The Presidency has stated that businessmen, Aliko Dangote, was not a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign team, saying that Dangote was never a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while his role as a member of the peace committee disqualified him from belonging to a partisan party.
Dangote and fellow business mogul, Femi Otedola, were last Friday named among seven members of the advisory committee, the other five names on the list including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; APC national leader, Bola Tinubu; Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan; House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, and the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole are all politicians.
Clarifying the inclusion, President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adeshina, explained the inclusion of Dangote in the campaign advisory team.
“It has become imperative to further clarify the status of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, named under the sub-head advisory members in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council announced on Friday, December 28, 2018.
“Africa’s richest man, not being a card-carrying member of APC, cannot, and is not member of the PCC. He is also a member of the Peace Committee, and thus cannot be in a partisan campaign council,” Adesina said.
The inclusion of the nation’s top two businessmen on the list had generated condemnation from Nigerians across the country; both men were, however, advised to reject the appointment by Nigerians and remain neutral.
Iniobong Iwok with Agency report
