The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has refuted all rumours claiming that Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the President-elect of Nigeria, travelled abroad for treatment.
News alleging to illness of Tinubu and how he was flown to London for treatment have been making the rounds on several news platforms during the late hours of Tuesday.
The development is coming hours after Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, filed a petition at the election Tribunal to challenge the result of the Presidential poll that made Tinubu the President-elect.
Reacting to the news of Tinubu’s illness on Wednesday, the APC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, denied the claims, saying his principal only went on a vacation abroad, not because of any impending ailments. Onanuga also noted that he would also use the vacation break to go for Umrah (lesser Hajj) after observing the yearly Muslim fast.
He said, “Which Asiwaju is ill. Was he not seen when he went to cast his vote? Does he look like a sick man? The man just travelled on vacation. He went to take a rest. I think he wants to use the opportunity to observe Ramadan outside the country and move to Umrah from there before returning to Nigeria.
“This man has been on the move since last year and, sincerely, deserves all the rest he can get. His office will soon issue a statement.”
Festus Keyamo, Chief spokesman for the APC-PCC, also concurred with Onanuga on the matter. He pointed out that those spreading the rumours are those still bitter about losing the election. He also affirmed that Asiwaju is healthy, though not stating where he had gone for the said vacation.
Keyamo said:
“Please help us tell those flying the news around that the election has ended. What they are doing now is campaigning after the election. They should leave Asiwaju alone. He deserves some rest after the election.”
He also stated, “I cannot confirm. But all I can tell you is that Asiwaju is hale and hearty.”
