Opinions
2023: Against Odds, Tinubu still a sellable material for Nigeria’s Presidency
2023: Against Odds, Tinubu still a sellable material for Nigeria’s Presidency
By, James Bwala
Some Time ago, I wrote about the relationship between former Borno state governor, Senator Kashim Shettima and the former governor of Lagos state, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu a.k.a – Jagaban. Many people, who are now taking notes of the unfolding political movement and why Kashim Shettima was at the forefront probably knows very little about the journey Senator Kashim Shettima and Tinubu took before now.
Perhaps like others may think. Politics is not an avenue to create chaos and make enemies but a platform for ambitious people to move one interest. During his trying times in the hands of the Jonathan administration, the former Borno state governor has found an ally in Tinubu, who stood with him through the woods. As an exchange of batons, Tinubu is today facing his own ambition. The journey is not a smooth one with Nigerians and politicians looking at the odds against him. It was in a time of needs they said that you identify your true friends.
As many have come to identify with Tinubu, Senator Kashim Shettima was one who is not only around to give a message of hope but has come to join the train and help in holding up Moses ‘ hand. While I read, chat and discuss with a cross section of Nigerians about their sentiments, I was made to understand the differentiations around their arguments but as they say, individual differences as one’s argument no matter how thick cannot change other people’s mindset. Talking about leadership however, it has nothing to do with whether or not the people or few amongst them like the Crown. It is all about the ability and capacity of the leader, which I believe Tinubu possesses much.
They also said the former Borno state governor; Kashim Shettima had rushed himself into joining the Tinubu train but I simply replied that I am yet to see any candidate well prepared to face the over two hundred million Nigerians with a message of hope as the former Lagos State governor. And I want to believe that was the same position the former Borno state governor Kashim Shettima took. Moreover, there was a relationship of a father and son politically speaking. Tinubu has been there for Kashim Shettima anytime and it was not wrong to reciprocate the gesture.
I am not an enchanter to know the inner being of people but when one writes often about politicians at a point, it is possible to say one or two things about their behavior, motives and body language. Buhari may have not spoken but one thing I know is that he remained Nigeria’s greatest politician given his attitude in the unfolding event. And I have no doubt where the arrowhead may stop on the gamblers table. People have said of Tinubu as they have spoken of Buhari. Their fears are that the Aso Rock may just turn out to be a nursing home for the old. But no Nigerian I know has read the mind of God even among the spiritually inclined and Buhari is still around. So, age or whatever is pushing people to be judgmental about who should and who should not does not arise even in the case of Isiwaju.
I would have loved to speak about how Tinubu ran Lagos state for eight years without support from the Federal Government at one point. I also wanted to speak about a report by former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu when he said they have investigated governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and so declare him incorruptible. This was just to make certain misjudgments or rather misunderstanding about the ambition of the man and 2023 general election clear to those still arguing on how he makes his wealth. I think they should also start asking about how he makes his friends as we march forward in the next few months.
Twice as a journalist, I interviewed the former Yobe state governor and former senator representing Yobe East Federal Constituency, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim on the salability of the Buhari candidacy and his response was negatively affirmative. The first was in 2014, he told me at the Maiduguri International Airport venue of our meeting that Buhari is not a sellable material but in the end Buhari wins against the odds. Still in 2019, I interviewed the same man where he maintained his position but still Buhari won.
Now this has become a case scenario for me to agree with the few I believe asking the former Lagos state governor to give up his ambition for a younger generation. Many are arguing that his age is already telling on him thus, he cannot be useful for the top job. Others claimed he was never a straight forward person and all sorts of allegations. No matter how they look at this and the situation unfolding, I think Tinubu has already beaten them to the game.
There was nobody with guts to approach President Muhammadu Buhari to express his or her willingness to contest for the Presidency of this country even though many were known to have a driven ambition not even the younger generation but Tinubu did and then we saw others coming out to declare as well.
So, if the presidency of Nigeria was on a first come first serve affairs, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would have been president already. I do not know whether or not Nigerians who are speaking in ignorance of the political firmaments have taken note of his moves since arrival from London. Is there anyone who has made such a forward thinking movement as this old political horse? The answer is capital “NO” because we are all in the country attesting to this happening while Tinubu in London was already steering the political ship of the country. Truth is bitter and I like to spell it out.
I was monitoring all our presidential hopefuls. I saw Tinubu being visited by the Ministers, Legislators, Governors, Traditional rulers, Captain of industries and Top government officials, which we all know are also politicians. They were all coming with a message of solidarity. Have any of our Presidential hopefuls welcomed such a weightier crowd on this road to Aso Rock? Perhaps some people would argue that the time is still early. However, I will throw back at them that if an old man wakes up early to pursue his ambition, why would the younger ones be sleeping, sleepwalking and sleep talking while the sun is already up?
I had a healthy argument with a friend who is a voice on the band wagon for Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The few questions I asked left him with eyes that were wide open. These are realities which cannot be spelt out on platforms as this. These realities are of the current situations in Nigeria’s political landscapes. I know that there are calls for Osinbajo to come out but on whose political structure? He was one of many Tinubu’s boys. He never came out to declare or make the kind of moves Tibunu made when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari. He still was preaching Tinubu’s message while those clamouring for him were busy doing so. If VP Osinbajo is ambitious I would have expected that he beats Tinubu to meeting President Muhammadu Buhari to announce his intentions.
Those who are saying Tinubu has nothing to offer should have asked themselves how he managed to conquer the southwest. At a point or perhaps still, Tinubu was in Lagos state but controlling virtually everything going on in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondu and the rest of them that makes up the Yoruba nation.
If you asked me, I would say that is a man with capacity to deliver and such is what is to be seen in a leader. If at all some people are thinking of the physical strength to be a yardstick of counting on the ability of a leader, I would employ them to take a look at a typical organization and note that management is not about the physical strength but the ability to control, direct, plan and organize.
On February 26, 2022, the All Progressive Congress, APC will be having its own convention. President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language may not have revealed his anointed candidate. But one thing I know is that I have not seen any candidate except the joker in Kogi. And I know that this is the politics and Governor Yahaya Bello is only playing to the gallery.
2023: Against Odds, Tinubu still a sellable material for Nigeria’s Presidency