‘By Ahmed Idris
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has declared as fake news the insinuations that he has been sidelined by a cabal close to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu told State House correspondents on Monday that having supported the administration to come to power, he doesn’t have to babysit it as he has always had confidence in President Buhari.
He however declined to discuss the current clamour for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election with journalists.
Tinubu, who said this shortly after meeting behind closed doors with the President at the State House, Abuja, also declared that there was no cabal in Buhari’s government.
When asked whether he agreed with different groups and individuals calling on Buhari to seek re-election in 2019, Tinubu simply responded, “Don’t discuss that one with me.”
He said his discussion with Buhari which was about the country and leadership was fruitful and productive.
The former Lagos state governor however admitted that in democracy, there could be twists and turns as well as conflicts.
“I have confidence in this President, there is no doubt about that.. We worked hard to bring about the government. There are certain things that are unpredictable and those are things that can lend themselves to gossips, insinuations and all of that.
“But once you create leadership and it is functioning, you don’t have to babysit that leadership unless there is a loss of confidence and I don’t have that.
“You know me. I’m not known to shy away from saying my mind, rebelling if it is necessary and taking charge of things that I believe are necessary. What is the myth in this leadership thing? What is cabal? It is a myth.
“We are the party of the people for the people and by the people and this is a democratic environment. Each of us has roles to play and that is why we are playing it. I don’t believe in the myth, I believe in confidence building, the trust that we have in the President.
“In the journey of democracy, you are going to have twists and turns; you are going to have conflicts. Conflict resolution mechanisms is inbuilt on how you handle your party and the governance and the party are joined by the hips,” he said.
Tinubu declined comment on what the party leadership was doing to mend fences ahead of the party’s National Economic Council’s meeting holding on Tuesday.
When asked if the party was still on course, the former Lagos State governor replied, “Can you go back to the history of 16 years of the PDP? The APC government is on course and will remain on course and we will remain focused to those necessary things about development, welfare and progress of our people.
“It is not easy to face the challenges from the well that was dug; the sinkhole that we inherited. But we are sorting that one out gradually, with few steps, we will find happiness and development in the future of our country.”
