Tinubu meets Buhari in Aso Rock •Says Presidency cabal a myth
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari - File photo
APC chieftain Chief Bola Tinubu expresses confidence in President Buhari administration, during his visit to his office on Monday, October 30, 2017.
All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Monday, as a prelude to critical party organs meetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Speaking to State House corespondents after the meeting, he dismissed as a myth, the notion of the existence of a cabal which is thought in some quarters to have been determining the course of things at the seat of power.
Tinubu also said that suggestions that he was not in good terms with the president was “fake news.”
But he declined to comment on the increasing calls for Buhari to contest the 2019 presidential election.
While noting that he had fruitful discussion with the president on the country and leadership as a whole, he added that Buhari was excited about the session.
On the reports that he was unhappy, he said: “Fake news. I have confidence in this President. There is no doubt about that. We worked hard to bring about the government. There are certain things that are unpredictable and those are things that can lend itself to gossips, insinuations and all of that.
“But once you create leadership and is functioning, you don’t have to babysit that leadership unless there is a loss of confidence and I don’t have that.
“You know me. I’m not known to shy away from talking my mind and rebelling if it is necessary and taking charge of things that I believe are necessary.
“What is the myth in this leadership thing? What is cabal? Is a myth. We are the party of the people for the people and by the people and this is democratic environment.
“Each of us have our roles to play and that is why we are playing it. I don’t believe in the myth, I believe in confidence building, the trust that we have in the president.
“In the journey of democracy you are going to have twists and turns, you are going to have conflicts. Conflicts resolution mechanisms is inbuilt on how you handle your party and the governance and the party are joined by the hips.”
On whether Tuesday’s APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be for fence mending, Tinubu replied: “Did I tell you that? Why do you want to know. Are you a member of our party? “
Asked whether the APC was still on course as a ruling party, he stated: “Can you go back to the history of 16 years of the PDP? APC government is on course and will remain on course and we will remain focused to those necessary things about development, welfare and progress of our people.
“Is not easy to face the challenges and the well that was dug, sinkhole that we inherited but we are sorting that one out gradually. So, few steps we will find happiness and development in the future of our country.”
On the calls for Buhari to run for a second tenure, the party chieftain quipped: “Don’t discuss that one with me.”
In a related development, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun also met with the president on Monday ostensibly in connecting with the party organs’ meetings.