In a surprise move, President Bola Tinubu has offered Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), an ambassadorial appointment in an African country of his choice. However, Ganduje has allegedly rejected the offer, describing the corruption charges against him as “tissues of lies” that he will win in court.
According to credible sources, Ganduje was first informed of the president’s decision by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was delegated by Tinubu to break the news. Akpabio reportedly told Ganduje that the ambassadorial offer was aimed at saving him from the ongoing corruption trial he is facing in Kano.
However, Ganduje was not pleased with the offer, grumbling, “Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for ambassadorial posting. All the charges are tissues of lies, and I will win my case in court.”
The president’s offer is seen as a way to save Ganduje from his ongoing corruption trial, where he is facing charges alongside his wife, son, and other accomplices to the tune of over N50 billion. The charges stem from a 2018 bribe video that caused Ganduje public ridicule and opprobrium.
Despite the president’s offer, Ganduje is lobbying hard to retain his seat as APC chairman, complaining to Chief Bisi Akande about the president’s decision to “retire” him from politics. Sources close to Ganduje say he is exploring other options, including the possibility of choosing Morocco as his preferred ambassadorial posting if he is forced to accept the offer.
Meanwhile, the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written to Ganduje, notifying him of the president’s approval to conduct the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and mid-term non-elective national convention. The letter, dated August 9, informed Ganduje of the president’s availability for the NEC meeting between September 8 and 19, 2024.
Ganduje’s spokesman, Edwin Olofu, confirmed the president’s approval but denied knowledge of the ambassadorial posting, saying, “I’m not aware of this, my boss hasn’t briefed me.” However, he confirmed that the party wrote to the president requesting a date to hold the NEC meeting, and correspondence has been received from the Presidency approving September 12, 2024, for the NEC meeting, while the non-elective convention has equally been approved towards the end of the year.
Daily Nigerian