Saraki's Media Office Denies Claims of Indirect Tinubu Endorsement as Mischievous
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has firmly dismissed claims that former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, indirectly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office. The office described these assertions as mischievous, incorrect, and a misinterpretation of Saraki's unambiguous statements made during a recent television interview.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy erupted after Demola Olarewaju, a Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, posted on X that Saraki's comments during an interview with Channels Television's Politics Today programme amounted to an indirect endorsement of Tinubu. In the interview, Saraki was questioned about his friendship with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and whether it signaled support for President Tinubu.
Saraki responded by stating, "You can't extrapolate that. My friendship is based on what we are going to do about this party." He emphasized his commitment to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), saying, "I found his style, his views might be different, but that PDP must not die. PDP must be able to provide a platform for people to contest elections."
Saraki's Stance on Political Zoning
During the interview, Saraki also addressed calls for the presidency to remain in the South, which would favor a Tinubu re-election. He remarked, "Nigerians chose to elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South in 2023. I think it is only fair, in my view, to allow the South to complete the eight years." This statement was interpreted by Olarewaju as an indirect endorsement, prompting a strong rebuttal from Saraki's media office.
In a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, the media office clarified that Saraki's words were taken out of context. "Dr. Saraki, in that interview, made it clear that, by his antecedents, he was not a person who would say or do A in the afternoon and then go back to do B in the night. Nor does he do things indirectly," the statement read. It added that Saraki would make his support for any candidate clear to the public when the time comes, without mincing words or hiding his intentions.
Clarifications and Rebuttals
The media office further explained that Saraki was part of the PDP's National Executive Committee last year, which zoned the presidential ticket to the South. "It is a well-known fact that President Tinubu is not the only southerner interested in contesting the 2027 presidential elections," the statement noted, highlighting that Saraki's comments were about broader political principles rather than a specific endorsement.
Saraki also stated in the interview that he would wait to see who emerges as the PDP presidential candidate before making any endorsement. He expressed a belief that by 2031, it should be the turn of the North to contest the presidency, with only northern candidates eligible. "With the clear, unambiguous and deliberate explanations that Dr. Saraki made in the Channels interview, it is only dubious for people like Olanrewaju to be putting a spin on his words," the media office asserted, accusing some politicians of desperation and dirty calculations to misinterpret statements for their own ambitions.
Conclusion
This incident underscores the intense political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections, with figures like Saraki navigating complex alliances and public perceptions. The media office's firm denial aims to set the record straight, emphasizing Saraki's transparency and commitment to his beliefs, even at great personal cost. As the political landscape evolves, such clarifications will be crucial in shaping public discourse and maintaining integrity within Nigeria's democratic processes.
