The Presidency has distanced President Muhammadu from what it termed ‘ a malicious campaign’ aiming to drive a wedge between him and a staunch ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu using a reference he made in Arise TV/ThisDay interview that nobody but the party would determine zoning and where the next President will come from.
In a statement issued Thursday night by Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, the presidency described it as ‘nothing short of a mischievous attempt to drag the President into controversies.”
It added that “our citizens and especially the members of the All Progressives Congress, APC should not fall for this.”
According to Mr Garba, the ruling party, the APC, unlike others before it is a popular political party owned by its entire membership, hence Mr. President was making the point during the 45-minutes interview that neither he nor anyone in the leadership could impose their wishes on the party. This is a basic consensus that binds the entire party leadership. The party leaders remain firmly committed to the principles that succession must be through the democratic norms and processes.
Mr Garba added that the mention he made of Lagos was not a reference to the respected party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu as the opposition party’s predatory designs would put it in order to damage the excellent relationship between the two of them.
“The President, the Asiwaju and the rapidly growing members of the party want a dynastic succession of elected leaders. The APC should not be distracted from its progress as a democratic party,” Mr Garba said.
