By OUR REPORTER
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, held a strategic meeting with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, on Wednesday September 7, 2022.
Tinubu, who was received by APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu supported by his NWC members, was accompanied to the party’s National Secretariat venue of the meeting by Vice Presidential Candidate Kashim Shettima, Speaker House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, APC Presidential Campaign Council Director General and Governor of Plateau State, Sir Simon Lalong, Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi, among others.
At the meeting Tinubu made case for all stakeholders to collapse structures into one, strong, united and formidable front that will put the party in a stead to win the 2023 elections, not only as president but also across all the contestable positions.
No rift
He dismissed insinuation, outside, of rift between him and national Chairman of the party, saying there was nothing of such and was corroborated by the chairman, who said good working relationship existed between him and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu denied nursing grudges against the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
He made the clarification before his scheduled meeting with the National Working Committee of the APC at the party’s headquarters in Abuja saying it is rare to see big masquerades dance in a cage instead of the market square.
The roundtable, which was earlier slated for 10.00 am, did not commence until five hours later.
Addressing newsmen at the secretariat, Tinubu, who admitted reading his alleged cold war in newspapers, claimed that it was a rumour manufactured to suit a particular purpose.
He said, “To the rumour manufacturers, I read in some papers about a disagreement between myself and the chairman and that was a very big lie. They didn’t know that we have come a long way. The big masquerade dance not in the cage but in the market square.
“And that is what Adamu use to be, full of wisdom, we were governors together, before God put us together on this project again. He is going to deliver as the Chairman of the party for me to become the president of Nigeria. And I am very confident of that.
“They can say whatever they want to say, throw all the jabs that they want, we are a party strongly determined to fulfil our dreams of turning Nigeria into a very progressive, highly developed, prosperous country.”
Continuing, the former governor of Lagos State applauded the NWC members, adding that he visited them to discuss the modalities of the political campaign, which is just few days away.
“What we came here today to do is to discuss the campaign which is few days away. When INEC will lift the ban, how do we work out the details, work together, implement all we have been saying, who are the members of the campaign council, who will not be members, and I beg you not to be angry if you are left out because we are going to give you another responsibility? Not every member here can be a member of the presidential campaign council.
“I have not been able to say sincerely thank you since that primary and we have hit ground running, especially as the unveiling of our running mate was held outside this headquarters.
“To all the members in attendance that day, we want to say thank you. We have come together as a political party and we have taken progressivism as our doctrine. We have to be progressive in our thinking, our did and our objective to serve the country.
“It is a great matter of joy and honour for us to be here, especially me in particular, to interact with the team that authorised my becoming the candidate of our party. I have not been able to say sincerely thank you since that primary and we have hit ground running, especially as the unveiling of our running mate was held outside this headquarters,” he stated.
Arrival
Ahead of Tinubu’s arrival at the party’s National Secretariat was a crowd of his supporters and allies, who had stormed the venue as he and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, visited.
There was tight security as journalists and other persons were cleared at the gate before gaining entry into the building.
Shettima arrived the secretariat by 2:43pm and waited in front of the main entrance into the secretariat building with the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, while Tinubu arrived by 2:49pm that is 6 minutes after.
After Tinubu’s arrival Adamu led them to attend the ad hoc meeting of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) where they are expected to discuss critical issues concerning the forthcoming electioneering campaigns.
No vehicular movement around the secretariat as all routes had been blocked by security operatives.
It was gathered that all the secretariat staff were asked to stay away for the day following the crucial meeting between Tinubu and the NWC to avoid distractions and over-crowding.
The visit was Tinubu’s first since June when he emerged as the party’s flag bearer for the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
