Reports of feud between President Muhammadu Buhari and a national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been denied by the Presidency yesterday.
The denial was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja.
Shehu in the statement, added that the President and the entire APC leadership were not also at odds with Tinubu, describing such rumours as unfounded and mischievous.
According to him, President Buhari is highly embarrassed by such “suggestions” and the President is in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo gubernatorial election.
He said: “Any suggestions that the President and the party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth or any credibility. The President was impressed by Tinubu’s assurance not to work against the party in Ondo and he honoured his words.”
Shehu also explained that President Buhari “regards Tinubu as a priceless political asset to the party whose immeasurable contributions to the development and progress of the ruling party are known to all.”
He advised rumour mongers to stop spreading the seeds of discord and animosity between the President and Tinubu or the party, adding that “the President was proud of the Jagaban and his pivotal role in the party and the movement.”
Shehu further stated that “President Buhari commended Tinubu’s spirit of comradeship in promptly congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected Governor.”
According to him, the President also noted that “at a time his administration is preoccupied with governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the party are counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in APC.”
The presidential media aide appealed to APC members and supporters to ignore rumours that could harm party unity.”
