The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential spokesman, Dr Daniel Bwala, has criticised the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by the leaders of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere.
It was reported that the Afenifere leader, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti and several South-West leaders on Sunday endorsed Tinubu, in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Some members of the group, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and the Secretary-General Chief Sola Ebiseni, were however absent at the meeting.
Bwala in a statement reacted to the development.
He said; “In what seem like the crawling of a rat at night to steal meat from the pot, Tinubu paid a strange visit to Pa Fatoramti; strange because it was not an organized setting of the usual meeting of the highly respected Afenifere; needless to say the leader of the group Pa Adebanjo and the secretary were obviously absent when he went to in a Gestapo manner.''
“First off, the Afenifere we know has through their leader made known their position as to who they support and it was certainly not Tinubu. Secondly, if it were a meeting seeking to know the right person to support or endorse amongst the candidates it ought to have at least invited the leading candidates to hear their take on what plans they have for the country that caters to the interests of Afenifere.”
“So to Tinubu, the race to become the president of Nigeria is a trophy to be won and taken to his ethnic enclave. He was not only wrong in his tribal insinuation that not a single Yoruba opposed the ticket, but he also lied because lots of Yorubas took strong objections to the same faith ticket and to his divisive and religious politics.''
“To say that his ticket is supported by all Yorubas is, to say the least disingenuous, false, and condemnable.''
“Tinubu has made no secret about his tribal championship and utter disregard for other ethnic people in southern Nigeria. This to say the least is sad and terribly troubling and Nigerians should rise and condemn this rhetoric at the polls.”