Tinubu Denies Visiting Buhari Over Obasanjo’s Critical Statement

A National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, said that his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari was not connected with the critical statement issued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Buhari’s presidency.

The three men (in the picture above) had met behind closed-doors hours after Obasanjo released a statement critical of Buhari.

The internet was stimulated with reports that Mr. Buhari urgently called the meeting to discuss the political implication of Mr. Obasanjo’s letter.

However, Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, issued a statement in which he clarified the meeting he and former Governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, held with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

Mr. Tinubu, via his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, disclosed that the meeting was long scheduled, and had nothing to do with the controversial statement by the former President.

The full statement by Mr. Tinubu reads:

Tinubu’s, Akande’s Visit Unconnected with Obasanjo’s Statement

Today’s visit by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to the Presidential Villa was scheduled last week.

President Buhari periodically schedules talks with Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande, as he does with other Nigerians and APC figures, to discuss substantive issues pertaining to the governance of the country and matters concerning the party.

This visit was one such meeting. As such, the meeting had nothing to do with the statement of former President Obasanjo.

It is totally unconnected. At the time of the meeting, Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande were even unaware that President Obasanjo had released his statement.

Tinubu Media Office

Tunde Rahman

January 23, 2018