Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, stated that when a plan regarding foisting a Muslim-Muslim presidency on Nigeria in 2014 was opposed by him, he was acting in the national interest with the idea that Nigeria is bigger than someone’s ambition, including Bola Tinubu.
Saraki reacted to Tinubu’s speech that he gave on Thursday, 2 June, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in which he said that the ex-Senate President and others opposed his wish to be running partner to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections.
In a statement presented by the head of his Media Office on Friday, 3 June, Saraki highlighted that he would have opposed any plan that would have created a religious conflict in a multi-religious nation like Nigeria.
He further said, “When other party leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and I stood against having a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2014, it was not a decision targeting at any individual or group, but one taken for the national interest. Tinubu knows this, and he is just being mischievous by showing this decision as something aimed at preventing his ambition.”
On the other hand, Tinubu reacted and said that his speech was not, in any way, to show discourtesy towards President Muhammadu Buhari. Bayo Onanuga, the Director of Media and Communications, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, stated that the Abeokuta speech was wrongly judged.
It urged the media to avoid becoming this issue more sensational and play its constitutional role of informing the electorate to take informed decisions at the time of elections.
As per the campaign organisation, the thrust of the presentation of Tinubu was that his massive contribution towards the formation, as well as the electoral success of the APC, must be counted in his favour as a true party man who wishes to be the flag bearer.
