A political associate of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, has refuted claim by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state that the All Progressives Congress national leader missed the last rally in Akure, Ondo state due to illness.
Tinubu, former acting chairman, Bisi Akande, Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) were absent at the grand finale of the party’s gubernatorial campaign which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and other top party chieftains.
The former Lagos state governor has from the onset being against the party’s candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, sparking a major division in the party.
Lalong who is the chairman of the party’s campaign council had told State House correspondents on Monday that Tinubu was absent at the Saturday rally because of ill-health.
But in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday, Afikuyomi described the claim credited to Lalong as absolutely incorrect.
Afikuyomi, who claimed that he travelled to the United States of America with Tinubu to witness the recent US elections, said that the former governor “Is in a remarkable state of mental and physical wellness.”
“It is therefore absolutely incorrect and most embarrassing for anyone to attempt to invent such a laughable reason for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s absence at the rally. The fact that somebody went for medical check-up does not mean he is ill.
“In the likely event that Asiwaju, like all mortals, was ill at all, I doubt if Mr. Lalong would be the first to know by reason of relationship, proximity and trust.
“Prominent politicians like the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, have been speaking with Tinubu. Governor Amosun particularly communicated with him a day before the Ondo rally and he can never claim not to have spoken with him. I have also remained in constant touch with Asiwaju Tinubu since my arrival in Nigeria. We speak daily as a matter of fact,” he said.
