IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, has caused a stir on social media, after he almost said “God Bless PDP.”
The Peoples Democratic Party is an opposition party whose presidential candidate is former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
He made the blunder while speaking at his presidential campaign flag off in Plateau on Tuesday, 15 November, 2022.
While political gaffe is common in any political speech, however, the speculation on the health status of Mr. Tinubu could explain the extra attention and scrutiny of his speeches.
Last month, the APC flagbearer gave a long speech on his plans for Nigeria at the Kaduna Economic and Investment summit which was criticized by Nigerians.
His speech touched on insecurity, judicial reforms, the economy and other sectors. However, the speech was overshadowed by a gaffe when he was speaking on host Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.
Mr. Tinubu, in his usual self-confidence, assured the audience that he is going to win the presidential election and urged Governor El-rufai to abandon any plans to retire from public service after his tenure as governor.
In the process, he dropped the bombshell that Mr El-rufai has the capacity to turn a rotten situation into a bad one.
“I am openly begging Nasir El-rufai not to run away for additional degree and excuse. He is going to Cairo—PhD and everything. There are a lot of educated relics. We are not going to let you run away, your vision, creativity and resilience in turning a rotten situation into a bad one is necessary at this critical time. That is why we are here today,” he said.
Aside from the gaffe, in the beginning, the speech was wobbling with several awkward stops in-between words, phrases and sentences.
His “tell them to shut up” comment during the inauguration of the women’s campaign council set tongues wagging on social media.
Mr. Tinubu had asked APC women leaders to ask PDP members demanding a change of government to “shut up”. On social media, the statement was translated to “Tinubu tells Nigerians to shut up”.
Aside from gaffes, the APC candidate also has a history of making damaging comments when speaking off-script.
In 2018, during the gubernatorial election campaign in Osun State, Mr. Tinubu, speaking at the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun, said he is richer than Osun State.
“I am not being abusive and I will not look into the eyes of Kabiyesi (the King) to say this. People may be saying that Jagaban, Asiwaju has appointed someone to help him plunder Osun’s funds, and all, and I ask them: ‘How much exactly do you (Osun State) even have?’
“Kabiyesi I don’t want to say this in front of you but, Osun is not as rich as I am, that one would steal. I only want to help this state.”
Earlier this year, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the tussle for the APC ticket, Mr Tinubu went gun blazing against everyone in his “Emi lokan” rant.
Some of the victims of his diatribe included President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who got the infamous title of Eleyi.
Many believe that Mr Tinubu has avoided one-on-one interviews because of the constant gaffes. As those gaffes could take away attention from the core of his speech.
The latest gaffe happened on Tuesday noon when Tinubu was speaking at the APC presidential campaign flag-off held at the Rawang Pam Township Stadium in Jos, Plateau State.
The politician who wanted to say ‘God bless APC’ committed a blunder as he ended up saying ‘God bless PD” before correcting himself.
“God bless Nigeria, God bless PD, APC,” he said.
His latest blunder has caused uproar on Twitter with some Nigerians slamming him for it.
A tweep, @felix_enimini said: “Yes by saying God bless PDP 🤣🤣🤣 Whosoever that is packaging you for Nigeria, it shall not be well with the person..”
Another tweep, @GreatBashy said: “We are used to that. Remember when Buhari referred to his party APC as All peoples Congress?, West Germany president, …. Very funny. Don’t take that too serious. Baba is winning. That crowd is something else!”
@FS_Yusuf also tweeted: “If you are still supporting Tinubu, May you be speaking like Tinubu!”
“Baba Agbado battery 🔋don weak, e remain only 5%. Him go soon go UK go recharge,” a Twitter user identified as Peter, noted while reacting to the video trending on social media.
@zaMusbeyNe who also spared a thought on the recent incident said: “Bola Ahmed Tinubu need to go home and take care of himself. How can this man rule over 200million people dan Allah? 😂”
@TheSilvapr asked how Tinubu will rule 200 million people in Nigeria, if he can’t remember his own party.