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While it is believed in certain quarters that the question of whether or not Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid is already settled in the affirmative, BDSUNDAY has gathered that the matter is still generating controversy even among Tinubu’s close allies.
This is as two top shots of the APC in Lagos, in separate interactions with our correspondent, expressed divergent views on the national leader’s stand on Buhari’s second term bid.
Abiodun Ogunleye, an APC chieftain and a close ally of Tinubu, in an exclusive interview with BDSUNDAY, said Tinubu was yet to make a categorical statement about whether or not he is supporting Buhari’s re-election bid.
“Tinubu has not told us, the leaders of the party here, that he is supporting Buhari’s second term bid, and until he says that it remains a rumour. The president has not even been given the ticket of the party and the guidelines are not yet out,” Ogunleye said.
Ogunleye, who served as deputy governor of Lagos State under the Tinubu administration, said there had not been any meeting where it was decided that “we would support Buhari’s second term bid”, even though the two men met in London and talked.
“Until we sit down with Tinubu and ask him that question. For now, that question does not arise. And if he takes the decision to support Buhari, we would all support him. He would speak with the leaders,” he said.
He, however, said he would personally support Buhari’s ambition, saying “this is the first time we have a leader who is going after people who siphoned the wealth of the country”.
But Henry Ajomale, a former commissioner for special duties and now chairman of the APC in Lagos State, told BDSUNDAY on Friday that Tinubu’s support for Buhari’s second term was a done deal.
“Tinubu’s support for Buhari is not for personal benefit that he is going to get. The issue is: how can the country be great? How can Nigeria get out its problems? How can the common man get the benefit of democracy?” Ajomale said.
“Tinubu still sees Buhari as the best candidate who can get the country to that dream; if he is given second chance, he would consolidate on his achievements and his plans can come to fruition; he would have enough time to carry out and deliver on his mission and vision for the Nigerian public.
“Tinubu is not after his personal ambition. If he was after his personal ambition, he would have contested against Buhari. He sees Buhari as the best candidate for the job,” he said.
Iniobong Iwok
