I will go through the front door if I want to be president —Tinubu

NATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, on Monday, lashed at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign spokesperson, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, for alleging he planned to be president through the back door.



He denied planning to become president through the back door, saying that if he wanted the presidency, he would go through the front door.

In a statement by his media aide, Sunday Dare, the former Lagos State governor said both Fani-Kayode and his paymasters were on the loose.

According to him, “Tinubu is not scheming to become president through the back door. He, just like any qualified Nigerian, has the right to walk in through the front door if he so desires.”

He was also confident that his party would dust the ruling party in the forthcoming general election, adding that the vice presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, remained the party’s choice.

“The PDP campaign continues its descent. This is to be expected. Because the truth stings them harshly, they have become a factory of lies. A few days ago, the agent of character assassination, who doubles as the busy hatchet man of the PDP, accused Bola Tinubu of plotting to be vice president, then president through subterfuge.

“Clearly, he has exposed the confusion and contradiction within his party and has veered off from the real debate. But he cannot avoid the storm of change already unleashed by the APC.

“However, the only subterfuge involved in this entire episode is that eating at Fani-kayode’s mind. His mind is an agent of mayhem and a foreigner to facts. The last time we looked, the APC ticket was a Buhari/Osinbajo one. That is what is and that is what shall stand...

“Fani-Kayode is on a futile journey to shield the populace from seeing the failures of his paymasters. His statement, taken in context, indicates that his paymasters will lose the election. They are now worried about what will happen thereafter.

“The majority of Nigerians have concluded that they have done enough damage to our politics, economy and security; and cannot be tolerated any longer. Rather, they should be voted out by the people. Their journey of lies and deception is at its terminal point.

“The party lied to Nigerians and the international community that elections had to be shifted first because of the PVC issue and later it became a security ambush to change the date, thus aborting Nigeria’s date with destiny at the polls.

“That Fani-Kayode is the best a ruling party can do as a spokesman speaks volumes about the PDP. They are bereft of talent and character. They are filled with lies and chicanery. FFK is simply the worst and most outspoken of a bad lot. However, we welcome his interventions. They are of such low quality and base character. His utterances frighten people, but not in the way FFK intended.

“Instead of scaring the people away from the APC, his work scares people that someone so unfit is so close to the seat of power... Most Nigerians are fed up with this government and desire change. They await eagerly that opportunity at the polls. They cannot tolerate four more years of a Fani-Kayode or his paymasters and his utterances.

“Unable to make headway against Buhari and Osinbajo, he now wants to run against Tinubu. This plot will not work.

“Yemi Osinbajo is fiercely independent. A brilliant mind of great character and a consummate reformer and legal crusader. The APC ticket is of people of great resolve... APC is a party with people of impeccable character, courageous and patriotic leaders who are out to rescue our nation.

“If FFK cannot recognise that Tinubu is a talent seeker, man of vision, one who creates opportunities for the best minds to thrive and serve the public, then he deserves our pity. Tinubu’s hand is etched large in the brand of good governance pervading the South-West and other parts of Nigeria.

“He is a hunter for talents as exemplified in Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, who has redefined governance; talented and hardworking Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; indefatigable Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; eclectic Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo; relentless Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and, until recently, Kayode Fayemi, who served Ekiti well. Yemi Osinbajo belongs to this tribe of excellent public servants.

“The APC still parades other governors who continue to excel across the country. The likes of Governor Rabiu  Kwankwaso in Kano, the tireless Governor Wamakko of Sokoto and other governors in Borno, Rivers, Yobe, Kwara – all of them – committed to bringing change to their people.

“Tinubu helped build the great platform for change, wholeheartedly worked and supported the APC ticket, because he believes it is the last best hope to rescue Nigeria from the disaster of FFK and his ilk waiting to continue to rule us if allowed.

“I pray Nigerians will not allow them to misgovern us a day past May 29. If FFK pretends not to know of  Tinubu’s efforts to build and support the APC, it comes as no surprise. Fani-Kayode tried before to be part of the party, but left when he found out there was no room for his games. Because APC could not help to free him from EFCC and aviation fraud, he ran back to the party that blocked the EFCC on his behalf.

“I will not dignify FFK’s outrageous lies with any reply. All I know is that Nigerians know that he is a peddler of falsehood and millions of Nigerians are with APC and its leaders.

“The fiction of a thousand Fani Kayodes cannot stop an idea whose time has come. The APC is committed to upholding and respecting the tenets of democracy and of bringing a new government that will usher in a new day for a new Nigeria. And that is what Fani-Kayode and his party cannot handle. Please pack up. It is time to go,” the statement read.