Tinubu: I’ve no rift with President
By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed satisfaction with the role played by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this year’s general elections that returned him to power.
He also said now is for leaders of his All Progressives Congress (APC) to drop their differences and influences to enable the party achieve its campaign manifestos of addressing security challenges, creating employment opportunities and fighting corruption.
Speaking when he hosted the leadership of some political parties at the State House, Buhari said it was important for members of the party to set aside their differences and unite for the sake of the country.
He said the APC had surmounted many obstacles to emerge strong enough to dislodge the PDP, hence the need for unity to enable the party fulfil its campaign promises.
The President commended APC chieftain Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and words of encouragement, saying the party’s journey was important in order to appreciate how lucky the APC members were.
He said: “I always like to go down memory lane to show how lucky we are as a political group. At no stage was the decision taken by chance; it was all deliberate. The leaders of the parties felt the only way to wrest power from the PDP was for us to come together. I in particular was scared after previous failures of the elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011.
“We dissolved our various parties to form APC, then we applied to INEC.
“For once I was grateful to INEC. We had gone with nine people to INEC to apply and INEC advised us that we needed at least 25 people across the people to form a political party. We were able to go back, raised 35 members across the country and then successfully registered the party.
“INEC then informed the federal government that we have met the requirements, hence we cannot be denied registration.
“Many doubting Thomases said merger has never succeeded in Nigeria, but here we are.
“I went into this long explanation so that you will appreciate how far we have come and for a society as ours, if we respect the constitution, then all the greed and problems will be a thing of the fast.
“We should just look at Nigeria as Nigerians, no matter the level you are. Lose your influence so that we can help achieve the manifestos – security, economy, employment and kill corruption because if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. We have to ensure that people we bring forward are those that will move the society forward.”
Earlier in his remarks, Tinubu had condemned remarks by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the Buhari administration was too slow, saying the present government cannot clean the 16-years mess of the PDP in 30 days.
Tinubu described the APC as “Armoured Personnel Carrier,” saying it represented the diversity of Nigeria.
He commended the President for the opportunity of breaking fast with him in a gathering of people from various backgrounds regardless of religious affiliations.
He said: “We believe this diversity will continue to propel us for economic growth under your leadership. This is the first Ramadan after the election. We thank God for cutting down the opponents’ 60 years of fake promises to 16 years.
“I heard they say we are slow. Yes, we didn’t campaign to be fire fighters, but planners and meticulous ones at that.
“A latrine pit of 16 years can’t be cleaned up in 30 days because the mess is much.”
Meanwhile, Tinubu has said that he has no rift with President Buhari as was being speculated in some quarters.
There have been reports in the media that the relationship between him and Buhari may have soured over the crisis that engulfed the APC regarding the National Assembly leadership elections in which Tinubu was said to have made a bid to control both chambers of the assembly by stationing his men in strategic positions.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after participating in the Ramadan breakfast with the President, Tinubu said he was on the same page with Buhari on matters concerning the party and the country.
He said: “That’s an area (the reported rift) where I am very, very cautious of my position and my utterances. I still want to keep my side of interpretation and analysis to me to be able to achieve a resolution of the matter as quickly as possible.
“I am backing what the President has carefully enumerated and articulated to the party. The party is supreme. The party must have disciplined leaders and followers.
“The process must be respected because that is the confidence and the thrust of the people. However, in every political environment, you expect conflict. That’s politics and conflict resolution mechanism will be applied to resolve all problems. So, we are there.
“There is honour in every struggle, in every competition. There must be honour in victory too. I will stop there for now.”
Tinubu told journalists that he has not asked for anything which may have strained his relationship with the President.
“I have no demands on the party. If you understand what party politics is all about and what leadership is all about, it is about loyalty and commitment to the values that leadership believes in. I believe in what the President believes in and respect him, and I stand firmly loyal to his cause.
“You can go to any length of speculation that you might want. I have not responded to all of that because I understand the President and the President understands me.”
