National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, on Friday, did not attend the much-hyped bout against former Heavyweight World Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield. The bout was part of events organised to mark Lagos States 50th anniversary celebrations. Tinubu sent an apology to the audience and Holyfield through Lagos state Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, who represented him. Ambode, at about 10.30pm, said Tinubu could not make it due to a “national assignment.”Reacting, Tinubu’s Media aide, Tunde Rahman, said “There was no embarrassment of any form there because Gov. Ambode stood in for him. Don’t forget this was a charity event”.
“Asiwaju Tinubu had hosted Evander Holyfield in his Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence where he dressed him up like an Eyo Masquerade, which the former heavyweight champion said he would cherish all his life.“Asiwaju Tinubu prepared elaborately for the day. He had unusual work out and training sessions. But just then when he was set for the Landmark Event Centre for the highly-highly-anticipated bout, some national exigency emerged that he needed to attend to”, Vanguard quoted him as saying. However, Noble laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who was the referee for the bout, joked about the outcome. He disqualified Tinubu for being late and Holyfield for not undergoing a “drug test” before the fight.
“Since Tinubu was late and the American did not perform a drug test, I have to disqualify both men”, Soyinka said.