An alleged manifesto belonging to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has resurfaced on social media.
A Twitter user, Demola Olarewaju, had publicized the controversial document on September 21, 2022, via his handle, @DemolaRewaju.
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The post reads: “Just got Tinubu’s manifesto, making him the second major candidate to release a document of his plans for Nigeria.
“Skimmed through and noticed two other names as the author of the document, Femi Pedro and Babatunde Ogala…very strange. Won’t be sharing though, I’m biased, yes.”
Verification
Preliminary findings by Daily Trust revealed that the 29-page document titled, “My Vision for Nigeria”, was first circulated in June.
Reacting to the development at the time, Director of Media and Communication for the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, had disclosed that what was being peddled online, mostly via WhatsApp and Facebook, was not the manifesto of the APC presidential candidate, but a mere draft of suggestions on probable programmes Tinubu could implement if elected in February 2023.
He said, “We have said it for the umpteenth time that it is not our manifesto. It is the same old viral document that people are still sharing as Tinubu’s manifesto.”
In a detailed press release made available to newsmen, Onanuga had said, “Asiwaju Tinubu, in consultation with the party, experts in various fields and a broad section of the populace, through an empirical and evidence-based approach, is working on an all-embracing manifesto that will be presented to Nigerians when it is ready, before the official campaign begins in September.”
The alleged manifesto prepared by former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Olufemi Pedro and Legal Director of Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Babatunde Ogala, talked about improving security and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
It also highlighted how Tinubu would transform Nigeria into an enviable country and one where there will be justice, peace and prosperity for all, with “a robust economy.”
One of the signatories to the alleged manifesto, Ogala, had also confirmed that the viral document was just a compilation of suggested ideas packaged by friends.
He said, “It is not Tinubu’s manifesto but personal input by a group of friends. How it found its way into the media is what I don’t know.
“It becomes a manifesto when it is eventually put together and doesn’t carry anybody’s name but the candidate’s imprint.”
No manifesto has been unveiled by the ruling party and its presidential candidate since the inauguration of a 65-man committee saddled with the responsibility of formulating the expectations of Nigerians to determine the manifesto of Tinubu in July. This is even as presidential campaign kicks off on Wednesday, September 28.
A manifesto is a policy document in which a political party chronicles its plans, aims and the cardinal principles of its campaign and how those plans would be implemented if voted into power.
It is made public to guide the masses on the agenda of a political party for the country and what should be expected while they are in power, thus giving a direction to the electorate.0
Conclusion
Daily Trust can confirm that the purported manifesto being touted as that of the APC presidential candidate, Ahmed Tinubu, is false. Several stakeholders at different times in the past had asserted that the document was only a draft and had not been endorsed by Tinubu.
Also, the committee constituted to prepare the manifesto has not unveiled it to the public.
This fact check was produced in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
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