Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is hale and hearty, his political associate, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, has said.
In a statement he issued on Tuesday evening, Afikuyomi denied claims by Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong, that the former governor of Lagos was absent at the APC governorship rally in Ondo state on Saturday because of ill health.
Afikuyomi, a former senator, described Lalong’s claim as “carelessly disingenuous, patently false, grossly unfair and most embarrassing”.
Tinubu’s absence from the APC rally, which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, might not be unconnected with the party’s governorship primary.
Tinubu-backed Segun Abraham lost to Rotimi Akeredolu in the battle for the party’s ticket amid claims that the delegate list was manipulated.
Tinubu called for the resignation of John Oyegun, APC national chairman, after the primary.
According to Afikuyomi, “I travelled to the United States of America with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to witness the recent US 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. Asiwaju 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 in him with Europe thereafter. It is therefore carelessly disingenuous, patently false, grossly unfair and most embarrassing for anyone to attempt to invent such a laughable reason for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence at the rally. In the likely event that Asiwaju, just 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.
“The last time I checked, Mr. Lalong is not a certified physician and neither was he anywhere near our contingent on the trip to the US. I have remained in constant touch with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since my arrival in Nigeria. We speak daily. I have been inundated with calls by friends, associates and other well meaning Nigerians to ascertain the veracity of this ludicrous claim. I hereby ask all friends and lovers of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss the report and know he is hail and hearty.”
