Politics

Tinubu: I’m not sick, I’ve shamed my critics

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says he is healthy and intellectually fit to be Nigeria’s President.

Tinubu, who declared that he has demonstrated knowledge and capacity to be on top of issues in the country, said people who were making insinuations about his health status have nothing else to say but “lies and rubbish”.

The APC presidential flag-bearer said this in an interview with Kaduna-based Freedom Radio while in Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj.

The two-term former governor of Lagos State said he performed Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, stressing that he did the seven rounds of Tawaf and seven trips between Safa and Marwa by himself.

Speaking on the insinuations about his health and fitness for the rigours of the presidency, Tinubu said: “I just finished performing the Umrah. I did the seven rounds of Tawaf, I did the seven trips between Safa and Marwa by myself. Can a sick person do that? That is stale news, my brother.

“People who are making those insinuations have nothing else to say but lies and rubbish. I have moved round, spoke at different platforms, and stood for hours to address different audiences. Before they said I could not walk, they said I could not stand, they are shamed.

“Since the campaign started I have marshalled more original ideas than anyone else. I have demonstrated knowledge, experience, and great capacity to be on top of issues in the country.

“And this job is about ideas and issues regarding leadership of our country. I have all it takes to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I am asking people of the country to have confidence and respect for that, look at my background and my previous assignments. I want to serve the country and serve the country very well,” he stated.

The APC presidential candidate said his trip to Saudi Arabia was for spiritual rebirth, adding: “I like coming to perform the Umrah every now and then. It is an opportunity to connect with almighty Allah; we need his guidance. Nigeria is in need of prayers and that is why we are here praying for our country, self, and society.”

Tinubu further stated that he did not shun direct engagement with Nigerians, especially through media interviews.

He said he has been speaking to Nigerians through town-hall meetings, stressing that people saying he has been escaping from engaging directly with Nigerians “are losers and they will lose”.

The Star