Bola Tinubu
The Presidential campaign council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the backlash its presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima received for giving cash gifts to a disabled man, saying it was a show of kindness and not bribe as speculated by many.
In the two-minute video which went viral on social media, Tinubu and Shettima were seen giving crispy naira notes to a physically challenged man during a meeting with people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Abuja.
The video sparked negative reactions, with members of the opposition, including former presidential aide, Reno Omokri and spokesperson of Labour Party presidential candidate, Emeka Obasi accusing Tinubu of corruption.
However, while explaining the content of the video on Wednesday, the APC campaign team described the accusation as “dishonest, erroneous and incorrect narrative” adding that Tinubu and Shettima were merely extending a hand of kindness to the man in the video.
Speaking on the matter, deputy spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign council, Barrister Hannatu Musawa said: “My attention has been drawn to the dishonest, erroneous and incorrect narrative spun by unctuous, dissipated, debauched and desperate elements within the opposition to turn a perfectly innocent video I posted of a kind act I witnessed my Principals carrying out into something mendacious and devious.
“A few days ago, I attended a gathering with the presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shetima where they had a robust engagement with persons with disability.
“During the event, our principals had the opportunity to interact with a poor and disabled elderly gentleman. Borne purely out of compassion, my principals spoke to this gentleman, listened to him and performed the tenant of charity and alms giving towards him.
“As I watched this tender moment between the three men, I wanted to capture it and show the world the empathy that organically runs through the veins of my principals, and that raw spirit of charity that they both imbibe.”
Musawa explained that she shared the video to tell a compassionate and compelling story of leadership as depicted by Tinubu and Shettima.
