Osun, Ekiti Polls: We’ll Not Go To Court, This Time It Is ‘Rig And Roast’ – Tinubu

Although the audience was made up mostly of academics, former Governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, could not help but delve into politics, as he warned against any attempt to rig the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

The elections are slated for June 21 (Ekiti) and August 9 (Osun).
Speaking at his investiture as the Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, and award of honorary Doctor of Science in Management Science yesterday, Tinubu said “it will be rig and roast”.
Apparently reacting to an earlier statement credited to the Vice President, Arc Namadi Sambo that the elections in the two states would be a warfare for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the APC chieftain warned: “We are prepared not to go to court but to drive you out. We will not take it anymore. If you mess up in Ekiti and Osun states, you will see our reactions. For every action, there must be a reaction”.
Tinubu called on the electorate in the two South-West states to guard their votes, saying that no government that wants people’s votes to count would behave the way the current government was doing.
“They are planning to rig the elections but be ready to protect your votes. It is going to be rig and roast”, he added.
Reacting to President Goodluck Jonathan’s comments in Kano last week, where he accused the state Governor, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso of mismanaging the money meant for his presidential campaign in 2011, Tinubu asked the president where he got such huge amount of money, having used ‘I’d no shoes’ as one of his many campaign slogans.
The APC chieftain, who spoke on the topic, “Two Faces of Despair: State of the Nigeria Nation”, also faulted President Jonathan’s administration on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that was recently rebased.
He said: “Nigeria has magically leaped over South Africa to become the largest economy in Africa. Too bad the magical statistics do not translate into a magical improvement in the people’s economic condition. While the GDP grew, the people’s wellbeing tumbles.
“The recent rebasing putting Nigeria ahead of South Africa has raised more doubts about the objectives of those in charge of economy. From a modest of $305 billion, Nigeria’s GDP ballooned to $488billion.
“The GDP mathematics is an offensive sideshow, given the real hardships Nigerians face. This is another variant of the vision 2020 gimmick and to make the government look good prior to the world economic forum meeting in Abuja next month. It is propaganda not progress”, Tinubu asserted.
The investiture ceremony was attended by APC chieftains from across the country, including National Leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Interim Chairman Bisi Akande, Interim National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and presidential flag bearer of the defunct ACN, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Others are Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, who came with his wife Sherifat, host Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his wife Florence, as well as senators and other top party officials. They were Senators Gbenga Ashafa, Olorunimbe Mamora, Femi Ojudu and Sola Adeyeye.
Also there were House of Representatives Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, frontline scholar Prof. Adebayo Williams, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji and former Lagos Commissioner for Information Mr. Dele Alake.
The Governors of Lagos, Ekiti and Ogun were represented by their spouses – Dame Abimbola Fashola (Lagos), Erelu Bisi Fayemi (Ekiti) and Mrs. Olufunke Amosun (Ogun).
The ceremony was also graced by royal fathers from Oyo and Osun states, which jointly own the institution. The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewunmi Ajagungbade, was there.