Why Always Me? Nigerians should stop wishing me dead – Tinubu

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, has cautioned Nigerians against wishing him dead.

The former Lagos State governor stated on Thursday that there was no truth whatsoever in the speculation making the rounds that he was flown to London for medical attention.

Insisting that he was hale and hearty, Tinubu explained that he travelled to the United Kingdom with his close family members for a vacation as against the rumour that he was lying critically ill in a London hospital.

The social media had been awash with stories of various life-threatening ailments which Tinubu was reportedly battling with. Many were already wishing him speeding recovery.

But Tinubu’s media aide, Sunday Dare, in a statement posted on Facebook described as “idle charter” his report of ill-health, adding that the APC leader was in great shape.

According to Dare, his principal is not only in “great health” but also, on a “brief well deserved vacation” with his family members.

Urging Nigerians to discountenance the rumours of Tinubu’s ill-health, he added that any contrary news is patently false and malicious.

He said, “I find the idle charter on some online sites about the alleged ill health of Asiwaju BolaTinubu amusing. That some idle minds have continued to perpetuate this absolute falsehood to the point of the ridiculous is disgusting.

“They (rumour mongers) deserve our prayers for wishing what is not on someone else. For the records, Tinubu is in great shape and his associates who see him and speak with him know this. I have been with him in the past three weeks and only returned to Nigeria on some assignments.”

Tinubu’s media advisor stated that the APC national leader had also taken advantage of his London visit to propagate the ideals and mission of the opposition party.

“He is in London helping APC spread the word about its mission of change. He returns to the country soon and those that wish him dead will be put to shame,” he added.

On a Twitter handle credited to Tinubu, the former APC leader expressed concerns over the expansionist drive of the Boko Haram insurgent group.

Tinubu warned that the seizure of towns and communities in the North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States must not be allowed to continue.

“From Borno to Adamawa, Nigeria’s descent into war unfolds. Yet an irresponsible government continues to look for scapegoats instead of doing something.

“The festering Boko Haram attacks on the North East and massacre of innocent citizens is a concrete proof that Nigeria has no government,” Tinubu added.

Meanwhile, the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Clemson University, United States, Gloria Bromell-Tinubu, has signalled her interest to run for a seat in the American Congress on the platform of the Democratic Party.

Bromell-Tinubu, who is seeking to represent South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District at the American Congress, has already made history by being the first African-American woman in South Carolina to win the Democratic party’s nomination for the seat.

Writing on Twitter, the 61-year-old lamented that South Carolina had not had a woman elected to Congress in the last 20 years and urged her constituents to change the status quo by giving her their mandate.

The economist promised her constituents that she would fight for social and economic justice for the working class in South Carolina and beyond.

According to Bromell-Tinubu, the work of unions and the labour movement in championing for justice and fairness must be honoured and recognized adding that her first assignment as a congresswoman would be to urge Congress to raise wages.

Writing on her website, gloria2014.com, she added, “I envision a 7th District where our citizens are healthy and people have good-paying jobs and thriving businesses that allow all citizens to take care of themselves and their families. While many are working hard to make ends meet, most people don’t have money to save and invest in a better future for the next generation.

“People are just getting by.There needs to be a bridge: a way for people to get from where they are–full of drive, promise and potential–to where we all know they can be. This is the American dream. As your congresswoman, I will fight to protect and promote an agenda that improves your life.

“In order to get people through these tough times, we have to create a country where people can thrive because they are able to create wealth for themselves by investing in things like education, business, and a home.”