Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, the flutist and musician, says his comments about Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, were taken out of context.
The musician had recently said Tinubu was not qualified to be Nigeria’s president, and argued that there was much about the former Lagos state governor that is shrouded in secrecy.
Tee Mac said his association with the APC presidential candidate ended in 2015, despite being an in-law to him, owing to the controversies surrounding his age, background, and source of wealth.
In a statement on Saturday, the former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) said he made the remarks during a private conversation.
Tee Mac said his “only grouse” with Tinubu stems from his involvement in selling President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians in 2015.
“My attention has been drawn to a post that has gone viral on social media regarding a private banter with a Facebook acquaintance on the eligibility of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“Whilst it is regrettable that such a private conversation went viral from a Facebook account, let me state that the conversation was taken out of context.”
“In the first instance, I have high regards for the person of the APC presidential candidate; a two (2)-term governor of Lagos state, and a revered leader of the APC. I have lived in Lagos since I relocated from Switzerland, and I can attest to his transformational impact in the state.”
“More significantly is his ability to identify and engage exceptional and committed technocrats in governance with tangible results over time, and maintaining relationships with them, and others across board. This, I believe will be replicated if he is given the opportunity at the federal level.”
“His all-inclusive style of governance has seen people from other states, ethnicities, and faith take up appointments in Lagos, serving meritoriously too! Consequently, his competence is not in doubt. I only expressed my fear for the rigours of the office.”
“My only grouse, which I still stand by is that it was Tinubu who sold Buhari to the nation in 2015, which candidate, contrary to all expectations, underperformed.”
