Don’t discuss Buhari’s second term with me – Tinubu
The national leader of the APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, yesterday told State House reporters not to discuss with him, the calls by some groups and individuals on President Buhari to seek second term.
Tinubu was addressing the journalists after meeting with President Buhari inside the new Banquet Hall Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The closed-door meeting lasted one hour.
Tinubu arrived for the meeting five minutes after Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun had departed after meeting with Buhari at the same venue.
When asked whether he agreed with those calling on the president to run for the 2019 Presidency, Tinubu simply responded: “Don’t discuss that one with me.”
The former governor of Lagos State, however, said the ruling party was on course and would remain focused on national development as well as welfare and progress of Nigerians.
He described as fake the reports that he had a rift with Buhari and that he had been sidelined by a cabal in government, emphasising that the ideas of an existence of a cabal was a myth.
Tinubu said their discussion was fruitful and productive, noting that “it was about the country and leadership as a whole. And that got him (the president) excited and happy.
“Fake news! I have confidence in this president; there is no doubt about that. We worked hard to bring about the government, there are certain things that are unpredictable and those are things that can lean itself to gossips, insinuations and all of that. But once you create leadership and it is functioning you don’t have to babysit that leadership unless there is a loss of confidence and I don’t have that.
“You know me. I’m not known to shy away from talking my mind and rebelling if it is necessary and taking charge of things that I believe are necessary. What is the myth in this leadership thing? What is cabal? It is a myth. We are the party of the people for the people and by the people and this is democratic environment. Each of us has our roles to play and that is why we are playing it.
“I don’t believe in the myth, I believe in confidence building, the trust that we have in the president. In the journey of democracy, you are going to have twists and turns, you are going to have conflicts. Conflicts resolution mechanisms is inbuilt on how you handle your party and the governance and the party are joined by the hips,” Tinubu stated.
On whether he believed the APC was still on course, he asked: “Can you go back to the history of 16 years of the PDP? APC government is on course and will remain on course and we will remain focused to those necessary things about development, welfare progress of our people.”
Asked to confirm the insinuations that the National Executive Committee of the party was meeting today to mend fences and allayed members’ panic, Tinubu quizzed: “Did I tell you that? Why do you want to know? Are you a member of our party?” and