In an apparent reaction to a claim by Omoyele Sowore, the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga has said that the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu “radiated warmth and shook hands” at Friday’s meeting of the National Peace Committee held in Abuja.
The Herald reports that General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd)-led NPC met presidential candidates and national chairmen of political parties participating in the forthcoming general election as part of conversations to ensure their commitment to peace before, during, and after the polls.
After the meeting, presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, who was present, said that Tinubu “slept through” during the meeting and did not utter a single word during proceedings.
Sharing a photo of Tinubu in a sleeping position, Sowore said, “We just returned from a meeting of party leaders/presidential candidates with the National Peace Committee in Abuja.
“The presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu slept through the meeting.
“He didn’t say a word. His party chair spoke on his behalf.”
In an apparent reaction, the APC campaign spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said that Tinubu was active during the meeting.
He highlighted that the other three leading presidential candidates – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – were absent at the meeting.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the meeting of the National Peace Committee at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
“The meeting, a follow up to the Peace Accord signed last year. was presided over by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (trd).
“Peter Obi of Labour Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP were absent.
“While Atiku and Kwankwaso were represented, Obi did not send anyone else.
“At the meeting, Tinubu radiated warmth, shook hands and exchanged banters. For him, no bitterness in politics,” Onanuga said.