Tinubu cautioned over his comments dismissing Atiku's chances in 2019 presidential election

Okupe who was an aide to former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan responded in a press statement criticizing the ex governor of Lagos State.

According to Okupe, Tinubu's status as a political godfather may see an end if Atiku becomes victorious.

"The comments made by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC concerning Alhaji ATIKU's prospects in the coming 2019 presidential elections are essentially not meant for the serious minded, and quite unexpected from the leader of a party in power whose popularity and national acceptability are receding faster than the waters of lake Chad.

Aiswaju's statement is extremely presumptuous. It assumes that he as a person or whatever political platform he stands on will have anything to do with who emerges as president in 2019.

I assure Asiwaju that he does not, and will not have any serious influence on who will emerge as president after the 2019 elections. He had such opportunity in 2015 but it was wasted on a moribund, unproductive and lack lustre presidency.

Hence, it is a fact that Asiwaju had a tremendous influence and did play a significant role in the emergence of president Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

This was due to the fact that he and the APC were able to successfully hoodwink the Nigerian electorates into wrongly believing that the incumbent at that time was weak, inept and clueless.

The prevailing feeling in Nigeria then was that a change was necessary to "save" the country.

However, things are quite different now. Without prompting, propaganda or mass-brainwashing, Nigerians have come to realise that a victory for Buhari in 2019 is an existential threat not only to the peaceful coexistence of the nation, but also to individual wellbeing and survival of families, breadwinners and jobs across the country.

Based on this undeniable fact, Tinubu, APC and their candidate, Muhammadu Buhari have lost the elections even before the set date.

Asiwaju should not worry about where ATIKU is holding meetings to unseat Buhari, or where ATIKU is "going" in 2019. Rather, he should seriously give urgent thoughts to his own destination after 2019.

For certain, I want to assure him that the PDP will retire him gracefully to his political shrine at Bourdillon. While the expired and rejected product he is dutifully carrying to the political market in 2019 heads to Daura; hale and hearty."

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After a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, Tinubu reportedly told reporters that Atiku has no chances of winning at next year's poll no matter the strategy he develops.