tinubu running that such a whopping sum of $460,000 would be deducted as tax from his account?”
The group appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to distance himself from Tinubu’s candidature as doing so will contradict his avowed stand on corruption and also his global rating on integrity.
However, Tinubu, through his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to approach the court over his alleged role in the $460,000 forfeiture judgement.
Tinubu while reacting to the threat by the PDP maintained that he would not be distracted from actualizing his aspiration to occupy the exalted seat of the presidency after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
Tinubu’s reaction was contained on the Facebook page of his aide on media and publicity, Mr Bayo Onanuga monitored.
He noted: PDP, Ologunagba are jokers: The fragmented and emasculated PDP turned itself into an accuser, prosecutor and judge today, asking Asiwaju Tinubu to quit the presidential race.
“His call followed the release of the 30-year-old US document its agents and media lapdogs have been spreading. Now at least we know that the party and their candidate, are behind the shameful campaign of calumny.”
