We would have asked you to remain in power — Tinubu tells Buhari
At a campaign event on Saturday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu dispelled rumours that he and President Muhammadu Buhari were at odds, saying that if constitutional democracy had existed, he would have asked the president to continue in office.
Since the Naira currency fiasco, Tinubu’s relationship with Buhari has been the focus of rumours. He devoted a significant portion of his address to the president’s compliments.
The address was different from the ones he made in the states of Ogun and Ekiti, where he claimed that measures to undermine his campaign included an intentional lack of the altered notes.
Some of Tinubu’s closest friends, including the governors of Kaduna and Kano states, Nasir El-Rufai and Umar Ganduje, have claimed in separate interviews that “elements” close to the president are plotting against Tinubu and the party.
The former governor of Lagos State did not mention the shortage of the new notes or petrol in the entire nation during his address, which was given in front of Mr. Buhari. Instead, he discussed how Mr. Buhari rejected the notion of a third term.
The president and state governors are only allowed to serve two four-year terms each under the Nigerian constitution. In order for a president and governors to serve more terms, the constitution would need to be amended.
Additionally, Tinubu compared Buhari to American civil war hero and former president Abraham Lincoln.
“Today, to have you here to talk about democracy and our party, it is a joy and great honour. It is a joy for us, who joined hands with you some 20 years ago, to reshape Nigeria, to fight corruption, to fight destitution, to fight failure and hunger, including the unexpected downfall in oil prices and violent attacks on our persons, on our soil. You faced this courageously.
“Yes Nigeria is surviving as a nation and we believe because of constitutional democracy we would have asked you to stay but you said no, ‘this is a constitutional democracy, I am going back to Daura, my farm, my house, I miss them. Not that I don’t miss you people, not that I don’t appreciate you people, but there is more to do in life and with time to transform Nigeria. I will step aside and allow you people to continue.’
“It is a joy for me to see that you are a poster boy for APC and Bola Tinubu—standing up there we see the poster of Bola Tinubu so prominently on you. Those who think there can be cracks in our friendship and relationship will continue to be disappointed and their short time joy limited
“Ours is not about the individual but nation building. It is about honesty, integrity and character. You are a great man with a political credential,” the APC flag bearer said.
Tinubu will win “through and though”—Buhari
Speaking in both Hausa and English, Buhari declared that he would keep supporting Mr. Tinubu and his party.
He informed the gathering that he is certain Mr. Tinubu would give his all for the nation and stated that Tinubu will win the presidential election on February 25 hands down.
“I am very pleased to be here today at this campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria, and for the governor of Nasarawa State for his second and final term. I thank you very much for defying the weather and standing in the sun for hours.
“I congratulate you and assure you that we are going to win through and through. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, I knew him more than 20 years ago—all the problems that we had, I mentioned earlier—there is no local government that I have not visited between 2003 and 2011. I visited all the states in 2019 when I was asking for a second term. I will continue to campaign for Bola Tinubu,” the president said.
