The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has described a media report on “I’m ready to get dirty” statement he purportedly made during a visit to the residence of Olubadan-Designate, describing it as “inaccurate and erroneous”.
Tinubu who is jostling for the APC Presidential ticket lamented and restated that, the report’s headline was wrong and story latched on by some online platforms/blogs and commentators to pour invective on Asiwaju Tinubu.
A statement signed Monday by Tunde Rahman in Tinubu’s Media office said the commentaries and remarks were unfortunate because “they are groundless, misinformed and misdirected. Hence, this clarification has become imperative”.
Tinubu’s statement reads in part: “It bears restating that at no time during the visit and in his speech did Asiwaju indicate that he would fight dirty for his presidential ambition. His words were carefully chosen. They did not lend credence to such interpretation as given by the Vanguard Newspaper.
“For clarity and avoidance of doubts, this is what the APC leader told Olubadan-Designate High Chief Balogun: “Kabiyesi, all I have come for is to beg you to continue to pray for me, the entire Yoruba race and the country. Now I am out. Out for what, Kabiyesi? I am out to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is a wise saying that if you want to wrestle with the pig, be ready to get dirty and deal with the poo-poo. I am ready to get dirty. No intimidation, no blackmail, no sort of insult will get me angry to the extent that I will say no more, I don’t want again…”
“This statement is comprehensible and clear enough. Our appeal to the media is that as the 2023 election approaches, and indeed at all times, they should not allow their mediums and platforms to be deployed in the desperate smear campaigns and campaigns of calumny by politicians. They owe themselves and our society to report accurately and objectively without fear or favour. The duty of the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm is a sacred one which must be guided jealously.
Tinubu’s reaction followed a Page 1 lead report by Vanguard Newspaper captioned “I’m ready to get dirty –Tinubu”.
The former Lagos State Governor had on Sunday, February 20, 2022 visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, and on his return from the ancient town, paid a courtesy call on the Olubadan-Designate, Senator Lekan Balogun.
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