By Ayo Yusuf
Former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has explained why he prefers President Bola Tinubu to former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar whom he described as ruthless and vindictive.
Prince Afegbua, who was reflecting on his personal relationships with both Alhaji Atiku and President Tinubu against the backdrop of the ongoing legal tussles between them over the results of the last presidential poll, said in a statement on Thursday night that he had no regrets in supporting Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential bid.
According to him, “In taking my decision, I examined all the variables. Atiku Abubakar looked to me like a very vindictive person; so unforgiving and mortally deadly. He hardly smiles, laughs or is jovial.
“In 2019 when I served on the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, alongside seven other spokesmen, Atiku Abubakar never gave us any audience; on the excuse of being busy. Indeed, we were speaking without really knowing the personal nuances and sentiments of the man we spoke for.
“In the buildup to the 2023 elections, unlike Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Tinubu was available to any supporter who wanted to see him. He engaged, interacted, conversed and dialogued with us. As a good listener, he always offered his own perspectives on issues.
“He was always responsive; to calls and engagements. I had several sessions with him, on different subject areas with so much information shared on multiple occasions.
“Our president knew exactly what he wanted, and how to go about his agenda. He’s not a vindictive and dismissive person.”
The full text of Afegbua’s statement titled, “Prince Kassim Afegbua on Atiku Abubakar,” reads, “I have no regrets supporting Asiwaju Tinubu for President. In taking my decision, I examined all the variables. Atiku Abubakar looked to me, a very vindictive person; so unforgiving and deadly. He hardly smiles, laughs or is jovial.
“In 2019 when I served on the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, alongside seven other spokesmen, Atiku Abubakar never gave us any audience; on the excuse of being busy. Indeed, we were speaking without really knowing the personal nuances and sentiments of the man we spoke for.
“In his misanthropic character, he kept even us his spokesmen at a distance, leaving us deceived that he was the right choice for Nigerians. We used only the party’s manifesto to campaign, and carry out our advocacy; we didn’t relate with him, and didnt know him.
“Understandably albeit, at that time there was a burning desire not to have Buhari come back; the former President didn’t show leadership at all.
“In the build up to the 2023 elections, unlike Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Tinubu was available to any supporter who wanted to see him. He engaged, interacted, conversed, and dialogued with us. As a good listener, he always offered his own perspectives on issues.
“He was always responsive; to calls and engagements. I had several sessions with him, on different subject areas with so much information shared on multiple occasions. Our president knew exactly what he wanted, and how to go about his agenda.
“He’s not a vindictive and dismissive person. See how he has accommodated those who have at one time or another disagreed with him, or publicly confronted him. He’s objective and constructive.
“He is friendly in his disposition and possesses and exudes a wealth of emotional Intelligence. His chutzpah at taking decisions even on subjects and in areas usually maneuvered around is deft; and his courage to sometimes differ is worthy of emulation.
“Atiku Abubakar is not charismatic and his gestures do not serve anything else or beyond his guttural passage.
“He has now turned against President Tinubu, his one time benefactor, buoyed by his deep desire for power. In 2007, Asiwaju Tinubu gave his political platform to him to run for president, when former President Obasanjo was leading him to a political Golgotha.
“At that time, Atiku celebrated Tinubu to high heaven. Indeed, nobody knows tomorrow!! He contested in that election and failed woefully. Albeit, he was able to prove a point to President Obasanjo then, that despite his alleged corruption besmirchment, he still got on the ballot paper.
“Now fast forward to today, and attempts to reconcile that goodwill of President Tinubu’s with his present craze to pull Asiwaju Tinubu down. It looks to me like utter wickedness, ruthlessness and vindictiveness. What have the American Courts got to do with our elections here?
“What warrants this expedition? Has he forgotten their halcyon days? All I see is desperation. Atiku may very well be the one credited with the popular saying “my friends, there are no friends.”
“Power is truly a crazy aphrodisiac! Lets see how it goes. This latest onslaught will become another comic tiktok.”
