National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has faulted a report alleging that he connived with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to instigate media attacks against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate.
The report said that he (Tinubu) was on a vendetta mission against some members of the Senate over Ibrahim Magu’s rejection as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, Tinubu noted that the anatomy of the report was that of a fable that should never have been told.
He stated this in a statement signed and issued by his media officer, Tunde Rahman.
According to Rahman, the former governor, who was also an erstwhile Senator, had a special affection for the Senate as an institution, noting that it was not within him to belittle the institution or members of that institution who happened to be in the opposing political party.
He further said Tinubu does not have a hand in any negative personal reports on any Senator.
Rahman added that the APC Chieftain’s brand of politics does not lend itself to engaging in wanton character and personal attacks but driven by objective policy views.
The statement reads in part: “After giving substantial time for THISDAY to correct the outright falsehood used as cover story for its Sunday, April 2 edition, we are constrained to correct the record.
“The newspaper claimed in the report “PDP Caucus Accuses Tinubu, EFCC of Conspiracy to Destroy Senate”, that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in concert with the EFCC, has instigated media attacks against the PDP Senate Caucus.
“The story is such an outright fabrication that it claims the PDP Senators held a special meeting to discuss Asiwaju Tinubu. However, PDP Senators claim no such meeting was ever held and that they hold no special animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is a former Senator. He has a special affection for the Senate as an institution. It is not within him to belittle the institution or members of that institution who happen to be in the opposing political party.
“Moreover, his brand of politics does not lend itself to engaging in wanton character and personal attacks. There is significant policy difference between our progressive school of thought and the often reactionary ideas of the PDP. There are more than enough serious issues over which to grapple the PDP. Asiwaju Tinubu’s politics are driven by his policy views. He will gladly wrestle against the PDP on substantive political differences. But engage in personal attacks, rumor-mongering and mudslinging, never.
“So that there is no confusion on the core issue here, we categorically deny any hand in any negative personal reports on any Senator.
“Some malefactors want to use the name of Asiwaju Tinubu to stir opposition in the Senate to the confirmation of Magu as EFCC chairman. By trying to paint Magu as Tinubu’s partner in mudslinging, the false story seeks to induce Senators to oppose Magu as a way of thwarting Asiwaju Tinubu.
“The anatomy of the report is that of a fable that never should have been told. The report centered on a meeting that never held. The reporter neither stated who attended the meeting nor alluded to any formal statement issued the meeting.”
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