Presidency Mentions 2 Things Missing in Buhari's 12m Votes Before Tinubu's Intervention
- President Bola Tinubu's contribution to former President Muhammadu Buhari's success in the 2015 presidential election has finally been outlined
- The presidency, in a statement, explained two things that were missing in Buhari's 12 million votes before his alliance with Tinubu ahead of the 2015 elections
- The presidency's explanation was a reaction to former SGF Boss Mustapha's claim that Tinubu did not install Buhari as Nigerian president in 2015
FCT, Abuja - The presidency has claimed that the 12 million votes that former President Muhammadu Buhari had before teaming up with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2015 election lacked geopolitical spread and southwest votes.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu on information and strategy, disclosed this while referencing a report that quoted Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under the Buhari administration
Source: Twitter
Lawal claims Tinubu raised funds for Buhari
In the 2020 report, Lawal, who served under Buhari before the termination of his appointment in 2017, explained how Tinubu raised funds for the then All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Buhari, to win the 2015 presidential election.
Onanuga explained that the instance cited by Lawal in the report was just one of many things President Tinubu did for his political allies ahead of the 2015 election, in which the APC defeated then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The presidency’s response was directed at Boss Mustapha, Lawal’s successor as SGF, who recently downplayed Tinubu’s contribution to Buhari’s 2015 victory, claiming that the former president already had 12 million votes even before his alliance with Tinubu and the formation of the APC in 2014.
Source: Twitter
Tinubu secured APC ticket for Buhari - presidency
According to Onanuga, Tinubu also ensured that Buhari secured the presidential ticket of the APC by making sure he defeated his opponents during the party's primary in Lagos. He recalled that Buhari defeated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in the primary.
Also, the presidency noted that winning the southwest votes was a deciding factor in the 2015 election. He recalled how former President Jonathan spent several weeks in the southwest states with the hope of gathering votes, but failed.
Onanuga's statement reads in part:
"He (Tinubu) gave Buhari what had been missing in his constant 12 million votes: geographical spread and additional votes from the South West. President Jonathan knew that the South West would decide the winner of the 2015 election, as he spent weeks in the zone trying to garner support. He failed. Buhari won."
See the full statement here:
Buhari expresses everlasting gratitude to APC
Legit.ng earlier reported that Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate past president of Nigeria, said that he remains a member of the APC and urged the public to address him as one.
The former president added that he will forever be grateful to the APC and will continue to maximise his resources to enhance its popularity.
Buhari's clarification came after former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai claimed that the former president was properly informed about his defection from the APC to the SDP.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
