Speaking to newsmen shortly after paying a condolence visit to the widow of the late Sun Newspapers Vice Chairman, Dimgba Igwe, Tinubu said he only travelled to get some rest from work.
He was accompanied to Igwe's Okota, Isolo residence by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, and other party chieftains.
There were rumours a fortnight ago that the APC strongman was down with stroke and could hardly recognise his family members.
But Tinubu, who laughed off the reports, said it was the handiwork of some "rats, who just go toisi-ewucentres and concoct stories.
"Intellectually, we've seen that in the area of politics. This is political genocide, as far as I am concerned. Is there anybody there who has planted poison in my body, expecting it to incubate, germinate and kill me by now or hospitalise me by now? They are getting my family members worried and raising questions. Why is this? If it's a question of death, we would all die one day and, to their lies, I say God will forgive them, guide them right; if they just want to make money, they should do the right thing and they would get their daily bread."
Affirming that he was hale and hearty, he said he had left the country to get a few days rest after a rigorous period of planning the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections.
He said: "My appearance puts paid to that rumour. Wait a minute, since 1994, after MKO Abiola election in SDP days, we have been in trenches. Whether you are in exile or anywhere, it's a day in, day out working machine. It's either one person is in one direction here, and the other man is elsewhere. You saw when the late Anthony Enahoro came back; he came back with a walking stick. It is a gruesome period in which no one could sleep and take adequate rest.
"Then came 1999, and ever since, we have been on a political horse race, barefooted, fighting a war, while some people are on the horse. The person must rest.
"A whole lot of you might not know; sometimes I don't go to bed until 4:30a.m and by 8a.m. I am already up answering questions and planning elections. I promised myself and my family that one day I will escape, go for rest, and nobody will be able to reach me and that is what I did. I did my general medical check-up in April; it's not yet time for another round.
"I went to my doctor friend and asked him that with all these rumours going on, does he have to examine me, and he said no. Now, tomorrow if you like, I would bring my exercise bicycle out and ride for you. That's just the truth, I didn't even have a need for panadol or paracetamol since I was away, and that is the gospel truth."
He also dismissed reports making rounds that the Lagos State government was footing his medical bills from taxpayers money, urging media professionals to weed the charlatans in the profession.
"If you go to some places, they say Lagos State is paying my medical bills. Go to the Ministry of Health, go and find out, I am so shocked. As a matter of fact, I feel I am a member and a leader in this profession of journalism and some of you must be challenged to question some of these rats who are just going toisi-ewucentres and concoct stories, because you see, it's a stain on your profession, integrity and honesty and again, if you start to cry wolf where there is none, the day wolf comes, nobody will be there," he said.
Earlier, Tinubu who was received by late Igwe's bosom friend, Mike Awoyinfa, and the Managing Director ofSunNewspaper, Femi Adesina, described the veteran journalist as a gifted intellectual in his profession.
"We have lost an unrewarded talent with a great intellectual quality. Dimgba was a friend and we would do everything to find a way to immortalise his name to encourage others," Tinubu assured.
To Igwe's widow, Obioma, he said: "We will not abandon you."
Awoyinfa who thanked Tinubu for the visit, said his late friend held the former Lagos governor in high esteem.
"He saw you as a true hero, a true leader. My friend is not here, but he is seeing us," Awoyinfa said.
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