Tinubu dodges to explain amid speculation about his fitness for Aso Rock
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu has sent out his foot soldiers to explain why he avoids live media interviews but they ended up providing fodder for the narrative that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate is too ill to withstand the rigour.
“Tinubu is engaging in consultations. He is visiting and consulting many prominent Nigerians across the country,” they said, quoting his words in explaining why he dodges live media scrutiny and uses paid proxies to speak for him.
“Engaging in consultations” does not answer the question.
Because “engaging in consultations” cannot and should not prevent from publicly speaking to the press one-on-one, live and on camera, anyone who aspires to rule Nigeria and seeks to solve its gargantuan problems transparently.
Both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi are also “engaging in consultations” and at the same time doing live media interviews.
Obi on CNN puts pressure on Tinubu
Obi in an interview on CNN last Friday presented to the global audience his agenda to transform Nigeria if elected President. It put more pressure on Tinubu.
That reportedly made Tinubu to say he is not doing live television interviews like his main opponents because he “is contesting for Nigerian President, not Media President.” The statement was broadcast wide on social media.
Four days before his interview on CNN, Obi had put out a video, which garnered viral viewing, in which he said Tinubu is in poor health and his supporters are only after the money he doles out, the source of which he has repeatedly failed to disclose.
Obi’s words: “Somebody said to me that this candidate [Tinubu] ‘fought Abacha regime to a stand still.’ That ‘he even lost everything.’ I said, ‘but he has two planes now. Where is his company?’
“Once he comes here and gives you money, you will say Jagaban [Tinubu] is the best candidate even when the man is not well. That’s the problem of the country.”
Indeed, Tinubu embarked on several medical trips abroad in 2021 alone.
He underwent at least two surgeries in the United States, and from there flew to the United Kingdom where he received further treatment for three months, between July and October.
Atiku challenges Tinubu to live television interview
Atiku was the first to fire the salvo at Tinubu in July after Atiku’s live interview on Arise TV.
In his reaction to Tinubu’s reaction to the interview, Atiku said Tinubu is suffering from memory loss and cannot do live television because of his poor health.
“We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like [Atiku] did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk.
“Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” Atiku said in a statement he issued through his spokesman Paul Ibe, published by TheNiche.
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Related articles:
Obi zeroes in on Tinubu; questions his health, wealth
Atiku ridicules Tinubu, says he’s not marketable
Tinubu bombs Atiku, says he is desperate, ill-prepared for presidency
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Tinubu’s latest take
Labour Minister of State Festus Keyamo, a member of the APC PCC, dismissed as fake news the story in which Tinubu reportedly said he is not doing live television interviews because he “is contesting for Nigerian President, not Media President.”
Keyamo told Vanguard Tinubu is not avoiding live interviews, saying, “campaigns have not started. The nation will hear from him again and again and again.”
PCC Deputy Public Affairs Director Kehinde Bamigbetan insisted live interview is the strategy of Tinubu’s opponents and it cannot be forced on him.
Bamigbetan, who spoke to Vanguard in Lagos accompanied by PCC Multimedia Director Mohammed Bulama, said: “Tinubu is engaging in consultations. He is visiting and consulting many prominent Nigerians across the country.
“[On 18 September], he visited former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and his beloved mother in Abuja. His is engaging in consultation, consultation, and consultation and not noise making.”
Muslim-Muslim ticket
Bamigbetan also insisted the decision on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima was taken in the best interest of Nigeria.
“Both men faced difficult challenges as Governors of Lagos and Borno States, respectively and both used their skills to transform their states. They turned crises into feats and turned their states into viable states.
“They are transformers. They will transform Nigeria, if elected. This is the best ticket. We are leveraging on their performances in Lagos and Borno.”
Both Bamigbetan and Bulama enthused a Tinubu administration would continue with the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in infrastructural development and economic management.
“What the current government has done has not been very well communicated. Rapid response system in power will be seen from May 29, 2023.
“The 2023 election is ours to lose … 70 per cent of APC votes had always come from the North. Northern voters and leaders want the person they are familiar with, not necessarily a Muslim.
“We have given them the person they want and they have promised to deliver the votes to Tinubu.”
