Tinubu Not Returning Soon — Campaign Council
"The disputed picture".
The Director, Media and Publicity APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Bayo Onanuga has said that the party presidential standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is presently abroad will not be returning soon.
Mr Tinubu left the country exactly a week ago for undisclosed reasons. However, while discountenancing a viral picture showing the former Lagos State governor being attended to by a supposed nurse, the former Director-General of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said “We spoke today (Friday) at about 2 pm. And he told me how his one-week retreat has not made any difference. He was still working like in Nigeria. Today, he still burnt his candle till 4.30 a.m.
“Nigerians should stop spreading rumours about Tinubu, who by the grace of God and fellow Nigerians, will be elected our leader next February. We should learn from the divine fate of the man who wished Tinubu dead”.
In the statement Mr Onanuga posted on his Facebook page, he interchangeably used ” short break” and “retreat” as accounting for the trip of the APC stalwart to London.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that early in the week, the party temporarily put off the commencement of the campaign for the 2023 presidential election.
The campaign was initially scheduled to begin on Wednesday 28 September 2022 with a peace walk and prayers, according to Governor Simon Lalong, Director-General,
Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and the governor of Plateau State were put off to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the APC family.
The four-paragraph statement signed by the governor read: “Recall that we had earlier earmarked a peace walk and prayers for Wednesday, 28 September 2022, to officially kick-off our campaigns for the 2023 presidential election. We had also announced that the members of the campaign council report to the campaign headquarters on that day to collect their letters of appointment.
“However, due to the expansion of the list to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the APC family, we have decided to adjust the timetable of these activities in order to ensure everyone is on board before activities officially commence. Consequently, the activities earlier announced for the 28th of September will no longer hold.
“As the ruling and most attractive party in Nigeria, we understand the sacrifices and understanding of our teeming members who are more than willing to volunteer themselves for this great task ahead. It also shows the enormous love that the party members have for our candidates.
“A new date and timetable of events will be announced soon.”
A source however told the medium the action may not be unconnected with the sudden trip of the presidential standard-bearer. Although he continued to insist otherwise, there have been reports suggesting that Mr Tinubu maybe nursing conditions that could impair his performance in office if elected president in next year’s election.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka in a recent statement indicated that Mr Tinibu may be suffering from Parkinson’s disease. This has also been denied.
Mr Bayo Onanuga’s Statement
Here is a fake photo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded to me just now, another handiwork of purveyors of deep fake. Whoever is behind this malicious falsehood will face the judgment of God at the right time. The man in the photo does not look like Asiwaju, except for his baldness. The man is fatter. Tinubu is slimmer.
Look at the frame of his glasses. it is certainly not Tinubu’s trademark frame.
Let me assure Nigerians who genuinely want to know Tinubu’s whereabouts. He is in London, in his house. Tinubu left Nigeria on Saturday night for a short break and in readiness for what will certainly be a gruelling campaign. I saw him, spoke with him two hours before he left. He was hale and hearty. He was not ill. He didn’t go to treat any ailment.
We spoke today at about 2 pm. And he told me how his one-week retreat has not made any difference. He was still working like in Nigeria. Today, he still burnt his candle till 4.30 a.m. Nigerians should stop spreading rumours about Tinubu, who by the grace of God and fellow Nigerians, will be elected our leader next February. We should learn from the divine fate of the man who wished Tinubu dead.
