President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that he and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari had disagreements.
The differences occurred during the formative years of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The disclosure came on Tuesday, while receiving members of The Buhari Organisation (TBO), led by former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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Describing Buhari as a stubborn man, Tinubu recalled that they once clashed over the choice of a party symbol.
“We disagreed to agree. We even argued about a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on parliament, and I insisted on broom. He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said.
He further explained the challenges of merging different political parties into one cohesive entity.
“There were so many discussions and debates, but we kept pushing to find common ground. It wasn’t easy, but we knew the country needed a strong opposition,” Tinubu added.
Despite their differences, compromises were reached to finalize the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“Eventually, we agreed on what would work best. That’s how the APC was officially registered in 2013,” he said.
Tinubu’s remarks shed light on the intensity of the merger process, reflecting the strong personalities involved.
He also noted the importance of collaboration: “Even when we argued, we never lost sight of the bigger picture. Compromise was key, and that is what allowed the APC to emerge as a united front.”
