The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has no problem with a leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
It said that Tinubu was not regularly seen in the Aso Villa in Abuja did not mean he was being ostracised.
According to the Presidency, Buhari respects Tinubu as a principled man and one who is ever ready to dare adversity.
Tinubu did a lot to get the APC on stream and he has been instrumental to the emergence of the Buhari presidency.
Many, however, believe that the Buhari administration has not treated him well enough.
While some say the President is not supporting Tinubu’s presidential aspiration, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, once lamented that some people who had hijacked power in Abuja had sidelined Tinubu and others who worked hard for Buhari’s victory.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the Presidency said the so-called rift was a figment of imagination of those involved.
The statement signed by Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, read:
“The Presidency wishes to make it clear that there is no rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his strong ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The President and the Asiwaju have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress, towards bringing change and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.
“Recent reports of a rift between the two leaders of our party are false; the handiwork of some media mischief-makers.
“It is quite unfortunate that certain sections of the media feed on birthing controversies, providing a nexus for naysayers who work behind the scenes planting such stories which are absolutely false.
“This administration is aware of pessimists and cynics who wilfully spread misinformation to create doubts in the minds of the people about the relationship between its leaders and whether the party will remain intact or not.
“There is no doubt that the President and the party are focused on development, peace and security, restructuring of the economy and war against corruption in the country and will not be diverted to anything else. This desperate attempt to fool the people will not succeed.
“If Asiwaju is not a frequent face in the Aso Rock Villa, it is on account of the fact that he is not a cabinet member of this government.
“The fact that he is not every day around the Villa does not make him less of a friend to the President and this administration.
