Tinubu at US Democratic Party Convention is Political Tourism - PDP
The leader of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola Tinubu, seems to be in deep trouble for announcing that he was personally invited by United States President Barack Obama to attend the just ended Democratic Party Convention
in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disclosed yesterday that it had credible information that neither the Democratic Party nor President Obama did extend any special invitation to the former Lagos State Governor, adding that the propaganda by the ACN and its chieftains have once again exposed the ACN is a party that thrives on lies and falsehood to court the attention of Nigerians.
'The usual desperation of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party to court attention at all cost has taken an international dimension.'This time, Senator Tinubu who prides himself as the national leader of the ACN has been basking in a delusory frenzy of being 'specially invited' to the just concluded Democratic National Convention which held in Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States of America, noted a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Methu.
The PDP also said such deceitful postures and needless bare-faced lies by the ACN is a tragedy capable of inculcating negative values in the growing generation of Nigerian politicians. 'While Tinubu and his co-travelers are still humoring themselves on being recognized in the international circle as leaders of opposition for attending the convention, it has since been revealed that the man actually labored vigorously to purchase his invitation.'
According to Methu, the claim by the ACN of a working agreement between it and the Democratic Party which the latter has debunked and waved off as inconsequential is a sludge on the image of Nigeria. 'With over half a decade of independence behind us and with generations of eminent Nigerians at the national and international levels, it is painful that our people are being subjected to denigration by a foreign political party on the account of fraudulent claims of an international alliance by the ACN.'
The PDP recalled that Tinubu has very solid credentials for lies-telling, pointing to the controversy over his date of birth, his educational qualifications and even his state of origin. 'We do not really question Tinubu's right to engage in any form of political tourism but we find it reprehensible that he could go to that extent to fraudulently establish importance for himself and his party. It is laughable and unfortunate. Neither a political party nor a politician worth the onion needs to live a lie to create enough effect and acceptance before the people. We therefore wonder at the driving motivation behind ACN's desperate maneuverings. Is the ACN just a political party with a constitution and manifesto devoid of moral code for members? It appears it is,' the statement said.
The PDP dismissed Tinubu's trip as having been informed by ego-boosting self-aggrandizement, especially as Tinubu dragged some members of his party along. 'Very laughable in Tinubu's image laundering trip to the US is the presence in the delegation of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji who is standing trial on corruption charges.' 'We wish to remind the ACN that no amount of 'black market' convention trip or pseudo endorsement abroad can improve its political fortunes at home. Endorsement belongs to the people of Nigeria and not even the fraudulent manipulation of the media can earn this,' the statement read in part.