President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged his arch-rival Chief Olabode George, not to take serious his earlier vow to go into exile should he (Tinubu) emerge Nigeria’s president.
NPO Reports however learnt on Wednesday that the letter, which was written to George, was not officially released but leaked.
NPO Reports could ascertain whether the letter, which was confidential, got to public knowledge from the writer’s end or from the George’s end.
A source told the NPO Reports that the letter was leaked to the public.
In the said letter, Tinubu had said that a strong opposition was needed for a virile democracy hence, the need to have the likes of George around to provide alternative opinions.
Dear Chief Bode George,
“It is with genuine purpose and a peaceful intent that I write you this letter. I do so because the time has not yet come for you to proceed to political self-exile.
“It will not be a thing of happiness for me that my emergence as President-elect will herald your departure from public life in Lagos and Nigeria. I, therefore, urge you to shelve all thoughts of self-exile and political retirement.”
Tinubu, in his letter, however said that should George insist on exile as his last option, he would not be in a position to force him to stay in what he called a “new Nigeria.”
“A capable opposition is a fundamental requirement of good governance, pushing the incumbent administration to be its best self or face electoral oblivion at the next election.
“In your many years in opposition in Lagos, you have never been victimised or persecuted; neither by me nor by any of the Governors who came after me,” Tinubu wrote
He said the presidential election where he emerged winner was hard “yet cleanly fought. At the end, a victor was declared and, by the grace of God almighty, the Nigerian people chose to make me their next President. However, we must not take the battle so personally as to threaten retirement any time we fail to win. Defeat is as much a part of politics as victory.”
Tinubu said as President, he will draw no distinction between supporter and antagonist adding that he will not grant undue favour to those who voted for me nor will I persecute those who voted against me. I will govern for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“Under my leadership, Nigeria shall be a good and pleasant home. There will be room for freedom of expression. There will be economic growth and development. There will be opportunities for the young and social safety for the old. There will be security for all.
“I hope you find it within yourself to stay and be a part of Nigeria’s hopeful future. However, if you feel that you do not want to live in the new Nigeria, nobody, least of all me, can force you to remain here. Whatever you choose to do, I bid you.”
A one paragraph rebuttal which was confirmed by Mr. Onanuga, the Director of Media of the Presidential Campaign Council dismissed the letter as “fake.”
“The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not issue any statement on Chief Bode George. The viral statement in circulation purportedly signed by him is fake.”
Contacted, Chief George denied knowledge of any letter as well saying no letter got to him from Tinubu.
“Haven’t you seen the statement by Onanuga himself denying his boss signed any letter? I did not see any letter.
Speaking on an Arise TV programme last year, George had said that he would leave Nigeria if Tinubu won the election.
He said, “I have not changed my mind, if he (Tinubu) is the President I will go.
“If Tinubu wins, by that time I will be 80 years. What am I doing here? I will wish you people well.”
At the time, George had hinged his hope on the new electoral act which he expected would prevent a Tinubu win.
“Look at all the elections they (INEC) have done. Look at what happened in Osun. The results showed the will of the people. If they allow the result to be streamed electronically, there is no way he (Tinubu) would win.
“But if the people keep saying he is the man they want, I have no qualms. I will go and live anywhere I want to live.” He had said
NPO Reports that George had similarly vowed to leave Nigeria if President Muhammadu Buhari election in 2015.
Speaking on the PDP’s defeat at the polls, the PDP chieftain queried, “What will I be doing here? I can decide to go and live anywhere. Look at everyone surrounding him (Buhari).
”So, I am not joking about it, what will I be doing here? At 70, what will I be doing here? All we have been doing to restructure the country has been lost. We have been trying to ensure balance in the polity but all that has gone. What else will I be doing here?”