Tinubu ‘didn’t impose Abiru’ on APC leaders

The media office of Tokunbo Abiru, senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 31 by-election in Lagos east, has denied the reports that he was imposed on the party leaders.

In a statement, the media team said Abiru, former managing director of Polaris Bank, emerged based on consensus.

It said Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the ruling party, did not force him on the party leaders.

“Our attention has been drawn to a media report published in a national daily on September 9, 2020. In its entirety, the publication misconstrued the extensive consultation and consensus that preceded the emergence of the former GMD/CEO of Polaris Bank Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Lagos East senatorial bye-election scheduled for October 31,” the statement read.

“First, the publication claimed that the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, imposed Abiru on the party leaders in Lagos East and Lagos State. This claim is far from the truth. Asiwaju Tinubu, as an unrepentant democrat and a former governor, encourages all party faithfuls to seek their aspirations while promoting the values that the APC stands for.

“However, in order to manage conflicting interests of all aspirants seeking the party nomination for the senatorial bye-election, the leadership arm of Lagos APC, Governance Advisory Council (GAC), embarked on broad consultation with all party leaders and aspirants in Lagos East Senatorial District. After the all-inclusive consultation, consensus was reached in favour of Mr. Abiru, hence his subsequent affirmation.

“Second, the publication claimed that Mr. Abiru’s nomination has set the stage for power struggle with the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This claim is as good as the figment of the author’s imagination. HE Sanwo-Olu is a strong supporter of Abiru’s senatorial aspiration. He also endorsed him. There is no basis for power struggle. Both HE Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Abiru are party faithfuls with interest to work for the progress and prosperity of Lagos and Nigeria at large.”

The statement said Abiru did not just resign from the bank at the expiration of his two-term engagement, adding that “he successfully reached the peak of his career in the banking sector and retired after 29 years of his 32-year private sector career”.