By Olusegun Olanrewaju
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said politics was not on the agenda of what he discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock over the weekend.
The former two-time governor of Lagos State and one of the pillars of the national ruling party said he was only on a thank-you visit to the president at the seat of power in Abuja.
Tinubu was in the United Kingdom (UK) for three months, before returning home three weeks ago after an operation for knee surgery on October 9.
Speculations have been rife as to the agenda of the popular South-West politician, who is believed to be nursing a presidential ambition when the president hosted him at the presidential villa.
Buhari had met with the APC chieftain at the president’s official residence before proceeding to a closed-door meeting.
The Jagaban Borgu, as Tinubu is popularly known among his followers, said he had gone to thank the president for visiting him in London after his medical procedure.
He said after the meeting, “Only to thank the president, first of all, for his visit to my residence in London after the surgery and wishing me well, lifting my spirit and indeed, what an exceptional leader will do to collaborate.
“So that’s what I came for and to welcome him back from the trip from Saudi. No politics, just a courtesy call to thank him in a big way, that’s all.”
It would be recalled that President Buhari had paid a visit to Tinubu while in the UK.
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Supporters have been waiting with bated breath for Tinubu’s official declaration for the 2023 presidential race, but he has not categorically put his hat in the ring.
Meanwhile, ahead of the race, several campaign initiatives have been launched in his name, including a high-profile one by the South West Agenda Group, SWAGA.
As a radical departure from his usual past-time on visits, when he usually came with the pioneer interim chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Tinubu’s presidential visit, this time around, was solo.
The visit also came a few hours after the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, concluded its national convention at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Asked what the President’s response was, Asiwaju said the Buhari was happy he was around.
Tinubu added that he was not obliged to speak on other things they discussed.
