Ondo State governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu, insists all is well between himself and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu.
He said people should not judge their relationship because he had not visited Tinubu since he won the election.
“There is no issue between me and Asiwaju Tinubu. Anytime I know he is around, I will get to see him,” he told Tribune.
“I only visited President Buhari and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. It is clear to all of us that Asiwaju Tinubu has been spending little time in Nigeria these days.
“If he is around, there is no problem, I will visit him. I am sure you are aware that for some time now, he has been having some commitments outside of the country.
“If you say that I have not been pictured together with Asiwaju Tinubu of late, how many people have been pictured with him?
“People are only trying to create a problem where it does not exist. I have told you several times that I have no problem with Asiwaju Tinubu. We are in the same political party. There is no problem.”
Asked if he had extended an invitation to Tinubu to attention his inauguration as Ondo State governor on Friday, Akeredolu said the politician was one of the APC leaders expected to be there.
“Invitation will be sent to him, no doubt, we are not going to take it for granted that he will be there. He is the national leader of the party and all leaders of the party are expected to join in this epoch-making event.
“This is a thing of joy for the party. The party won an election against the incumbent. Everybody in the party and everybody who loves the party should be happy to be there to celebrate this victory.
“I expect that, as a consummate party person, he will be there. If you want me to say it loud and clear, invitation will be sent to him. I will call him on the phone and discuss with him.”
Reminded he will be working with a PDP-dominated House of Assembly embroiled in crisis, Akeredolu expressed hope of a cordial relationship.
“I am sure that we will work well together. There is nothing so difficult in working with an opposition legislature. Legislative members are just representing their constituencies.
“They listen to their constituents and the constituents know that their representatives cannot go against them. For me, let the legislature have what is due to them, give them room to operate.
“Their duty is to pass laws and there are oversight functions. But whatever it is, let them do their work the way they know best. I have no doubt that we will work harmoniously together; I don’t see any problem with the Ondo State legislature.
“Once the people have confidence in you as their governor and the legislature also have confidence, there will be no turning back. The most important thing is to build that relationship and confidence.
“I will be serving the interest of the people and there is no legislature that would set out to override the people’s interest. So, I have confidence that we will work together”.
On alleged plan to probe the outgoing administration of Olusegun Mimiko, Akeredolu said he doesn’t have that on his agenda.
“I am not going to involve myself in probing people. Even if the situation on ground is not what one thought, I will not change my mind.
“We have enough laws to get anybody to answer for wrongdoings but I am not interested in probing people. I have never had such an interest. It is a distraction.
“You will just find yourself distracted and spending money unnecessarily and you might not get anything from it. So, if you find out that anything has gone wrong, the laws are there.”
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