Only God can take my life, Tinubu reacts to death rumours

The National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, says only God can take his life.

Tinubu stated this on Sunday at a welcome-back event held in his honour at the State House in Marina, Lagos.

The event was attended by House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Femi Hamzat; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, amongst other APC chieftains in Lagos.

“I’m a little emotional now but I’m happy. God is the Giver of life and the only One who can take life. And He (God) says; if I grant you power and the privilege in this life; I am the only One who can take it from you if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promotes humanity. God can give power to anyone he wills.

“It is the same God that has spared us till today and has given us the privilege. I give glory to God, because I’m standing before you hale, hearty and well. Today is a day of joy for me, having fixed today for this great event. We are here giving praises to God. May God bless all of you in attendance. I am grateful. I cannot say more than that today. Thank you all,” Tinubu announced to his political protégés at the event.

This is according to a video posted on Facebook by one of Sanwo-Olu’s media aides, Jubril Gawat.

Also addressing the gathering, Sanwo-Olu said, “We have countless reasons to be grateful to God for bringing Asiwaju back home, fully rejuvenated…We give glory to God who brought you (Tinubu) back with sound health and stronger vigour.”

The governor also thanked God that “the intention of evil-minded people who spread malicious rumour against our leader did not materialise”.

This newspaper had reported that Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Friday after spending over three months in London where he underwent knee surgery and physiotherapy.

Back in July while he was in the United Kingdom, Tinubu’s health had generated controversy and his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, had a hectic time debunking death rumours.

“Who really is afraid of Asiwaju Tinubu? Those wishing Asiwaju Tinubu evil or dead should be careful. They should know the matter of life and death is in the hand of only God Almighty,” Rahman had furiously said in a statement on July 31.

To further dispel the death rumours, at least over 30 politicians had visited Tinubu while he was in London. The photos of the visits had been splashed on social media for doubting Thomases.

Notably amongst the politicians who visited Tinubu include Sanwo-Olu; the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Governors Umar Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

Tinubu, who celebrated his 69th birthday in March 2021, commands an arguably large following of political loyalists.

Though Tinubu has yet to declare his intention to contest any office in 2023, there have been reports and veiled indications that he might be interested in the presidential seat.

While in London, members of the House of Representatives from the north led by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, had also visited the former Lagos governor and endorsed his candidacy for the 2023 presidency.

A day before his arrival in Nigeria on Friday, Sanwo-Olu and other party chieftains in Lagos had inaugurated the South-West Agenda 2023, a political movement mobilising support for Tinubu to contest the 2023 presidential election.