Without denying or admitting media reports about his meeting with aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Saturday that were “not only in bad faith but also evil intentioned”, and “published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors”.
A statement by his media office stated that Tinubu is “neither bothered by these articles nor by their sponsors who are well known”.
The statement then stated that it was within the right of the presidential candidate to have meetings with “any political actor or stakeholder that is important to his campaign and plans for the country and that desires to engage with him”.
During the week, there were reports that the group of five PDP governors (otherwise known as G-5 or Integrity Group), led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, agreed at a meeting with Tinubu in London to back his presidential ambition.
But Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom denied that such decision was reached, while Wike had earlier said that the position of the group would be made public in January.
The other governors in the group are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The Tinubu Media Office said that the former Lagos State governor has been taking time off his busy schedules to have a “little rest and proceed to Saudi Arabia to observe Umrah (Lesser Hajj), HE Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in London during the week en route Mecca, Saudi Arabia”.
The statement reads further: “HE Asíwájú Tinubu came to London on Boxing Day Monday 26th December 2022 to spend a few days preparatory to his trip to Saudi Arabia.
“After spending some time in London, he has now proceeded to Mecca where he is at present observing Umrah.
“He is scheduled to return to the country within the next two days to continue with the campaign.
“We would like to use this opportunity to advise those writing unsubstantiated articles and peddling rumours on him to desist forthwith”.
