Senate President Bukola Saraki
says Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
once confided in him that he was not happy with the government of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Saraki said this on Monday while
responding to the previous allegations made by Tinubu.
Responding to his decision to
quit the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tinubu had said Saraki
left because of the ruling party’s refusal to grant his wish of automatic
tickets for next year’s election.
But Saraki denied the allegation,
saying out of respect, he had avoided replying Tinubu in the media.
“I have always restrained from
joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on
my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and
mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public
consumption,” he said.
“I have been consistent in my
complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where
the national assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key
policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative
approval, is not in the best interest of the nation.
“Tinubu himself will recall that
during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing
reconciliation within the APC, I raised all the above issues. I can also
vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style
of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect
from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the
point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong
to the past and will not shape my decisions now and in the future.
“However, during those meetings,
the point of disagreement between Tinubu and I is that while I expressed my
worries that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative
style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will
enable us to deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he
(Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather ‘support a Buhari on
the hospital stretcher’ to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to
the south-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to
several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.”
Saraki said it is very clear that
he acted to protect national interest but the same could not be said of Tinubu.
He alleged that Tinubu had not
recovered from the opposition he mounted to his bid to be Buhari’s running mate
in 2015.
“It is clear that while my own
decision is based on protecting the collective national interest, Tinubu will
rather live with the identified inadequacies of the government for the sake of
fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position
of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency — particularly when one reviews
his antecedents over the years,” he said.
“Again, let me reiterate my
position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been
continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the
APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC
for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that
I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country,
he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the
2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that
time he has been very active; plotting at every point to undermine me, both
within and outside the national assembly.
“It is a surprise to me that
Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection
is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will
recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many
APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu
published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and
other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated
that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody.
My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them
still remains open.
“It should be known that
Democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices. It is my
choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative
platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC
had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah
gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill
their aspirations.”
Saraki not different from Atiku in terms of craze for power
ReplyDeletedarkness always oppose light, frog face will keep on trying to make other animals look like him
ReplyDeleteA man has the right to take decision of his choice politically, most especially if it's right.afterall what has this gov.offer this country? If not killing, poorvarty,and economy break down. Abeg saraki you are on the right track
ReplyDelete