Following claims by Plateau State Governor Solomon Lalong that the
absence of the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC),
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at last Saturday’s Ondo State APC governorship rally
was as a result of his ill-health. APC chieftain Senator Tokunbo
Afikuyomi said yesterday that Tinubu is hale and hearty.
Governor Simon Lalong, who is
the the Chairman of the Ondo State APC Governorship Campaign, was quoted
to have told State House Correspondents that,
“if a leader was not
there and he said he was not there because of ill-health, we have prayed
that God will heal him.”
In a statement, Afikuyomi, a one-time Lagos
State commissioner, described the claim credited to Gov. Lalong as
false.
Afikuyomi in the statement said:
“I travelled
to the United States of America with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to
witness the recent U.S. elections. We traversed a number of cities
together where we engaged with a number of Nigerians who are genuinely
concerned about the state of affairs in our dear country. Jagaban was in
a remarkable state of mental and physical wellness. When we ended our
trip, I saw him off to the airport in Chicago from where he headed for
Europe again. I still met with him in Europe thereafter. It is therefore
absolutely incorrect and most embarrassing for anyone to attempt to
invent such a laughable reason for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s absence at the
rally.
“The fact that somebody went for medical
check-up does not mean he is ill. In the likely event that Asiwaju,
like all mortals, was ill at all, I doubt if Mr. Lalong would be the
first to know by reason of relationship, proximity and trust. Prominent
politicians like Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun have been speaking
with Jagaban Tinubu. Governor Amosun particularly communicated with him a
day before the Ondo rally and he can never claim not to have spoken
with him. I have also remained in constant touch with Asiwaju Tinubu
since my arrival in Nigeria. We speak daily as a matter of fact. I have
been inundated with calls by friends, associates and other well-meaning
Nigerians trying to ascertain the veracity of this ludicrous claim. I
hereby ask all friends and lovers of Asiwaju Tinubu to dismiss the claim
and know that he is hale and hearty.”