The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation has frowned at the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by South West political leaders.
The South West leaders, on Saturday in Akure, gave their blessing to Tinubu’s presidential aspiration with the leader of the Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, praying for the success of the APC candidate in the 2023 election.
But the Atiku campaign, through a statement on Monday by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, described the endorsement as a “failed attempt to procure reputable South West leaders to support his tottering and self-seeking presidential ambition.”
Ologbondiyan said: “Nigerians watched with dismay as the APC presidential candidate resorted to playing ethnic card at a session he organised at Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s house in Akure, Ondo State, at the weekend, in a bid to divert attention from his numerous anti-people issues and use the unsuspecting leaders to create an impression of having secured the endorsement of the South West.
“Our electoral process is badly scandalised by report in the public space that the APC has been making huge financial overtures to some leaders to create factions in certain credible Pan-South West organisations and use such procured factions to pronounce support for the APC presidential candidate.
“The very thought by the APC Presidential Campaign to compromise the leaders of the South West is to say the least, reprehensible, atrocious, sacrilegious and shows the extent of disrespect, irreverence and disdain the APC has for such revered leaders.”