By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
Former governor of Lagos State and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has refuted claims that he disparaged President Muhammadu Buhari while addressing delegates in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday.
Stonix News reports that in a video that has gone viral on news platforms across the globe, the former governor was heard reeling out how he supposedly enthroned Buhari, Dapo Abiodun and others as president and governor.
To this effect, reactions have trailed the outburst with Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, condemning the outburst in separate statements.
But in a statement late Friday, Chief Tinubu said he had high regards for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he was misconstrued in the address which he made in Yoruba language.
“It is important that people truly know what I said and where I stand. Whatever view you have of me is within your right to make. But let it be based on truth and not on falsehood or reckless exaggeration.
“There have been gross misinterpretations in some sectors of the media regarding comments I made on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“To a degree, the erroneous interpretations may be somewhat innocent given that I spoke in Yoruba.
“Those who do not understand the nuances of this richly layered and subtly language may have inadvertently yet erroneously missed the true meaning of what I said while attempting to translate my statement.
“Instead of weighing what I said carefully, they translated so quickly and thus inaccurately in an attempt to meet media deadlines.
“Of course, there are also those who knew better but they conveyed these inaccuracies because the sensationalism suits their political purposes.
“Again, such propaganda and misinformation becomes daily fare in the heat of the political season. Let’s just state what needs to be stated.
“My opponents want to present a narrative that I made comments disrespectful of President Muhammadu Buhari in hopes that such a narrative would convince President Buhari to oppose my aspirations regarding the approaching primary.
“President Buhari is an experienced and accomplished leader. I do not believe he will be taken by the tricks of such people.
“Let me also erase any doubt. My respect and regard for President Buhari as Commander-in- chief of this nation and as a person are high and unfailing. I shall never denigrate him.
“I certainly did not do so in Abeokuta. We have been political partners for a long time and I hope that partnership continues well into the future,” he noted.
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