Facts have emerged on why serving ministers were not among the numerous politicians and party loyalists who visited Tinubu while he was recuperating in London following his recent ailment.
The President visited Tinubu in August 2021 and some governors and lawmakers also visited him thereafter but none of the ministers did.
A minister told Sunday PUNCH, “Go and check the list. ministers and other top Federal Government functionaries didn’t visit him in London. Tinubu has his nominees in the Federal Executive Council, but they could not go because they also know the workings of the government and they had to understand the mind of their boss.”
Tinubu had in a statement by his Media Office described the President’s visit as “friendly and a welcome one”, adding that, “By this gesture, Mr President has again demonstrated his personal thoughtfulness and humility; defying the erroneous commentaries peddled by his critics.”
Among those who visited Tinubu were the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi as well as Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, who was accompanied by his wife Hafsat; their son, Umar Ganduje; three lawmakers as well four other members of the Ganduje family.
Others who visited Tinubu in London included the House of Representatives Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; ex-governor of Ogun State and current Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun; former Governor of Borno State and senator representing Borno Central, Kashim Shettima; and the member representing Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency of Borno State, Usman Zanna.
Investigations showed that the presidential aspirations of Tinubu and Osinbajo might have polarised the ministers as to who they would support.
“There are some ministers in the government that were believed to have been made by Asiwaju but are no longer loyal to him. If you check, you can identify them. They are there and that is politics,” the source said. (Punch)
