The Tinubu Rhetoric: My Response, by Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public consumption.

I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treats the legislature with contempt and acts as if the lawmaking body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, this is unacceptable.

In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariahs. A party that ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-conditions for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision "has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist".

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements "have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere".

Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the APC, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between Tinubu and I is that while I expressed my worries that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us to deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.


It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting the collective national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies of the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency — particularly when one reviews his antecedents over the years.


Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active; plotting at every point to undermine me, both within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

It should be known that Democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.

Signed:

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate

Baba Oloye, we dey your back gidigba.

Wetin concerns us,

x

Everyone knows power is coming back to the Southwest in 2023 then back up north after 8 years then back to Southwest & the cycle goes on.

The scion of Oloye the Waziri of ilorin carry go. Tinubu is in pains!

Politics is all about interest, whether selfish or altruistic. In 2015, Tinubu wanted the vice presidency position while Saraki wanted to become Senate president. They both pursued their personal ambition that is within their rights. Attacking Tinubu based on his 2015 aspiration is plain silly.

As regards 2019, it is again all about interest, selfish or altruistic. Tinubu is supporting Buhari because his group will stand a good chance of getting the presidency in 2023. Igbo's are supporting Atiku with the hope that south east will get the vice presidency and subsequently get the presidency after his tenure. Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwakwanso etc all rejoined PDP simply because of their presidential ambition. Power will go back to the south for 8 years if Buhari wins a second term. So, they have to fight it out with him now. Politics is all about interest, alignment, positioning and calculation.

People with yellow teeth often tell lies

Power to which South West

There is something great about this man(Saraki) i still find difficult to explain.

Saraki is whipping up emotions of SEasterners for his cause. If he is so concerned about a balanced candidacy he should advise PDP to field Christain candidate as flagbearer. North has produced enough Muslim Presidents, its time for a Christian from North to rule.

This toilet that Tinubu calls mouth is just spewing trash
Tinubu is a legend at buffoonery

Saraki would either support himself or another nothern Muslim from the pdp in 2019, and that could automatically mean the south east will be shut out for another eight years.

Buhari and APC on the other hand, is willing to let them taste the presidency as soon as 2023, but their hatred and bigotry will never let them see the low hanging fruit

limeta:
Power to which South West

South western part of Nigeria. You have a problem with that?

Sirjamo:
Saraki would either support himself or another nothern Muslim from the pdp in 2019, and that could automatically mean the south east will be shut out for another eight years.

Buhari and APC on the other hand, is willing to let them taste the presidency as soon as 2023, but their hatred and bigotry will never let them see the low hanging fruit

At this point it does not matter who they vote, given any combination betwee APC and PDP from 2019 onward the shortest route for an Ibo Presidency will materialize in 2040.
Twenty years from next year.

he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.

Imposing buhari a monumental failure and dullard on Nigerians because he (tinubu) wants to take over by 2023 makes him a wicked and greedy politician and he will fail.

Every one has the right to aspire for greater heights but if tinubu was jagaban enough he ought to have allowed internal democracy to play and not imposition.

Interesting.... cant wait for 2019 to come so we know who is who, who is still relevant and who is not, then we will separate empty barrels from genuine voice....Too many people speaking now and too many noises everywhere now.

May God spare our lives.

This is deep!
Nevertheless, any Yoruba man's support for Buhari is premised on the fact that power to should go to the south west.
But it's Osinbajo not Tinubu Nigerians will vote for.
All the same, Saraki shouldn't have said all that.

0balufonlll:
x

Everyone knows power is coming back to the Southwest in 2023 then back up north after 8 years then back to Southwest & the cycle goes on.

Yes, in your dreams.

Ride on buhari coattails as much as you can.

It will end in 2023 at most, and Nigerian politics return back to its default settings.

seunmsg:
Politics is all about interest, whether selfish or altruistic. In 2015, Tinubu wanted the vice presidency position while Saraki wanted to become Senate president. They both pursued their personal ambition that is within their rights. Attacking Tinubu based on his 2015 aspiration is plain silly.

As regards 2019, it is again all about interest, selfish or altruistic. Tinubu is supporting Buhari because his group will stand a good chance of getting the presidency in 2023. Igbo's are supporting Atiku with the hope that south east will get the vice presidency and subsequently get the presidency after his tenure. Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwakwanso etc all rejoined PDP simply because of their presidential ambition. Power will go back to the south for 8 years if Buhari wins a second term. So, they have to fight it out with him now. Politics is all about interest, alignment, positioning and calculation.

Wrong submission as usual Southwest have slim chance in 2023 it is the time of Igbos after whoever emerges in 2019 but definitely not Buhari (I am too sure of that)!

We are not one in this country


Abeg make we divide



I don tire

Will Tinubu knows whether he will see 2019 and even Buhari ?

rytu

Lol

FAILED SYSTEM.

INSURRECTION IS THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR NIGERIANS...

Very very correct

SP has a solid strategic and media crafts team. Far more competent than the nincompoops who call themselves Buhari's presidential spokesmen, advisors, and the kindergarten autistic rats widely known as BMC who irritate the hell out of sensible people all over social media (including here on Nairaland).

The image being crafted for Saraki is supremely wonderful to behold. Many kudos to his team. And as a master schemer himself, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up becoming president.

I just desperately hope that he will be the kind of reform minded leader that Nigeria needs now. The senile and close-minded bastard called Buhari isn't even an option.

E pain saraki well well.

Brb

If Tinubu's plan is for Nigerians to keep suffering because of his evil political agenda, himself and Buhari won't see 2023