The Presidency has alleged that the opposition conspired to destabilise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defame President Muhammadu Buhari before the party’s presidential primaries.

The Presidency said the media were inundated  with stories about the role of Buhari in the emergence of the APC flag bearer, whether the President had a favoured candidate, and whether manoeuvres were made to install the candidate.

It stated that Buhari takes his decisions and carries them out without the backup of “a so-called ‘cabal’ or back room boys”, adding that the President has refused to act as “elected autocrat”.

It said this in statement issued and made available to The Star on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement was titled, ‘President laudatory role in the APC primary’.

The Presidency added that the opposition’s reaction to the APC convention was “counter offensive”, noting that Buhari was concerned about ensuring a transparent, free and fair process that would bring back people’s faith in democracy by taking good governance up to the grassroots level.

The statement read: “When it is election season we all expect speculation to reach fever-pitch.

“The press pores over every word spoken, scours every photo taken, and reports every indication suggested, seeking signs of who is supporting who like private investigators – or fiction writers.

“There’s no greater intrigue for this kind of speculation-journalism than a party flag bearer primary.

“But it only comes around once every four years – or every eight following President Buhari’s second term. Therefore, the media must make the most of it.

“So, what a disappointment the All Progressives Congress (APC) party flag bearer primary must have been for those who assembled to witness a catastrophe?

“No intrigue, no division, no disagreement, no defeated candidates rejecting the result, no splits, no third-party runs.

“Only determination to rally around the chosen flag bearer to deliver victory and an APC third term in February 2023.

“The opposition reaction to this successful nomination convention has come by way of a counter offensive, so that we do not go on the offensive.

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“In some instances, there is clear evidence of a conspiracy to destabilize the governing party and defame the President.

“The media are being inundated with made up stories – speculating about the role of the President in the flag bearer contest: whether he had a favoured candidate, and whether manoeuvres were made to install them; whether the chosen flag bearer was the President’s choice, or another. And on and on.

“Speculation is easy. But facts are simple. The President always said he had a favoured candidate. He said that candidate was whoever was chosen by the APC in a democratic primary to lead the party at the election.

“Those still assailing the APC and the President expounding conspiracy theories and making all manner of speculations about who did what or did not need to understand the important point about the country’s leader: President Buhari takes his own decisions and carries them out without the backup of a so-called “cabal” or back room boys.

“The strong leader myth in Nigeria has lasted far too long. People make assumptions that if you are a leader, you dominate everything, and even determine electoral outcomes.

“Luckily for Nigeria, President Buhari does not suffer from such constraints. He refuses to act as the elected autocrat.

“The President had a clear purpose leading up to the primary: to ensure a transparent, free and fair process that will bring back people’s faith in democracy by taking good governance up to the grassroots level.

“By this alone, people’s faith and that of the international community in our democracy has received a major boost since the completion of the APC nomination.

“The flagbearer has been chosen. He has the President’s unwavering support. The journey to victory continues,” the Presidency said.

The Star