Presidency says no rift between Buhari, Tinubu

Lagos ex- gov donates N50m to Katsina market fire victims

PRESIDENCY has dismissed reports of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his ally, Senator Bola Tinubu.

A statement, yesterday, by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted: “If the Asiwaju is not a frequent face in Aso Rock Villa, it is on account of the fact that he is not a cabinet member of this government. The fact that he is not seen every day around the Villa does not make him less of a friend to the President and this administration.”

He added that Buhari and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) have a very strong commitment to the party towards bringing change, a commitment they made to Nigerians.

Shehu said: “Recent reports of a rift between the two leaders of our party are false. It is the handiwork of some media mischief makers.

“It is quite unfortunate that certain sections of the media feed on birthing controversies, providing a nexus for naysayers who work behind the scenes planting such stories, which are absolutely false.”

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EANWHILE Tinubu has announced a donation of N50 million to victims of the Katsina Central Market inferno.

The former Lagos State governor made the announcement yesterday when he visited the state to commiserate with state government, Kano emirate and the victims over the incident.

The fire, which occurred Monday morning, razed over 1,000 shops and wares worth billions of naira, The Guardian learnt.

Governor Aminu Masari, who shed tears when he visited the market, said the extent of destruction was unprecedented in the state’s history.

He expressed shock over the incident, but called for resumption of activities at the unaffected part of market, adding that life must still continue amid disaster.