The All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council
on Wednesday disclosed that it would be unfair for anybody to label the act of
compassion shown by its flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his running mate,
Senator Kashim Shettima, as bribery.
Tinubu and Shettima were captured in a two-minute video on
Tuesday doling crispy naira notes to a physically challenged man at his meeting
with people with disabilities in Abuja.
The video clip went viral and was circulated all over social
media with critics and opposition members including Reno Omokri, former aide to
President Goodluck Jonathan and Emeka Obasi, media aide to Labour Party
presidential candidate, describing it as a brazen act of corruption.
Reacting to the drama, the Deputy Spokesperson of
Tinubu/Shettima PCC, Hannatu Musawa, on Wednesday absolved his principal of any
wrongdoing.
Musawa cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the matter
in a statement titles “Misrepresentation of a harmless video I, Hannatu Musa
Musawa, posted of my principals giving alms and charity to a poor and disabled
elderly gentleman.”
A livid Musawa expressed concerns that rather praise the act
of kindness shown by Tinubu and Shetima towards a disabled man in need, she was
stunned to discover that the narration was spun by the opposition to reflect an
act of bribery and corruption.
The statement read, “My attention has been drawn to the
dishonest, erroneous and incorrect narrative spun by unctuous, dissipated,
debauched and desperate elements within the opposition to turn a perfectly
innocent video I posted of a kind act I witnessed my Principals carrying out
into something mendacious and devious.
“A few days ago I attended a gathering with the Presidential
candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Alhaji
Kashim Shetima where they had a robust engagement with persons with disability.
During the event, our principals had the opportunity to interact with a poor
and disabled elderly gentleman. Borne purely out of compassion, my principals
spoke to this gentleman, listened to him and performed the tenant of charity
and alms giving towards him.
“As I watched this tender moment between the three men, I
wanted to capture it and show the world the empathy that organically runs
through the veins of my principals, and that raw spirit of charity that they
both imbibe.”
While stating the clip wasn’t shared out in error, the legal
icon disclosed that she shared the viral video to tell a compassionate and
compelling story of leadership as shown by her principals.
Musawa noted that while it is unfortunate that the opposition
refuses to issue-based campaign and manifestos, it is clear that they are
grasping at straws and adopting extreme methods to stay relevant.
She stated, “I posted the video, not out of mistake, but
with the intention of telling the compassionate story of the empathetic
leadership that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported by Alhaji Kashim Shetima will
surely give to Nigeria after they emerge victorious in the upcoming election,
by the grace of The Almighty.
“As I watch the negative chronicle being spun by the
opposition Svengali’s, trying to enforce a specific negative narrative on the
public, it is clear that the falsehood being spread stems from the devious
imagination and wicked machinations of a desperate and self combusting
opposition.
“I would have dismissed the musings as the rantings of an
inconsequential opposition. However, I am compelled to make this response
because of innocent Nigerians that may be misled by such devious rhetoric.
“On Monday the 19th December 2022 at approximately 4:48 pm,
I watched with appreciation and approbation as my two principals, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima performed an act of kindness towards a
poor and disabled man who was truly in need. After watching them, I was further
convinced that these were two men of precious faith that have the heart of
kindness, empathy and compassion. And I believed it was a story that needed to
be told.
“In the Bible under Psalm (112:5-9), it is written “It is
well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in
judgment. For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
“In Islam we are taught that The prophet (PBUH) says the
following in a hadith: “Muslims help each other only by passing the bridge of
almsgiving. Almsgiving by virtue of the two holy teachings, giving charity and
alms specifically to help the poor becomes a core tenant for Muslims and
Christian to abide by.
“That 2 minute video clip was a visual reflection of my
principals compassion towards the needy. Rather than commend Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima, for a kind act towards a man that was clearly
in need, the opposition have regrettably decided to put a negative spin on a
story of good will and sheer kindness.
“With the trajectory of the upcoming election showing that
the pendulum is swinging to the benefit of an APC victory, there is no question
that the opposition is behaving like the proverbial “drowning man” determined
to pull others down with them. And while there is hardly any purpose in joining
issues with a losing opposition, it is important to highlight their
diversionary rhetoric and tactics.
“Even though I do understand the despondency and misery of
the PDP, who have been hit worse than the Titanic racing towards the iceberg
with their loss of 5 ‘brightly shining’ governors and the anguish and despair
of the Labour party who have a ‘Constitutional Impossibility’ of winning the
next election based on Section 134 of The Constitution, it would be advisable
for them to remain on the issues while they try to sort out their in-house
complications.
“I have thorough confidence that, come February 25th 2023,
Nigerians will exercise their constitutional right and resoundingly vote for
the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 17th President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“I urge Nigerians to disregard any fabrication attached to
my video of an act of kindness and compassion, and rather concentrate on
collectively working to move our nation forward by making the upcoming voting
exercise the freest and fairest elections Nigeria will ever have.”
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