By Alex Emeka Duru
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday cautioned a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be mindful of his utterances and stop resorting to “gutter language.”
In a statement he issued on Tuesday to flag off the campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu who was placed in charge of the president’s reelection bid cast aspersions on Atiku Abubakar’s integrity while eulogizing the president.
“President Buhari is a straight and honest man. Leave a Naira on the table with Buhari in the room, you will find the Naira on the table when you return.
“When Buhari says ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ you know where he stands. He means what he says, no more, no less,” he said in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Tuinde Ramon.
“With Atiku, things are more nuanced. This shows he has no vision for the nation except the naked pursuit of power for the naked use of that power,” he further said.
Tinubu, who is the Co-Chair of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, said that letting Buhari down would also let down the nation.
He said he had, therefore, rallied members of the campaign council, with the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as Director-General for the task ahead.
He noted that the Peoples Democratic Party should not be allowed to return to power and “return to the days where they ruled the nation like overlords.”
“I think I can speak for all members of the campaign council that we accept the assignments given by the President with devotion and a firm commitment to perform to our utmost, individually and collectively, on the tasks given.
“It is a great honour and responsibility he has given us. We dare not let him down because doing so would also let down the nation.
“This election concerns more than two competing personalities and political parties. It is a contest between two different visions for the country and the futures these visions portend.
“The APC seeks a better Nigeria by reforming our institutions of governance that these institutions may better implement policies engendering dynamic economic development.
“We seek not only growth but also a fair and just allocation to all segments of society of the harvest of our national endeavours.
“Let no Nigerian be forever trapped in poverty and despair. Let all Nigerians be given the genuine opportunity to realise their full potential and contribute to this nation and their own lives as much as their talents and will power permit of them.
“We build a Nigeria where government leads the nation but does not rule over the people,” he said.
But in a very sharp rebuttal, the PDP called Tinubu’s language gutter.\
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign
Organization (PPCO) has been drawn to derogatory remarks against the
person, integrity and proven competence of our Presidential Candidate,
Atiku Abubakar, by the Co-Chairman of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“The PPCO wants, Tinubu, as the Asiwaju of Yoruba land, to know that he
has the responsibility of tutoring the younger generation on the culture
of the Yorubas, which holds that when a child is given the errand of a
slave, he delivers it like a freeborn.
“At Tinubu’s stature, he ought to be found in the class of respected
senior citizens who are decorous, speak statesmanly and not resorting to
the gutters whenever he speaks in public.
“In politics, family ties and bonds as well as relationships are greater
and stronger than political interests and it is the expectation of our
campaign organization that Tinubu should understand this.
“Our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a focused Nigerian who has contributed
immensly to the economic and political development of our nation.
“He has also displayed huge stability in character through the bridges of
human and economic relationships he has built across our nation.
“At this critical time, when majority of Nigerians expect true democrats,
which Tinubu has always claimed allegiance, to come together and rescue
our nation from the absurdity of a governance that the APC and the
Buhari Presidency represent, it is unfortunate that Asiwaju chose being
tied to the aprons of anti-democratic interests.
“It is therefore strange, if not ridiculous, that the Asiwaju of
Yorubaland can be dancing around an anti-people government at this time.
“Our advice to Tinubu is that he should be watchful ahead of his 2023
wishful presidency interests because those he is dining with today, has
demonstrated in time past, that they can always use and dump him.
“Tinubu should know that among the ranks of presidential candidates,
Atiku Abubakar stands out as that candidate Nigerians trust and belief
in as their next President, come May 29, 2019.
“It is also imperative to know that the fairy tales of integrity which he
weaved around President Buhari in 2015 have waned and become obsolete.
“Nigerians have moved beyond APC and President Buhari!”
