Date: 2015-06-17

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a plot by some people to set him against President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu said this in a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday in reaction to a report by an online medium.

The medium alleged that Tinubu accused Buhari of moving against the party by helping Senator Bukola Saraki to emerge as Senate President. Tinubu, while reacting through the statement, however, said, “The story first published on an online news site and later parroted by other online news outlet is an example of irresponsible journalism. This story has no source. It is a blatant fabrication to serve the interest of its sponsors. Tinubu has not spoken about the Senate election. This story is a perverse fiction. Not journalism.

“He has never said these lies so wrongly attributed to him. There is no chance he will ever utter such words against President Buhari, a man he worked very hard for to become President, along with millions of Nigerians who voted. Tinubu would not accuse the President of plotting his own injury. If anything, he is alarmed by how this may impair the government’s substantive reform agenda.

“It is a mischievous attempt to drive a wedge between Tinubu and Buhari. There is no need to try to put words in Tinubu’s mouth. He will talk when and if it is necessary. His major preoccupation now is how Nigerians can support President Buhari and his administration to achieve the reform and change promised during the election.” Tinubu’s media aide, Mr. Sunday Dare, also dismissed reports that Saraki visited Tinubu in Lagos recently.

He said, “The story about Senator Saraki visiting Bola Tinubu at his home in Lagos is a total fabrication. It’s a lie. During the time alleged in the story, Asiwaju Tinubu was overseas in France to condole a family friend. Thus it’s physically impossible for Tinubu to have received anybody at his home in Lagos.”