Obama Never invited Tinubu to the Democratic Party Convention - DNC
The murky waters that followed media reports that the leader of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ahmed Bola Tinubu received a personal invitation from US President Barack Obama to attend the just ended Democratic National Convention
(DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, seems to have become inky black amid emerging evidence that the former Lagos State governor paid a whopping 5000 US dollars for the generic invitation.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) sources told Huhuonline.com in Charlotte that the invitation sent to Tinubu was the generic type that similarly went to whoever donated more than $5,000 to the Obama For America (OFA) campaign. 'The invitation card sent to Tinubu, the former senator from Nigeria, was generic and it generally goes from the campaign organization and not personally from President Obama,' the DNC source told Huhuonline.com, adding that the President has very little input when it comes to the guest list of the party's convention.
The DNC source discounted claims by Tinubu and his aides who misinterpreted the invitation as Obama's tacit endorsement of Tinubu as his preferred choice of leadership for Nigeria, saying even the DNC platform barely mentioned Africa and it didn't even say much because American foreign policy engagements are the preserve of policy wonks at the US State department.
Huhuonline.com read the DNC platform to verify what the source said and noticed that the only section that dealt with Africa noted that 'We will continue to partner with African nations to combat al-Qaeda affiliates in places like Somalia and to bring to justice those who commit mass atrocities, like Joseph Kony. We have made great efforts to reduce the violence in Darfur and built international support for a successful referendum on South Sudan's future. And in his first visit as President to the United Nations, President Obama advanced initiatives to strengthen UN peacekeeping capabilities in Africa. This includes providing equipment, training, and logistical support for UN and African Union missions in Darfur and Somalia. The President has also worked to help African nations grow their economies, and we have opened trade and investment opportunities across the continent.'
The alleged gold card invitation to Tinubu from Obama which seems to indicate a level of personal intimacy between the President of the United States and the leader of the Nigerian opposition was just another belated attempt at ego boosting and self-aggrandizement. The DNC source categorically denied that the Party invited Tinubu in his capacity as leader of the Nigerian opposition. Huhuonline.com was privy to read the official list of invited guests to the convention and Tinubu's name was not on the list.
The media team of Tinubu had claimed that he was invited to the Democratic National Convention in his right as the leader of the opposition in Nigeria. According to his media aide Sunday Dare ' Tinubu will be at the ring side as the Democratic Party conduct activities that will culminate in the nomination of President Barrack Obama as its candidate for the November 2012 Presidential elections in the USA.'
'Tinubu receives a gold card invitation which is prime and with this, he will be joined by three other eminent personalities - Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Speaker Lagos state House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos state, Mr Dele Alake.' the statement added.
Huhuonline.com understands that this is not the first time the narcissistic and flamboyant Tinubu has been enmeshed in controversy bothering on false claims. Amongst his famous controversies include the furor over his academic qualifications, his claim of being a Certified Public Accountant, and the discrepancy in his age records.
The degree of travesty to which the former Lagos State governor has plummeted in the seeming instant to attract attention at home and abroad is indeed amazing. This has transformed his name to a tortured tabloid cliché. In 2009 when President Obama was inaugurated, Tinubu claimed he also enjoyed a ring side seat at the event in Washington, even though he was not even spotted near the rostrum.