Smear campaign will not prevent Tinubu getting to Aso Rock — Chairman, APC Ghana
…As Tinubu lands in Abuja
…Detractors will be disappointed, Tinubu’s trip for consultations — APC in Diaspora
…Capacity, not social media fallacies will win 2023 election — APC Ghana
By Moses Adeniyi
Indications that the presidential campaign of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon kick-off has emerged as the party’s flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, landed in Abuja on Thursday, returning from his trip to the United Kingdom – Nigerian NewsDirect has gathered.
Recall that Tinubu left the Country since September 24, a journey that generated controversies in the Country, particularly with rumours making rounds that his departure was connected with health challenges.
However, against rumours making rounds that he was sick and was in London for medical attention, the United Kingdom Chapter of the APC, dismissed the speculations that Tinubu was under admission in a London hospital.
The United Kingdom chapter of the party, rather, officially said Tinubu was in London for critical engagement and consultation with party leaders.
The Chairman, APC, UK Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Mr Joseph Adebola, in a statement on Thursday, said though some Tinubu’s detractors would wish him dead, the APC standard bearer is fine and kicking.
According to Adebola, people who thought evil against Tinubu’s health would be disappointed as all speculations about his health were untrue.
“For the records, Tinubu had been having strategic meetings with APC’s critical stakeholders here in the UK and had remained his vibrant and confident self.
“In one of the recent engagements in London, the APC presidential candidate held a strategic meeting with some members of his campaign planning team.
“The team included Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Deputy Director of the PCC planning committee, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and a host of progressives political gurus here in the UK,” Adebola said.
In a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday, Media aide on Digital Communications to President Muhammadu Buhari, and a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bashir Ahmad had earlier tweeted, “After days of intensive political consultations and meetings in London, our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is expected back in Abuja, later today (Thursday).”
Thursday evening, Tinubu arrived Abuja barely 12 days trip to the United Kingdom, resting political speculations regarding his health.
Confirming the arrival of the APC presidential flagbearer, spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo posted video of Tinubu’s arrival at the airport in Abuja via his verified Twitter handle and tweeted, “The Eagle has landed!!!”
Among those who received him on arrival at the airport was his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Gov. Simon Lalong, former APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, among many others.
Arriving from London into the expecting arms of his associates, it was gathered that arrangements were being set to ramp up efforts towards kick-starting the party’s presidential campaign, which has suffered postponement over controversies regarding the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council.
Tinubu’s return came barely 24 hours after a meeting involving the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the Presidential Campaign Council management, which had key stakeholders including Governors under the APC, was convened on Wednesday to address outstanding issues.
It was gathered that Wednesday’s meeting of the stakeholders, centred on issues regarding the composition and membership of the Presidential Campaign Council.
The meeting, it was gathered, was part of efforts to resolve all glitches to kick-start the campaign, having suffered setback behind the schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s time table which slated September 28 for the commencement of presidential campaign.
It was gathered that a follow up meeting involving the stakeholders would be convened again to finalise plans for commencement of the party’s presidential campaign.
Tinubu’s absence had recorded missing out on certain public events, including the recent signing of a peace accord by presidential candidates and their parties.
The development had gathered dark clouds among political contenders, who have recently resorted to using Tinubu’s health as a ground to discredit his ambition, alleging he is not fit; a development which supporters of the former Lagos State Governor have discredited vehemently.
Supporters of Tinubu have challenged opponents harping on his health to rather make the debate on the suitable candidate for the 2023 Presidency issue based, than launching attacks on personal grounds.
….Capacity, not social media fallacies will determine winner of 2023 election — APC Ghana
In reaction on Thursday, the APC Presidential Campaign Committee for Tinubu, Ghana Chapter said that capacity and antecedents of candidates, and not social media fallacies would determine who would emerge winner of the 2023 presidential election.
The Group challenged supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi who have been hard on Tinubu, to show Nigerians his (Obi’s) achievements, rather than hide under attacks on Tinubu’s personal life.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the party in Ghana, Mr Oghenosa Micheleti and the committee’s Director General, Chief Ayokanmi Ogunremi, it said that the reasons why Obi’s supporters had continued to dwell on Tinubu’s personal life was because they had nothing tangible to show to Nigerians as his achievements.
“We read with so much displeasure the attacks on the APC presidential candidate. It is true that only a tree with fruits can be stoned, however, the 2023 election will not be business as usual but will be based on achievements.
“The achievements of Asiwaju is there for all to see. A man who has turned the fortunes of a state as big as Lagos that is equivalent of some countries in the world is the best man to be entrusted with Nigeria’s presidency.
“Tinubu who is hale and hearty in London is being taunted as sick. That is not what Nigerians will vote for.
“Nigerians are wiser now and will not buy campaigns of calumny anymore. The only parameter for winning in the 2023 election is performance and integrity.
“We live in a democracy here in Ghana too and at elections, people are interested in capacity to deliver, integrity, pedigree and not the kind of issues we see emanating from Nigeria’s social media.
“Nigerians must begin to ask pertinent questions about candidates being presented to them and their ability to offer the desired leadership.
“Facebook and Twitter fallacies will not win the presidential election. The election will be a walk over for Tinubu because of the love Nigerians have for him.
“No matter how the smear campaign goes, it will not stop the APC candidate train from getting to Aso Rock,” it said.
The group, however, said that even in Ghana, none Nigerians were wishing that Tinubu emerged as president because his achievements when elected, would definitely spill over to the entire African countries.
The APC Ghana chapter inaugurated the presidential campaign committee in September to lead its campaign in Ghana for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections.
The 25-man committee was established to support the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Nigeria to strengthen its commitment to victory of the party in all elective positions in 2023.
