‘Buhari’s APC, Lagos comment wasn’t referring to Tinubu’ – Presidency says

Presidency Spokesman, Garba Shehu says President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t referring to the APC National Chairman Bola Tinubu when he said that a person cannot sit in Lagos and decide for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement released late Thursday, Garba Shehu, said the spin and interpretation of an otherwise innocuous remark, is malicious and mischievous all at once.

“The presidency wishes to distance President Buhari from a malicious campaign aiming to drive a wedge between him and a staunch ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is nothing short of a mischievous attempt to drag the President into controversies. Our citizens and especially the members of the APC should not fall for this.

“The ruling party, the APC, unlike others before it is a popular political party owned by its entire membership, hence Mr. President was making the point during the 45-minutes interview that neither he nor anyone in the leadership could impose their wishes on the party.

“This is a basic consensus that binds the entire party leadership. The party leaders remain firmly committed to the principles that succession must be through democratic norms and processes.

“The mention he made of Lagos was not a reference to the respected party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as the opposition party’s predatory designs would put it in order to damage the excellent relationship between the two of them.

“The President, the Asiwaju and the rapidly growing members of the party want a dynastic succession of elected leaders.

“The APC should not be distracted from its progress as a democratic party,” Shehu’s statement reads.

Tinubu, 69, is widely believed to be nursing a presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general elections.