The All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, was made fun of by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization for President Muhammadu Buhari’s snub during the party’s campaign rally in Adamawa State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was being yelled out at the rally by supporters of the ruling party, WITHIN NIGERIA reported, even though President Buhari was present.
The PDP campaign claimed in a statement released on Monday in Abuja by its Spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, that it was evident that Buhari avoided the trap of tarnishing his reputation by declining to support Tinubu at the rally.
President Buhari only attended the APC presidential rally after being strongly persuaded to do so, according to Ologbondiyan, and not to support Tinubu politically.
But he cautioned the APC presidential candidate against trying to shift the blame for his political problems and damage to his reputation onto the President.
He said:
The public watched as a visibly embarrassed Asiwaju Tinubu had to put up with President Buhari merely raising his hand without speaking on his (Tinubu’s) personality despite the pressure being mounted on him (Buhari).
It is clear that President Buhari attended the APC presidential rally, after much prodding, only to satisfy partisan exigencies and not to campaign for Asiwaju Tinubu, who is badgered by allegations for which most well-meaning Nigerians have distanced themselves from his Presidential bid.
Our campaign is therefore not surprised that President Buhari avoided the booby trap of smearing his image by refusing to campaign for Asiwaju Tinubu at the rally.
It was indeed a pitiable sight to behold as Asiwaju Tinubu watched Mr. President’s mouth, expecting him to campaign for him and speak words of commendation on his personality, which to his embarrassment, never came.
Even when President Buhari, who was about to leave the campaign stage, was reminded by the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to address the gathering in Hausa language, Mr. President merely described him (Tinubu) as being nominated by the Party and failed to campaign for him.
Nigerians can recall that our campaign had earlier cautioned Asiwaju Tinubu that dragging President Buhari into his campaign cannot help him given that his image had gone beyond redemption.
The APC presidential candidate should face his political woes and not attempt to transfer the burden and smear of his alleged narcotic-related offence and countless allegations of corruption and sundry misdemeanors on the president.
Asiwaju Tinubu should stop wasting his time. He should yield to the consensus by Nigerians to vote in a more acceptable, capable and experienced candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation at this critical time.
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