A social political group known as the Yoruba Ronu Group (YRG) has risen in defence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu against what it described as unwarranted online media attacks funded by certain alleged selfish politicians, especially, people who are exploiting the masses by pretending to be fighting their cause.
In a statement on Tuesday titled: “Presidential Race: Yoruba Ronu Warns Against Campaign Of Calumny Against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”, and signed by its Director of Communications, Mr Steve Bayode, the group deplored what it called recycled, false allegations being sponsored against the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader.
It said: “We noted that a particular interest group and persons of the Yoruba extractions are in the habit of sponsoring recycled, false allegations against Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and his political allies in the bid to force their narrow and highly discredited political will on the good people of Nigeria.
We are warning that those behind the shameful and treacherous act will live to regret their actions as their efforts will not only fail, but it will come round to haunt them.
YRG condemns in its entirety this sponsored false rhetorics online by the said unscrupulous persons going around with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in respect of his presidential ambition.
Prince Diran Iyantan, who is the Chairman of Yoruba Ronu Group, noted that such mischievous posts online have become routinous, alleging that the source of those publications are well known and traceable to certain misguided politicians and fake human right crusaders.”
The statement said: “We have repeatedly stated in our previous releases that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ambition does not stop other Yoruba or any South West person from aspiring to the same position. We just feel that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a better chance than anyone else at clinching the position which is the reason for our support for him.
“It is, therefore, sad to see fellow Yoruba persons casting aspersions on the person of Jagaban for flying high the flag of the Yoruba race. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s interest after leaving office has been to help nurture and consolidate democracy in Nigeria. This, he has done, creditably, well. In addition, he has helped the progressives to attain power to the country’s presidency.
“We are aware that the stakes are high as the presidential election approaches, and desperate politicians will resort to different gimmicks, basically, to rock the boat. Those who have committed themselves to sustained campaign of calumny in the media against the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, will labour in vain and they are well known to us.
“They have, continually, used their family blogs in New York to run a lot of people down in Nigeria. They stand for blackmailing people with the hope of gaining financial gratification. We are documenting their acts.
“Also, we are aware that these cowards and hack-writers have benefited from Asiwaju’s benevolence in the past, only to turn around and sponsor negative publications to impugn his reputation. We charge them to desist forthwith from such callousness because their duplicitious conduct will eventually hunt them down.
“To them and other politicians of their ilk in South West, we urge them to promote their political party interest, to conduct themselves with maturity, dignity and mutual respect in the interest of the good people of Yoruba-land and, by extension, Nigeria.
“Their intentions at destroying another Yoruba star the same way they destroyed Kemi Adeosun’s reputation is not meritorious to the Yoruba race. It is bad. This is politics taken too far.
“We know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the victory of the APC in the next year presidential election in the country. He is the most popular among the masses. The opposition have respect for him. He is an enigma.
“We hereby call on the APC leadership at the national level to ensure fairness to all the aspirants as we move forward in order to avoid internal implosion which could mar the chances of the party in the presidential election.”
