A Chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has claimed that he knew all along that President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, are deceiving each other, amid speculations of an ongoing rift between both men, Page 36 learnt.
He also said that he had called for the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and Tinubu, to leave the APC, calling it a disgrace and disservice to the Yorubaland.
Chief Adebanjo described the ruling party as a gathering of incompatible persons, arguing that, there is no ideology binding the party members together, and that it is all about sharing offices and power.
Even though the Presidency has stated severally there is no rift between Buhari and Tinubu, many commentators described Thursday’s decision of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the APC to dissolve its National Working Committee, as a blow to Tinubu, who is believed to be pro-Adams Oshiomhole, the suspended National Chairman of the party.
There have been widespread claims that Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State, is eyeing the Presidency in 2023, a claim he recently debunked, and that the recent development in the party, is a way of truncating his ambition.
Adebanjo’s exact words: “I have worries for him (Tinubu). He knew all these things, but he relied on Buhari and worked to make him the President. I said it before publicly, that Buhari is deceiving Asiwaju, and Asiwaju is deceiving Buhari. Everybody is trying to use the other. Why can Tinubu not hammer on restructuring, knowing that this was what brought Buhari to Office?
“I have been in this game for 70 years. So, many of those who are talking now, were not born then. That is the truth, even Buhari was a toddler. He is now 74. Each time I tell you, why should Tinubu, the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo), and all those who were in Alliance for Democracy, run to the APC? Why are they hesitating now to stand for restructuring? They cannot talk.
“All the things I am telling you now, it is not the first time. I said both Jagaban (Tinubu) and Osinbajo should get out of the APC. I said it openly. It is a disgrace and disservice to the Yorubaland. So, what is happening now shows there is nothing to bind them together.”
