The Presidency has said that the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains a “strong ally” of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that there isn’t any bad blood between the pair.
Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, debunked the reports of a rift in a statement issued today, titled, “Alleged rift between President Buhari and Tinubu; the handiwork of cynics.”
According to the statement, reports of a rift between the two leaders of the APC are the handiwork of media mischief-makers.
The statement read, in part: “The Presidency wishes to make it clear that there is no rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his strong ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The President and the Asiwaju have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress, towards bringing change and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.
“Recent reports of a rift between the two leaders of our party are false; the handiwork of some media mischief-makers.
“It is quite unfortunate that certain sections of the media feed on birthing controversies, providing a nexus for naysayers who work behind the scenes planting such stories which are absolutely false.
“This administration is aware of pessimists and cynics who wilfully spread misinformation to create doubts in the minds of the people about the relationship between its leaders and whether the party will remain intact or not.
“There is no doubt that the President and the party are focused on development, peace and security, restructuring of the economy and war against corruption in the country and will not be diverted to anything else. This desperate attempt to fool the people will not succeed.”
Shehu added that to the President, Tinubu remains one of the most respected political leaders in the country who has stuck to his principles through thick and thin.
He noted that the former Lagos State Governor was instrumental in the formation, growth and development of the APC into a formidable political party and the political alliance is waxing even stronger.
“If Asiwaju is not a frequent face in the Aso Rock Villa, it is because he is not a cabinet member of this government.
“The fact that he is not every day around the Villa does not make him less of a friend to the President and this administration,” he added.
