Pretender, I don’t need your praises, Tinubu tells Kashamu

Obviously, the national leader of the APC, and former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is vary of who he accepts praises from, or the kinds of people his actions and words inspire, but one thing is for sure he does not want to inspire the likes of Buruji Kashamu, the chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the South-West

Tinubu reacted strongly to praises showered on him by Kashamu by telling the Ogun-East senator-elect, by saying that there was no basis for comparison between himself and Kashamu, whom he described as a pretender, adding that he felt insulted by the open letter addressed to him by Kashamu

Kashamu, perhaps seeking political shelter and friends had last week, described Tinubu as his role model and the architect of modern Nigeria.

However, Tinubu, in a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Sunday Dare, said it was ironic that Kashamu could praise him after conspiring with other PDP leaders to produce and broadcast a hate documentary against him.

He said Kashamu’s actions and lifestyle showed that President Goodluck Jonathan and the leader of the PDP in Lagos, Chief Bode George, were his true role models, and that Kashamu’s rudeness to elders like former President Olusegun Obsanjo showed he could not be his political son.

Tinubu urged Kashamu to turn himself to the United States’ authorities over the accusations of drug smuggling leveled against him, adding that only then would he believe that he was a reformed person.

The former governor said as a person of repute, he could not be seen to be hobnobbing with people of questionable character as this would affect his reputation across the world.

But Kashamu in a quick response, stated that he doubted if the response to his congratulatory message to Tinubu was actually from Tinubu, adding that “I am taken aback by the unwarranted attacks against me as if we were still campaigning. It is unbecoming of someone of his stature and caliber”.

He called on Tinubu to play politics without bitterness, noting that Obasanjo even forgave Tinubu after he (Tinubu) insulted the former president.

As a true party man, I campaigned vigorously for my party and its candidates. Now, the elections are over, and as a true sportsman, I thought I should congratulate those who won. Short of any praise-singing, what I said in the congratulatory message that they chose to react to a week after it published was that there was no way anyone can wish away the achievements of Asiwaju Tinubu in the nation’s political annals, particularly in Yoruba land”, Kashamu stated.

He noted that he was not praise singing Tinubu but only stated facts, adding that he was not on the run from any country.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now