Politics
You think too highly of yourself, Tinubu tells Ondo APC gov aspirant, Abayomi
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said a governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Mr. Tunji Abayomi, thinks too high highly of himself and assumes too much.
Tinubu was replying Abayomi’s open letter to him which he claimed he was the one that made the former Lagos State Governor to support President Buhari for the 2015 Presidential election.
Abayomi, who had acted as legal counsel to Tinubu, also accused him of forcing another aspirant for the governorship, Mr. Segun Abraham, on the party in Ondo State.
However, Tinubu said his support for the election of President Muhammadu Buhari before and after the 2015 polls was his personal decision.
According to him, in a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, he has the the right to support any aspirant as a member of the APC.
Tinubu said: “You said I seek to deny your democratic right. It is you who seeks to grab mine. If not mistaken, I believe I am a member of the APC. I have a right and duty to support the candidate who I believe will best represent the party.
“What your letter is really saying is that if I don’t support you I should keep my mouth shut. You complain of a purported meeting I had to discuss the coming primary in Ondo. Do you deny me and other APC members now the right to assemble and talk? Had you heard that the meeting had anointed you, I doubt you would have written the first word of the letter you sent to me”, Tinubu stated.
Wondering why Abayomi is focusing on him who has no vote, Tinubu counselled him not see him as a dictator but rather work hard to seek the support of members of the party in the state.
Read also: Okah brothers make good on their threat, slam N5bn suit on Jonathan
He said: “I am a democrat. I am ready for the chips to fall where they may after an open and fair primary in Ondo. Instead of welcoming this, it appears you are afraid of it. Instead of fighting me who is but one man with no vote, you should be fighting for votes and support. Your letter to me was woefully misplaced and inappropriate. Still, I wish you the best and may democracy and the people’s will prevail above all else.
“I reserve the right to support any candidate I wish because no one has the right to take this away from me.
However, I will also do everything in my power to ensure the primaries are free and fair and that there will be no undue influence on the process.”
On Abayomi’s claim that he was the one who convinced him to support President Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, Tinubu said: “I also need to correct what appears to be a mistaken impression on your part about the 2015 election. Your letter seems to indicate that it was on your advice that I backed President Buhari.
“You assume too much credit and should be more guarded in your assertions. As a veteran in the political arena, I do not make important decisions lightly. I make final political decisions and calculations on my own after deep reflections and consultation with many people from many perspectives.”
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews
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