Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill.
Speaking to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Mr. Tinubu said he was never indisposed during his trip abroad. He added that he was asking God to forgive those who spread rumors about his ill health.
“I’m as fit as a fiddle,” said the former governor. He added: “There was nothing wrong before I left the country. We had the Osun gubernatorial election and I’d planned a long vacation and some other research assignments in the political arena. It was to learn from people who had experienced the development of opposition parties in the past.”
Defending the apparent secrecy about his location abroad, Mr. Tinubu said, “I don’t have to disclose to people my vacation location. But it was very shocking and sad that there were speculations about my health. This is a sign of the lack of trust people have for leadership in the country.
When I had the knee problem, I disclosed to Nigerians that I was going for a knee surgery and I came back. Even then, they started peddling rumors. I don’t know whether some people deliberately insinuate that I have a medical problem. It seems like a deliberate falsehood to me. It is all lies. There was no day that I had the need for even Panadol since I left this country for this trip. I was very busy, reading and talking to people of great intelligence that I believe I could gain from politically.”
After stating that he wanted divine forgiveness for those spreading rumors of his illness, Mr. Tinubu added, “I wish them all they wish for me.”
Speaking on Nigerian politics, the APC leader said that Nigerians had become tired of the kind of leadership provided by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The entire nation has lost its trust in the ruling party. It is a challenging time and we have to be very careful. The APC has all the ingredients to save Nigeria and we shall save our dear country,” he said.