All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader, Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is hale and hearty, his ally, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi said
Monday. Afikuyomi refuted the claim by Plateau State Governor, Solomon Lalong,
that the absence of Asiwaju Tinubu at last Saturday’s Ondo State APC
governorship rally was as a result of his ill-health.
In a statement, the
one-time Lagos State commissioner for Tourism described the claim credited to
the Plateau State governor as incorrect. Afikuyomi said: “I travelled to the
United States of America with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to witness the recent
U.S. elections. We traversed a number of cities together where we engaged with
a number of Nigerians who are genuinely concerned about the state of affairs in
our dear country. “Jagaban was in a remarkable state of mental and physical
wellness. When we ended our trip, I saw him off to the airport in Chicago from
where he headed for Europe again.
I still met with him in Europe thereafter. “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 Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun have been speaking with
Jagaban 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. “I have been inundated with calls
by friends, associates and other well-meaning Nigerians trying to ascertain the
veracity of this ludicrous claim. I hereby ask all friends and lovers of
Asiwaju Tinubu to dismiss the claim and know that he is hale and hearty.”
Asiwaju Tinubu, former APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and three
governors from the South-west – Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo)
and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) – were not at the rally. Governor Lalong had in
his capacity as the Chairman of the Ondo State Governorship Campaign explained
that Tinubu was absent at the rally due to ill health. Lalong was quoted to
have told State House Correspondents after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari
that, “if a leader was not there and he said he was not there because of
ill-health, we have prayed that God will heal him.”
DailyTimes
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