The Tinubu/Shetimma Presidential Campaign Council has said that claims by the leader of the Yoruba separatist group, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye that Yorubas are set to pull out of the country was a self-serving agenda, as such claim has no endorsement of the entire Yoruba people.
The council also faulted the octogenarian’s allegation that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential aspiration was in pursuit of his interest, rather the council maintained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer was in the race to render unflinching service to Nigerians in a strong, united and prosperous country where all, regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs can find joy and personal fulfillment.
Reacting to Prof. Akintoye’s diatribe against Tinubu, the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign council, Bayo Onanuga in a statement released late Thursday night in Abuja said the separatist idea was “unfortunate, misdirected, misplaced and divisive.” The council argued that there has been no referendum held in Yorubaland about whether to stay in Nigeria or not.
“And since there has been no referendum held in Yorubaland about whether to stay in Nigeria or not and no such referendum has been held in any part of Nigeria, it is then appropriate to assume that this separatist idea is Akintoye and his group’s sole idea. We join other bonafide and critical stakeholders in Yorubaland to advise Professor Akintoye not to plunge our people into a needless and precipitate crisis or create another Rwanda.”
The council took also took a swipe at the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua for brazenly accusing the APC standard bearer of pursuing a personal ambition with his presidential aspiration. “We find it quite preposterous the professor’s sweeping outlandish accusation that Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu is only pursuing his personal interest in running for the presidency of Nigeria. Such a statement is malicious and unwarranted.
“It is pertinent to state that Asiwaju Tinubu is contesting for Nigeria’s presidency because of his readiness to render unflinching service to Nigerians and because of his abiding faith in a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria where every man and woman, regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs, can be proud and prosperous.
On the issue of true federalism raised by the separatist leader, the campaign council argued that the APC flag bearer in his 80-page action plan document released last Friday advanced how his administration will addressed the vexed issue. “A Tinubu administration will rebalance the responsibilities and authorities of the different tiers of government. We will collaborate with the National Assembly and State Governments to amend our national governance architecture such that States are afforded the autonomy and resources needed to better serve.”
“We find it unexplainable that Professor Akintoye who once served as a Senator of the Federal Republic under the Unity Party of Nigeria from 1979-83 at 87years old, in the twilight of his years on earth, wants to leave a legacy of hatred, bitterness, intolerance and acrimony in our country when he should be a voice of reason, wisdom and stability,” Onanuga said. The campaign council also described as untrue the allegation that Tinubu was using his (Akintoye) video in the campaign. The council argued that “Professor Akintoye claimed that Asiwaju Tinubu is using his old video in the campaign. This is untrue. Asiwaju Tinubu and his campaign organisation have neither used such video nor need to use it in any form.