It was not expedient to mention Tinubu in my victory speech - Akeredolu
The perceived crisis in the All Progressives Congress blown open after the party's governorship primary in Ondo state, may not be over yet despite a statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari to douse the tension after APC won last Saturday's election. Governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday said he did not acknowledge a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, in his victory speech on Sunday because it was not expedient to do so.
He said having acknowledged Buhari who is the recognised national leader of the party and the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, it was safe to infer that he had acknowledged all party leaders.
Akeredolu made this known at an interaction with State House correspondents shortly after he and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, met Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
They were led to the meeting, which was their first after their victory, by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in Ondo State, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state.
Akeredolu who said the relationship between him and Tinubu was cordial, explained that mentioning the name of the former Lagos governor specifically would have amounted to him mentioning names of about 37 other leaders of the party.
He said, “On the names that were mentioned in my speech when expressing gratitude and that I didn’t specifically thank Tinubu. I thanked the President and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election.
“I also thanked our indefatigable chairman for standing by the truth and for his position on this matter that led to this election. I have no reason to do otherwise.
“Party structure to the best of my knowledge is very clear. You have the leadership of the party and that is represented by Odigie-Oyegun.
“After the election, a chief executive emerges, he becomes a leader of the party, you don’t have to personalise and be looking for leaders all over the place.
“But President Buhari is the leader of the party. So, that is my position there.â€
Akeredolu however added that Tinubu remains one of the leaders of the party, noting that he has since sent congratulatory message to him after he won the election.
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