Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has reacted to a recent press statement by Mr. Tony Okeke, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, who labelled him a despot.
Okeke had last week accused Tinubu of being “despotic” for endorsing Ekiti state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for a second term in office, saying his action has blocked the ambition of others interested in contesting the position on the platform of the ACN.
Sunday Dare, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, in a statement on Sunday evening, lambasted Okeke for his “venom-filled statement and downright gutter language” he employed in attacking his boss’ remarks.
He said the former Governor of Lagos State was neither perturbed, disturbed or surprised at the depth PDP can descend in order to attack their perceived enemies or tormentors, stating that the ruling party needs to wash both hands before complaining that the ACN has a speck of dirt on its thumb.
“With all the troubles facing the government and the ruling party, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of that outfit took the time to lodge a complaint about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was exercising his right as a citizen and party leader to endorse Ekiti Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the party’s governorship nominee so that he might seek a second term, come 2014 election in that state”, he said.
“The PDP voice box sounded off that it was wicked and undemocratic of Asiwaju Tinubu to state his opinion on a matter concerning the party to which Asiwaju belongs. We dare say if Mr. Okeke tendered such advice to his party leaders that, the vociferous man would rapidly find himself among the growing number of jobless Nigerians walking the streets due to the errant policies of his party. Dare mocked the PDP’s spokesperson, saying “Since we have no desire to add to the ranks of Nigeria’s unemployed, we will help the man do his job better by teaching him a bit about democracy and party politics.
According to him, “Asiwaju Tinubu is not a brick or a piece of wood. He is a person, a Nigerian citizen to be exact. As such, he has the perfect right to express his opinion on political matters and to endorse whom he may endorse for the position of the ACN nominee for the Ekiti governorship. In due course, Asiwaju will surely endorse who he would for other elective positions across the country in full exercise of his fundamental right. I predict Mr. Okeke will get acute indigestion from that act as well.”
He noted that for Okeke to complain shows his ignorance that the Nigerian constitution has enshrined freedom of speech as a fundamental right of all Nigerians and those in the opposition. Continuing, he said ” for Mr. Okeke to suggest that because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a party leader, he does not have the right to talk about a party matter is lunacy of the first order.
“Let us explain to him how a democratic political party works. Party leaders are entitled to express their opinion and endorse whom they like. The matter does not end there. Of course, party members have the right to their opinion too but this enables them to weigh the opinions of their leaders. Should any disagree, they have the right to disagree. Should anyone want to compete against the incumbent for the party ticket, they may.
“However, now they know they will do so without the help of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Far from being undemocratic, Bola Tinubu was being transparent. He did not disguise his belief. He openly expressed it so that all will know where he stands. If you want to do otherwise, you can but you do so knowing it will be minus his support. This is an exercise of clear decisive leadership in fledgling democracy.
“It is a starkly different picture than how the PDP operates. That party does things in the dark so much that when they are merely in the shadows, they think it is bright daylight. Before attacking the ACN, Mr. Okeke should reflect on how he came to be Acting National Publicity Secretary. It was because INEC ruled the convention which selected his erstwhile superior was a fundamentally flawed exercise. It was undemocratic. The ACN has never suffered such a ruling.
Tinubu’s spokesman added that the PDP was frightened because they know Governor Fayemi has performed impressively and that they have no one to defeat him in the next gubernatorial election in the state.
“Their only hope is to create discord in the ACN. It will not work. Thus, Mr. Okeke should resign himself to minding his own house. Before complaining about the lone fly at our backdoor, he should worry about the decaying carcass in their front yard,” the statement said.
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