Bola Tinubu, ACN Leader
Last Saturday's presidential election is generating stern controversies in the rank of the progressives as the Congress for Progressive Change presidential candidate, Major General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) has blamed former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu for selling South-West to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Buhari Monday spoke with THISDAY through his spokesperson, Comrade Yinka Odumakin on phone, alleging that Tinubu, who is the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) struck a deal with President Jonathan to deliver all the South Western States to the ruling PDP in the last presidential election.
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) however dismissed the allegation of “playing a role, overtly or covertly to aid the putative victory of the PDP in last Saturday's presidential election, despite the insinuation to that effect”.
Buhari did not disclose details of the deal, which he said the ACN national leader struck with President Jonathan less than one week before the conduct of the 2011 presidential election. But a CPC chieftain, who does not want his name mentioned, said Tinubu pushed for two most strategic appointments in the Federal Executive Council.
According to the chieftain, Tinubu pushed to nominate candidate for Offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Petroleum Resources. He also opted to nominate ministers in other states of the South West while demanding that President Jonathan should put a stop to all investigations against him.
Buhari asked Tinubu “to stop hiding under false excuses after striking deal with President Jonathan. Tinubu should leave me alone. He has made deal with President Jonathan and delivered. He even lost in his ward to PDP” in a contest he said should have given birth to new Nigeria”.
Buhari described the alleged deal between President Jonathan and Tinubu as a typical replica of what Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders did in 2003 when the South West “was sold to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The South West leaders are chipping the blame on Late Chief Abraham Adesanya who cannot respond in his grave.
“I can act authoritatively that he sealed the deal with President Jonathan, after which he called a meeting of controlling leaders of the ACN to make them buy into the deal Tinubu struck with President Jonathan,” Buhari said.
However, Buhari commended Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for rejecting Tinubu’s proposition that the South Western progressives should mobilise for President Jonathan in the presidential election alone.