Posted By: Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja



The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday advised former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida to join retirees’ club and take pensions.

The leaders had sent open letters, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of ineptitude and sectionalism.

But reacting to questions on Obasanjo and IBB’s statements while speaking with selected journalists after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu said: “I don’t address those shadows. We should let our former presidents join retirees’ club and take pensions. But they can participate in our politics if they are interested.

“It is a free world. But this freedom is not served a la carte but they should allow us to move our country forward. It is a challenge to every Nigerian.”

On the chances of APC in 2019, he added: “You are asking me an obvious question. I belong to this party. My commitment is to this party. We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute election in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.”

And on his appointment as the head of APC Presidential Reconciliation Committee, the former Lagos State Governor said he felt greatly honoured with the mutual confidence the President has reposed in him.

“I feel greatly honoured with the mutual confidence that the President has reposed in me which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest.

“He has given me free hand to put cohesion, confidence and trust in the party.

Democracy is about conflict resolution process. You can’t do it without resolving conflicts.

“We can’t build it without understanding the conflicts and sources where we are coming from. But we want to leave the country with a legacy. It’s not about Mr. President. That is what he’s telling the country.

“It’s about our country and no other choice to democratic tenets than through political party platforms. He’s one of those rare beings around the country, around Africa who had experienced both worlds. He fought a battle to save Nigeria and came to politics to save Nigeria.

“Very rare people have such an opportunity in their life time and that’s what we talk about legacy, and where we have all the challenges, do what we should do. I’m enjoying the challenges so far,” he concluded.

“I feel greatly honoured with the mutual confidence that the President has reposed in me which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest.

“He has given me free hand to put cohesion, confidence and trust in the party.