The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has dismissed a claim that former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, indirectly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.

The claim was made on X by Demola Olarewaju, a Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following Saraki’s interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

The Guardian reported that Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State, was asked if his friendship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, indicated an endorsement of President Tinubu.

He said, “You can’t extrapolate that. My friendship is based on what we are going to do about this party.

“I found his style, his views might be different, but that PDP must not die. PDP must be able to provide a platform for people to contest elections. That, I do not in any way doubt, is the sincerity where he stands, that’s where I stand.”

On calls for the Presidency to remain in the South, which favours a Tinubu re-election, Saraki said, “Nigerians chose to elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South in 2023. I think it is only fair, in my view, to allow the South to complete the eight years.”

Reacting, Atiku’s aide, Olarewaju, described Saraki’s words as an indirect endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term in office.

He shared on X, “Respect to Sen. Bukola Saraki, but arguing for Southern President while Tinubu is in power is an indirect endorsement of Tinubu’s second term and an ignoring of Nigeria’s tripartite balance at Independence in 1960, and 6 zone arrangement since 1999.”

Dismissing Olarewaju’s claim, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, in a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, described it as a mischievous, incorrect and misinterpretation of an unambiguous statement made in clear English.

“Dr Saraki, in that interview, made it clear that, by his antecedents, he was not a person who would say or do A in the afternoon and then go back to do B in the night. Nor does he do things indirectly, as quoted by Atiku’s aide. When the time comes, whoever the candidate he will be supporting, he will make it clear to members of the public. He added that he would not mince words about his plans nor hide his idea. He always stands for what he believes in, even at a great cost to him. If his view does not sit well with the ambition and plan of some other persons, then it is their cup of tea,” Saraki’s media office said.

“Dr Saraki, in the Channels TV interview, added that he was part of the people who in the National Executive Committee of PDP last year zoned the presidential ticket of the PDP to the South. It is a well-known fact that President Tinubu is not the only southerner interested in contesting the 2027 presidential elections

“In the Channels interview, Dr Saraki also made it clear that he would wait to see who emerges as the PDP presidential candidate and come out with his endorsement. He made it clear that he believes that in 2031, there should be no ambiguity or doubt about the fact that it would be the turn of the North and only candidates from the North should contest for the presidential slot.

“With the clear, unambiguous and deliberate explanations that Dr Saraki made in the Channels interview, it is only dubious for people like Olanrewaju to be putting a spin on his words. That only shows the desperation and dirty calculation of some politicians to misinterpret other people’s words to achieve their own unpatriotic and unpopular ambition.” (Guardian)