Your ‘Bullion Vans’ Cannot Buy Edo, Ikimi Counters Tinubu

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi, in his reaction, has told National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, that his strategy of cash-laden ‘bullion vans’ cannot be successful in the governorship election of Edo State. 

Ikimi said this at the mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Tuesday, following the video of which Tinubu counseled the people of Edo state to reject him at the polls.

Responding to the video, however, Ikimi, who was once a chieftain of the APC, said Tinubu did not have a lot of money in 1999 when Tinubu first became governor of Lagos State.

He, therefore, asked Tinubu to reveal his source of income to Nigerians.

The former minister, while making reference to the bullion vans spotted on Tinubu’s premises during the run-up to the 2019 general elections, said the Edo State election would not be bought and warned Tinubu to steer clear of the state.

Ikimi said the video put out by Tinubu was evidence that the election was not between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

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Rather, the election was between Obaseki and Tinubu as well as ex-Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on the other hand.

Addressing a crowd, Ikimi said, “Bola Tinubu, tell me how much money you had in 1998/1999. Today, they say you are a billionaire. You carry money in trucks all over the place to disfigure democracy and you are preaching democracy.

“You carry money in bullion vans. Where are the bullion vans for Edo State? Have they arrived? Money cannot buy Edo State. Edo no be Lagos (sic).”

“Let me tell you, what happened in 2019, Ambode was to contest. Everybody begged Bola Tinubu; President Buhari begged Bola Tinubu but he pushed the man away. Was that democracy?” he asked.