Presidential torchbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Monday spoke on his agenda for Nigeria at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, also known as Chatham House in London.
This comes seven years after incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari also addressed Chatham House on February 25, 2015, as the APC presidential candidate at the time.
Tinubu, in his speech, addressed the issues of security, economy and foreign policy at the United Kingdom’s elite Foreign and Policy Think-tank institution.
In 2011, Tinubu spoke at Chatham House on the rebirth of the opposition in Nigerian politics. The session was titled: “Democracy and the rebirth of the opposition in Nigeria”.
Tinubu discussed his, particularly for Nigerians in the UK Diaspora, his vision for ‘renewing hope’ in Nigeria if he were to be elected President next year, including his policy proposals for economic reform and revival and how to deliver secure and inclusive job opportunities for Nigerian citizens.
However, Tinubu’s appearance at Chatham House has earned him hard knocks across a broad cross-section of the Nigerian polity, including opposition politicians, public affairs analysts and distinguished members of the Nigerian Commentariat.
In particular, Tinubu’s decision during the question and answer segment at the Chatham House appearance to assign questions he was asked to APC party faithful and certain of his long-term aides has attracted a lot of condemnation across all strata of public opinion.
It will be recalled that during the session, Tinubu assigned Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to speak on how his (a Tinubu-led) government would address insecurity; he also asked the Director of Strategic Communication of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Aleke, to respond to the question on oil theft originally posed to him (Tinubu).
Other APC Chieftains at the gathering, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and Betta Edu, the APC national women leader, also got nods from the APC Presidential torchbearer to answer questions posed to him during the Chatham House session.
In its reaction, the Atiku Support Organization, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Victor Moses, asserted that “The fact that Bola Tinubu couldn’t provide answers to basic questions, especially on how to improve bilateral ties in the area of defence with the United Kingdom, but called on El-Rufai, Gbajagbiamila, Betta Edu and co to rescue him shows that Nigeria may be in for a major calamity ahead.
“In fact, the entire program by the APC at the Chatham House was a show of shame and an embarrassment to Nigeria.
“It is now clear to all Nigerians why Tinubu dodged the Arise TV TownHall debate. His mental facilities have shown a complete mark of deterioration, and he can not face a one-on-one debate or conversation about his plans for Nigeria. A continuation of the APC government will be a major disaster for Nigeria.
“As the 2023 election draws closer, we wish to call on Nigerians not to be deceived or misled by the APC to bring calamity upon the nation. We have had enough under President Mohammadu Buhari,” it added.
In a related development, the National Chairman of The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Professor Rufai Alkali, has advised the presidential torchbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to stop avoiding media debates and town hall meetings organized by some relevant institutions in the country.
Alkali gave the advice on Monday at a news conference in Abuja.
He advised that if a presidential candidate “engages” with Nigerians through town hall meetings and media debates, such action would add value to the candidate’s campaign or victory.
Correspondingly, according to Alkali, if such a candidate avoids Nigerians at media debates and town hall meetings, he would “meet them at polling units”.
Alkali also pointed out that Tinubu did not honour earlier invitations to conferences organized by the Nigeria Bar Association and Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
“APC Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu did not attend the Arise TV debate and Town Hall meeting by the National Peace Accord.
“The only engagement Tinubu had attended with Nigerians was the meetings by the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)”.