The Federal Government on Saturday, July 20, 2024, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not have any preferred candidate neither did he endorse any person for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who stated the position of the government, said that President Tinubu is a democrat who believes in playing by the rules.
Fagbemi, who stated these while reacting to the news making the rounds in the social media to the effect that President Tinubu had endorsed Afam Osigwe, SAN, as his preferred candidate in the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, pointedly said that the president has not and will not endorse anyone as a preferred candidate in the ongoing NBA election.
The AGF noted that to buttress the lies of endorsement by President Tinubu, he (Fagbemi) was made a point of reference for confirmation, stressing that at no time did Mr President give any such instruction.
In the words of Fagbemi; “I completely dissociate myself from such statement because nothing of such happened. I am also in a position to confirm, and I do so, that the president neither had discussion with the author nor did he give any such divisive instruction. I also had no such discussion with anyone.
“The news is a lie from the pit of hell being peddled about by mischief makers seeking cheap popularity to ride on the acceptance of Mr President among lawyers.
“As a democrat and president of the country, he will abide by the outcome of a free and fair election. He is also ready to work with any candidate that emerges,” he said.
The Attorney General of the Federation appealed to those who are bent on causing disaffection among NBA members on the one hand and between President Tinubu and the NBA on the other hand, to desist from such an unprofitable venture.
He said the president wishes the NBA a hitch free election and is looking forward to working with whoever emerges.
