“Perhaps times are hard and the old man needs a bit of help,” was the verdict passed on a Kano born politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai by the Presidency for questioning the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement today, January 25, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu said: Yakasai’s questioning of the loyalties of President Muhammadu Buhari stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the President.
“Only on Monday, he was out at a rally in Bauchi supporting the flag bearer of the party. Presidential duties permitting, he is scheduled to make further appearances at campaign events in the coming weeks.”
Garba Shehu described Tanko Yakasai as unknown to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that though everyone is entitled to his view, but that “what we do know is that his insight in a recent interview does not come from within the party or the President’s team.
The Presidential spokesman said that Yakasai’s support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is welcome but that it is difficult to understand what such value adds to the ongoing campaigns and the results they are expected to generate.
Garba Shehu acknowledged that Tanko Yakasai is right to highlight his experience as a senior citizen, a leader in government and ability to reach out across divides and that these are strong foundations for the highest office.
He countered however that the support of President Buhari for the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is unquestioned, adding: “if this wasn’t on TV, Yakasai’s unwise comment on the issue would have been dismissed as a misquotation. But he was live on TV.
“On this one against President Buhari, no one should take him seriously.
Alhaji Tanko Yakasai had expressed doubt, in an interview on Cntrol TV, about President Buhari’s support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Presidential candidate of the ruling APC, even as he declared his support for Tinubu.
He said: “what I realize is that I’m not sure if Buhari is happy with the candidature of Tinubu. That is the issue. He is APC because he is the president elected on the platform of the APC but is he committed to Tinubu’s presidency? I have my doubt.”
When asked if he thinks Buhari is supporting the candidate of the PDP, he said: “I don’t know but I have not seen the commitment from him of supporting the candidature of Tinubu in APC. “I’m not sure if it’s APC or not but definitely, the personality of Tinubu doesn’t make him happy from my assessment of the situation.”
