When on August 8, the media office of one of the Leader of the All Progressives People’s Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu told the nation that its principal was proceeding on a medical tour, no one thought the journey was going to be a prolong one. In a statement, Tinubu’s tour was linked to a nagging knee injury that needed surgery for correction. According to the statement, it was stated that the Lagos born politician needed to address a nagging issue with health. Prior to his departure, initially to the United States of America and later to the United Kingdom, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State and the grand commander of Lagos politics, has been absent from public engagements for some time owing to the health issues. His media office had in the statement wrote that “Based on previous sports injury on one of his knees and recent further aggravation on the knee from rigorous political and family related activities, he has been advised by his Doctors, despite his persistent reluctance that orthopedic surgery is necessary at this time,” the brief statement said today.” The statement added that the surgery will take place the same week that he departed for the US, and that Tinubu will resume normal political activities and public engagements once cleared by his doctors. As the days dragged into months, speculations became rife that the ailment could possibly be more than what the media office wanted the public to know. The rumour mill was agog with speculations that he was properly down with what mongers called Parkinson syndrome, a disorder of the nervous system. When the speculations became deafening, some of the aides of the former governor had to come out in his defence, debunking the allegations as sheer mischief making from those they considered as rabid political enemy of their principal. Debunking the allegation, the Interim Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Chief Henry Ajomale, in a chat with newsmen stated that on the contrary, the politician was recuperating in a London hospital after undergoing a surgery on one of his knees. Ajomale, described the rumour a figment of the imagination of the party leader’s detractors, saying “I wonder where those who started the speculation got their information from. There is nothing further from the truth, because the Asiwaju I met and discussed with last week in London was as fit as fiddle. “In fact, he was upbeat while our discussion on political happenings and the way forward in our country lasted. Besides, he has been in regular contact with his associates and followers back home and all other parts of the world,” Ajomale stated. The APC leader added that the move to address the media became imperative to allay the fears of the members of public as well as their party members to the harm the unfounded rumour surrounding Tinubu’s health status has caused. Ajomale’s effort at dousing speculations arising from the tour of his boss was followed up with photographs of the recuperating politician, which found generous space in the media. Most newspapers last week splashed the photographs of Tinubu attending visitors from all corners of the world who went to pay him visit. Not left out are members of opposition political whose leaders are reported to be streaming to the US clandestinely to visit and hold meetings with the former Lagos governor. A team of political leaders from Lagos State who went on a ‘get well’ trip, used the occasion to discuss the Lagos governorship succession. To underscore his grip on the polity of both the state and the APC, particularly in the South West, Tinubu on his sick bed has had to issue directives on recent rumpus in the Lagos chapter of the party, especially on the 2015 governorship. Also in his hospital bed in the US, he hosted leaders of opposition from the North who had been visiting him for meetings on the political situation in the country, including the ongoing rift within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Some of those who have visited him in London, include a former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari with whom he attended a function together in Manchester, some governors elected on the platform of the APC and sundry other visitors. Though, it is uncertain when he is set to arrive the country but with the rate at which he is calling the shot in overseas, Tinubu seems to be in firm control of things and he is likely going to be for some time to come
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 09:35:13 +0000