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BY: News Peddlers
The All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council stated on Wednesday that it would be unfair to label Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima's act of compassion as bribery.
Tinubu and Shettima were caught on camera in a two-minute video on Tuesday handing out crisp naira notes to a physically challenged man during his meeting with people with disabilities in Abuja.
The video clip quickly went viral and was widely shared on social media, with critics and opposition members such as Reno Omokri, a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, and Emeka Obasi, a media aide to Labour Party presidential candidate, describing it as a brazen act of corruption.
In response to the drama, Hannatu Musawa, the Deputy Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima PCC, absolved his principal of any wrongdoing on Wednesday.
In a statement titled "Misrepresentation of a harmless video I, Hannatu Musa Musawa, posted of my principals giving alms and charity to a poor and disabled elderly gentleman," Musawa cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the matter.
A furious Musawa expressed concern that, rather than praising Tinubu and Shetima for their kindness to a disabled man in need, the narration had been twisted by the opposition to reflect an act of bribery and corruption.
"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 performing into something mendacious and devious," the statement read.
"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. Our principals had the opportunity to interact with a poor and disabled elderly gentleman during the event. My principals spoke to this gentleman, listened to him, and performed the tenant of charity and alms giving towards him purely out of compassion.
"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 my principals' veins, as well as that raw spirit of charity that they both imbibe."
While claiming that the video was not shared in error, the legal icon revealed that she shared it to tell a compassionate and compelling story of leadership as demonstrated by her principals.
Musawa stated that, while it is unfortunate that the opposition refuses to run issue-based campaigns and manifestos, it is clear that they are grasping at straws and resorting to extreme measures in order to remain relevant.
"I posted the video not by accident, but with the intention of telling the compassionate story of the empathetic leadership that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported by Alhaji Kashim Shetima, will undoubtedly give to Nigeria after they emerge victorious in the upcoming election, by the grace of The Almighty," she explained.
"As I watch the negative chronicle being spun by the opposition Svengali's, attempting to impose a specific negative narrative on the public, it is clear that the falsehood being spread stems from the devious imagination and wicked machinations of a desperate and self-combusting opposition.
"I would have dismissed the musings as the rantings of a minor opposition. However, I am compelled to respond because innocent Nigerians may be misled by such deceptive rhetoric.
"On Monday, December 19, 2022, at approximately 4:48 p.m., I watched with appreciation and approval as my two principals, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima, performed an act of kindness towards a poor and disabled man who was truly in need. Watching them, I was even more convinced that these were two men of precious faith with hearts of kindness, empathy, and compassion. And I felt it was an important story that needed to be told.
"It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgement," the Bible says in Psalm (112:5-9). Because he will never be shaken, and the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not be afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."
"In Islam, we are taught that the prophet (PBUH) says in a hadith, "Muslims help each other only by crossing the bridge of almsgiving. Almsgiving becomes a core tenant for Muslims and Christians to follow as a result of the two holy teachings, giving charity and alms specifically to help the poor.
"That two-minute video clip was a visual representation of my principal's compassion for the poor. Rather than praising Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima for a kind act toward a clearly needy man, the opposition has, regrettably, chosen to cast a negative light on a story of good will and sheer kindness.
"With the trajectory of the upcoming election indicating that the pendulum is swinging in favour of an APC victory, there is no doubt that the opposition is acting like the proverbial "drowning man," determined to drag others down with them. While it serves little purpose to join issues with a losing opponent, it is critical to highlight their diversionary rhetoric and tactics.
"Even though I do understand the despondency and misery of the PDP, who have been hit worse than the Titanic racing towards the iceberg with their loss of 5 'brightly shining' governors and the anguish and despair of the Labour party who have a 'Constitutional Impossibility' of winning the next election based on Section 134 of The Constitution, it would be advisable for them to remain on the issues while they try to sort out their in-house complications.
"I am confident that on February 25th, 2023, Nigerians will exercise their constitutional right and elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 17th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"I urge Nigerians to disregard any fabrication attached to my video of an act of kindness and compassion, and instead focus on working together to move our nation forward by making the upcoming voting process the freest and fairest elections Nigeria has ever had."