Contrary to insinuation in some media reports, former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, said the meeting he and former Governor Bisi Akande held with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday had nothing to do with a letter released by former President Olusegun Obasanjo earlier in the day.
Obasanjo had in the very critical letter asked President Buhari who he said has failed to perform on all fronts not to contest for second term in office.
Buhari had entered into meeting with Tinubu and Akande few hours after the letter was released to the media.
This led to speculations that the meeting was called to consider the implication of the letter for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
But in a statement released on his behalf by Tunde Rahman, his media adviser, the former Governor of Lagos said the meeting had been planned long before the release of the letter as part of the regular meetings of the President with members of APC.
The full statement by Mr. Tinubu reads, “Today’s visit by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to the Presidential Villa was scheduled last week.
“President Buhari periodically schedules talks with Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande, as he does with other Nigerians and APC figures, to discuss substantive issues pertaining to the governance of the country and matters concerning the party.
“This visit was one such meeting. As such, the meeting had nothing to do with the statement of former President Obasanjo.
“It is totally unconnected. At the time of the meeting, Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande were even unaware that President Obasanjo had released his statement.”