Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was on Sunday, October 10, 2022, forced to deny that he had endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after a fake message circulating on WhatsApp claimed the retired General had endorsed Sen Bola Tinubu.
Pres Obasanjo’s is the latest in a string of denials by eminent personalities, socio-cultural bodies and political parties who have denied endorsing Tinubu.
In this listicle, The Quest Times recalls other occasions where individuals and bodies have been forced to release statements denying backing Tinubu for Aso Rock.
Prof Wole Soyinka denies endorsing Tinubu
Prof Soyinka in a statement titled “Season of Fakery Galore,” on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, denied endorsing Sen Bola Tinubu after a post on Facebook claimed the Nobel Laureate resolved to work for a Tinubu presidency in 2023.
Excerpts from the statement read, “Here we go again. The same boring, illiterate public interlopers who lack the courage of their conviction and must steal the identities of their betters. One can only hope that the public has learnt to identify Fake News and join in the urgent task of exposing and disgracing these despicable touts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not even thought 2023, much less inserted candidates into coveted positions. The signature of this latest moron is familiar — he or she does not even know the difference between ‘Laureate and Laurel.’
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“This is an ancient forgery being recycled for the umpteenth time. Those who pass it round do themselves and their recipients a disservice. Find something worthwhile to occupy your time.”
Pastor Adeboye denies endorsing Tinubu
General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye also denied endorsing the APC presidential candidate after rumours of his endorsement began to make the rounds, following a meeting between both men.
The RCCG in a statement in July 2022 denied the endorsement, saying Pastor Adeboye will toe the line set by the Christian body in Nigeria.
“It has come to our notice that some news outlets are reporting that a meeting between the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide and the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu was held a few days back at the Redemption Camp where our esteemed father in the Lord was said to have supported the preferred candidature of the Party the former governor is a member of.
“Pastor Adeboye and the RCCG have not and will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. The news reported by is false.”
AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina denies endorsing Tinubu
President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina was forced to deny endorsing Sen Bola Tinubu in January 2022, following a fabricated statement allegedly made by the former Agriculture minister.
“If Senator Bola Tinubu could make Lagos the 5th richest economy in Africa and the safest State in Nigeria then be sure that he will as Nigeria President.”
In rebutting the endorsement, a spokesman for Dr Adesina said, “For the avoidance of doubt, no such statement or endorsement has been made by the President of AfDB.”
Pastor Tunde Bakare denies endorsing Tinubu
Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church, was also forced to deny endorsing Tinubu in July 2022 following reports making the rounds that the Clergyman had adopted his former rival as his candidate.
In a statement, Bakare denied the rumours, describing them as lies.
“….As if the poorly strewn lies were not enough, I was quoted as saying that Tinubu is my candidate. Isn’t this the same Tinubu that I announced to all and sundry at the APC Presidential Convention that I was not stepping down for? He has suddenly become my candidate!”
Dele Momodu denies endorsing Tinubu
Former PDP presidential aspirant Dele Momodu denied endorsing Tinubu in January 2022, after an old article he published 2 years back was recirculated as a fresh endorsement.
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In denying the claim, Dele Momodu blasted the handlers of Tinubu saying, “An article I wrote two years ago about TINUBU has suddenly become a fresh endorsement in 2022. What chicanery is this? While I have tremendous respect for ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, his handlers have no right to engage in pure mischief by abusing our relationship.”
Borno CAN Chairman denies endorsing Tinubu
Chairman, Borno State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Mohammed Naga also denied endorsing the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in a statement on July 12, 2022
He said, “I didn’t speak to any journalist, media outfit or even any social media user. I didn’t endorse or applaud any selection. The report is the fabrication of the reporters and the organisation to cause more tension among our people.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo denies endorsing Tinubu
Apex Igbo socio-cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo joined the list of individuals and bodies who have denied endorsing Sen Bola Tinubu.
The group in a statement on July 2022, said its statement was taken out of context.
It said, “What was misinterpreted as an endorsement was a call for change in attitudes of APC South East governors and senators, whose activities de-marketed the zone in APC primaries.”
“Ndigbo was ashamed to admit that an APC South East governor, who led APC to their defeats in Edo and Anambra governorship elections, spearheaded the aspiration of a Northeasterner against the Southeasterner in the APC primary, and a former governor and an APC Senator, who is scheming for the position of senate president against the South East’s quest for 2023 presidency, both APC South East leaders should turn a new leaf and emulate Tinubu patriotism and commitment, which had repositioned South West from an impoverished political position in 2011 to the lofty height of admiration in 2022.”
SDP denies endorsing Tinubu
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) released a statement on August 23, 2022, denying its purported endorsement of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu after a certain Alfa Mohammed, who claimed to be the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said that no serious party would reject an opportunity to pick Tinubu as its presidential candidate.
Debunking its endorsement of Tinubu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba said, “It is nothing but an attention-seeking shenanigan on the part of Alhaji Alfa Mohammed the writer, who not only lacks the authority to issue the statement, but is not known to our great party, and INEC, the regulatory body of political parties in Nigeria as a national officer of the party.”
Miyetti Allah denies endorsing Tinubu
The Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in a statement in January 2022 denied endorsing Sen Bola Tinubu, after media reports claimed the group had thrown its weight behind the Lagos strongman.
The group claimed members who endorsed candidates were doing so on their own.
“We want to make it clear that the association has not endorsed any candidate.
“Those who endorsed Tinubu are doing so as individuals, as MACBAN should not in anyway be dragged into the politics of endorsement at this stage.”