The presidential flag bearer of the APC, His Excellency, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday, 24 September, 2022 released the long awaited list of his campaign council. Eminent Nigerians who made the list include: President Mohammadu Buhari, the APC Chairperson, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Simon Lalong, the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshomole, the renowned Nollywood author, Zack Orji among many others.
These are seasoned professionals who have made names for themselves in their chosen fields of endeavors. With these individuals, there is no doubt that Tinubu’s campaigns will create ripples across the length and breadth of this country. Many are already describing it as the mother of all campaigns.
Unfortunately, I have decided long before now, that I will not be paying any attention to Tinubu’s campaigns even my own father is appointed the campaign DG. But why would anybody chose not to pay attention to what is already projected to be the greatest election campaigns in Nigerian history? Let me walk you through my reasons.
Buhari’s Performance
Football is a team game. Hence, no single individual loses a football match. Rather, people win or lose in football as a team. The same applies to politics. Like football, people win and lose in politics together. Consequently, it is safe to say that Nigeria is ruled today not just by President Mohammadu Buhari but by a team of political players who come under the name APC. True, President Mohammadu Buhari is the captain of that team but he plays with other players some of whom are even more influential in the team then himself.
By all estimation, the most influential player in team APC is Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu confirmed his importance in the party when he coined “emilokan” – it is my turn, which has become one of the most used concepts in Nigeria politics. It is common knowledge that Tinubu was the one who paved the way for Prof. Yemi Osibajo to emerge as Vice President. He as well engineered the appointment of Raji Fashola, the current Minister of Works and Housing and Kemi Adeosun, the former Minister of Finance among many other ministers. Tinubu’s magic wand was also responsible for the emergence of Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives respectively. What these entails is that Tinubu’s overarching influence in the current administration cannot be overestimated. Above all, Tinubu has unhindered access to Buhari and Aso Rock.
Tinubu’s loyalists and political sons and daughters are all over the place in the current administration holding important positions. He has unhindered access and a personal relationship with Mr. President. The question is, what is it that Tinubu wants to do as president that he does not have the power and the influence to do in the current dispensation? I cannot see any but if there is, it means that Tinubu deliberately wanted Buhari to fail to make way for him to become president.
Therefore, it is either Tinubu like every other member of the current APC leadership is without clue on how to salvage Nigeria from the terrible situation it finds itself or that he knows what to do but is hoarding the knowledge until he becomes president.
From all indications, it doesn’t look like Tinubu has the magic wand which his handlers are currently claiming he has. Take for instance, his solution to insecurity:
“Recruit 50 million youths into the army and feed them with cassava and corn.” Does this sound like someone who has solution to the current insecurity dogging the nation? I doubt so.
Tinubu’s supporters always refer to his achievements as the governor of Lagos State. They argue that he will replicate in Nigeria what he did in Lagos. When the question is asked, what did Tinubu achieve in Lagos, the response usually is that he discovered and empowered all the governors that have governed Lagos from 1999 to day and that all their achievements are attributable to him. I have no problem with this. But if Tinubu can take glory for the achievements of the three governors after him, why is he running away from sharing in Buhari’s failures. Was Tinubu not the one that discovered and sold Buhari to Nigerians?
Tinubu’s Canticle of Lies
Apart from not being able to help Buhari turn Nigeria around, another reason I won’t bother paying any attention to Tinubu’s campaigns is that he has been a man associated with many lies and deceptions. In fact, Tinubu has told so many lies that everything about him including his age, education, source of wealth and parentage is contested. It is debatable if a man who cannot say the truth about something as basic as his age will be able to say the truth about what he will do for Nigerians if elected president.
Above all, how can we forget that Tinubu and his handlers recruited and paid touts to impersonate Christian priests and bishops? How would you convince us that someone who can go this far in attempt to mislead has something, anything positive to offer this country?
I have taken my time to study Tinubu. Yes, he has almost limitless resources and is usually generous when it comes to using what he has to get what he wants. There is also no doubt that he will deploy these resources to buy Nigerians to vote for him especially these days when almost everybody is hungry in the country. However, the truth is that Tinubu has nothing to offer this country; if he has he would have told Buhari. Also, Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told uncountable lies that it will be foolhardy for reasonable person to waste his or her time listening to more lies in the upcoming presidential campaigns.
