Former Lagos State governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied having any link with the dreaded al Qaeda terrorist network.
In a chat with an online publication, Tinubu, who is also the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), dismissed the claim contained in whistle-blowing WikiLeaks suggesting that he has links with the group as wicked and preposterous.
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Wikileaks had claimed that Tinubu and former vice president Atiku Abubakar allegedly brought terrorism to Nigeria, in its recent cable leak entitled “Terrorism: Atiku & Tinubu Brought Al Qaeda to Nigeria”.
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Reacting to the claim, he told the online publication, “This claim is not only harebrained, it is patently stupid, for everyone knows my track record in using the court system to mediate otherwise explosive disputes that could lead to a disruption of the peace.”
He said the claim runs contrary to his philosophy and belief in the secularity of the country, adding that he had always been a mediating influence? in the task of bringing all religious adherents in the country together.
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“Let me make it absolutely clear: there is no iota of truth in the story. Not because I say so, but because my profile as a fighter through the judiciary is so clear it is almost self-evident. No reasonable person, aware of all the facts on the ground, would give the story any credibility. This is the handiwork of mischief makers and political blackmailers,” the former governor said.
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While affirming his belief in the secularity of the country, he added that “I have a deep-rooted cordial relationship with religious organisations in Nigeria. I will not join or support any group, party or individual who seeks to access power through violence or undemocratic means”.
Drawing a parallel, he said that he is what he is today because of western education and the values he imbibed and would not in any way do things that would denigrate education which is a key to life.
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