Tinubu speaks out on reported London meeting with Wike, others
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu has denied reports of a secret meeting between him and G5 governors in London.
Mr. Tinubu, in a statement from his aide, Tunde Rahman, confirmed on Saturday that the APC candidate was indeed in London to rest before heading to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, but never met the governors.
Some national dailies in Nigeria reported a meeting between Mr. Tinubu and G5 governors, including Nyesom Wike de Rivers, Seyi Makinde (Oyo,) Okieze Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue ) in London.
These governors are demanding the resignation of PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for supporting the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
They are demanding that Mr. Ayu be replaced by a southerner to balance the party leadership structure.
Misters Ayu and Atiku are both from the north.
Some of the reports claimed that the aggrieved PDP governors and Mr. Tinubu had reached an agreement on a possible alliance ahead of the presidential race.
Mr. Wike, the leader of the G5 group, already debunked the reports shortly after returning to the country on Friday.
News of a possible alliance between the two parties could have political ramifications for members of the ruling party in states like Rivers, Benue and Oyo State, where the ruling party has strong candidates .
In August, the two parties met in London to discuss a possible collaboration before 2023.
Tinubu free to meet anyoneWhile denying the report, Rahman said the reports were “published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors.”
He added, however, that Mr. Tinubu is free to meet with any group to further his ambition.
“These reports, to say the least, are not only in bad faith, but also ill-intentioned. They were published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors. READ ALSO:
“The Presidential Standard Bearer of the All Progressives Congress, HE Asiwaju Tinubu, is neither embarrassed by these articles nor by their well-known sponsors.
“But we must emphasize that the APC candidate has the right to meet with any political actor or stakeholder who is important to his campaign and his plans for the country and who wishes to engage with him,” a- he said.
Mr. Rahman said the former governor of Lagos would return to the country in two days.
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All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu has denied reports of a secret meeting between him and G5 governors in London.
Mr. Tinubu, in a statement from his aide, Tunde Rahman, confirmed on Saturday that the APC candidate was indeed in London to rest before heading to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, but never met the governors.
Some national dailies in Nigeria reported a meeting between Mr. Tinubu and G5 governors, including Nyesom Wike de Rivers, Seyi Makinde (Oyo,) Okieze Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue ) in London.
These governors are demanding the resignation of PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for supporting the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
They are demanding that Mr. Ayu be replaced by a southerner to balance the party leadership structure.
Misters Ayu and Atiku are both from the north.
Some of the reports claimed that the aggrieved PDP governors and Mr. Tinubu had reached an agreement on a possible alliance ahead of the presidential race.
Mr. Wike, the leader of the G5 group, already debunked the reports shortly after returning to the country on Friday.
News of a possible alliance between the two parties could have political ramifications for members of the ruling party in states like Rivers, Benue and Oyo State, where the ruling party has strong candidates .
In August, the two parties met in London to discuss a possible collaboration before 2023.
Tinubu free to meet anyoneWhile denying the report, Rahman said the reports were “published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors.”
He added, however, that Mr. Tinubu is free to meet with any group to further his ambition.
“These reports, to say the least, are not only in bad faith, but also ill-intentioned. They were published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors. READ ALSO:
“The Presidential Standard Bearer of the All Progressives Congress, HE Asiwaju Tinubu, is neither embarrassed by these articles nor by their well-known sponsors.
“But we must emphasize that the APC candidate has the right to meet with any political actor or stakeholder who is important to his campaign and his plans for the country and who wishes to engage with him,” a- he said.
Mr. Rahman said the former governor of Lagos would return to the country in two days.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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