By Chinelo Obogo
National leader of the All Progress Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has derided lawyer and human rights activist, Tunji Abayomi, for describing him as a dictator.
Abayomi, who is a governorship aspirant on the APC platform in Ondo State had, in a letter, alleged that some APC leaders had met with him (Tinubu) on July 31 at a meeting, which he said was held to ensure that the primaries would be a procession for his candidate rather than a free and fair contest.
In the letter titled, “The tonic of democracy is the right of the people to choose their leaders”, Abayomi said that there were signs that Tinubu plans to impose a candidate on the Ondo State APC before its August 27 primaries, and warned him “to stop his bid to tamper with the will of the people
Tinubu, in his reply described Abayomi’s comment as ‘unfair’ and an “impetuous display, unbecoming of a man who seeks the highest leadership position in the state.” In a letter addressed to Abayomi, he insisted that, as a leader in the party, he had the right to support whoever he wished to support, saying he has no regrets for his actions.
“Your letter to me is an impetuous display unbecoming a man of your status seeking the highest leadership position in his state.
In writing the letter, you appear to have been bitten by a bug that often blinds the objectivity of a man. You have been bitten by an ambition that you fear you shall not be able to realise. In your pursuit of office, you have sought my support and influence. When you sought that support, you thought it proper and democratic to do so. If I had signaled my support for you, I am sure that you would never have written this letter alleging that I was undermining the democratic will of the people. You would have been pleased with me, I suppose.
“I also need to correct what appears to be a mistaken impression on your part about the 2015 election. Your letter seems to indicate that it was on your advice that I backed President Buhari. You assume too much credit and should be more guarded in your assertions. As a veteran in the political arena, I do not make important decisions lightly. I make final political decisions and calculations on my own after deep reflections and consultation with many people from many perspectives,” Tinubu wrote.