The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), declared at an APC presidential campaign rally in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, that the ruling party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu, will perform well if elected. Speaking before thousands of supporters on Saturday, Buhari emphasized his long‑standing friendship with Tinubu, which he said spans more than 20 years, and assured Nigerians that Tinubu would be a good president who would improve the country after him. He also urged party members and Tinubu’s supporters to vote for the candidate in the February 25 polls.
Rumours of tension between Buhari and Tinubu have circulated after Tinubu’s recent statements suggesting sabotage by the Presidency over fuel scarcity and the naira redesign. At an APC rally in Ogun State, Tinubu, speaking in Yoruba, was quoted as saying, “Hide the petrol, hide the naira, we will still vote, we will win… Even if you change the ink on naira notes, what you want will not happen. We will win. That umbrella party will lose. We will take this government from them—saboteurs that are dragging power with us.” These remarks prompted reactions from politicians and party chieftains, who interpreted them as evidence of a rift between Buhari and the presidential candidate.
Quelling the speculation, Buhari addressed the Nasarawa crowd, mixing English and Hausa: “I am happy to be part of the campaign today for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria and Governor (Abdullahi) Sule for his second and final term. We will win through and through. I trust Tinubu’s dedication and service. I have known Bola Tinubu for more than 20 years. I will continue to campaign for him. He is a committed Nigerian and I believe he will give everything to make Nigeria better. He loves this country, he is a believer in Nigeria, and I am sure he will do everything possible to advance the well‑being of all of us as citizens. He will hold this country with trust. You should cherish him. Those of you who are here, I urge you to go back to your friends and family to tell them to vote for him. We will all vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president.”
Tinubu, in his own address, praised Buhari’s courage and leadership, saying the president “continues to offer leadership with boldness and courage despite all the challenges,” and asserted that the country will recover. He dismissed claims of a split, describing their friendship as “strong, enduring and about nation‑building.”
Meanwhile, the Atiku‑Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation reminded Nigerians that Tinubu is responsible for the nation’s economic setbacks. The PDP campaign recalled Tinubu’s “vicious anti‑people campaign” against the gradual removal of fuel subsidies and the accompanying palliatives that cushioned the impact on Nigerians. Both campaigns have exchanged accusations since the introduction of the new naira notes. The PDP questioned Tinubu’s concern for Nigerians, asking what effort he made to address the worsening economy, rising inflation, unemployment, and the soaring cost of living that have turned the country from a fast‑growing economy under the PDP into a “poverty capital” under the APC. They demanded to hear Tinubu’s consoling words to the people.
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