Tinubu denies alleged move to leave APC

Restates commitment to party’s ideals
Former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday faulted reports that he planned to dump the party for a new one.

Controversy has trailed his relationship with the presidency following an alleged deliberate plot to curb his influence in the party.

The moves, observers contend, are part of the intrigues by stakeholders in the party to position themselves for the 2019 general elections.

Tinubu was said to have been sidelined when he lost out in the choice of leadership for the National Assembly as well as in the constitution of the federal cabinet.

Similarly, his preferred candidates for Kogi and Ondo states governorship election, Mr. James Faleke and Segun Abraham lost to the favorites of the presidency.

This prompted his recent call on the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to resign over alleged corrupt practices. Former vice president and top member of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar supported Tinubu’s position.

This led to speculations that he planned to form another party especially when his followers in the South West have been involved in clandestine meetings excluding members who have been close to the presidency.

Besides, a purported meeting in the United Kingdom allegedly involving himself, Atiku and chairman of the interim national committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given credence to rumours that there are moves to form a new party.

But Tinubu who took to his Twitter handle, @AsiwajuTinubu to deny any plot to dump APC, said he would not abandon the party he laboured to build for another one.

“This is a party I laboured with others to build. We would not abandon it for another. Millions of Nigerians who voted are watching and praying.

“This government, APC, is for the betterment of the people and the national purpose is bigger and more important than any individual’s desires.”

Tinubu said that he had devoted his political life to achieve what had been accomplished, stressing that his heart was more for the people and fixed on establishing positive historic legacy rather than engage in destructive pettiness.