Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu means
different things to different people. But if dynamic opposition is the
life-wire of a democracy, it is very fitting then to name him the saviour of
Nigeria’s current democratic journey.
Tinubu, more than any other Nigerian, nurtured
and sustained the opposition movement that removed the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) from power. Before Tinubu’s party, All Progressive Congress (APC), there
appeared to be no consequences for bad behaviour in Nigeria whatsoever. Despite
mounting corruption and gross mismanagement of national resources, the PDP was
boasting to rule Nigeria forever. And one cannot blame them. It was
unfathomable, as at then, for an incumbent president to lose election in
Nigeria. But not anymore!
APC recognized the Tinubu genius, and had no
problem conferring him with the title of the “National Leader”. But the honour
would become queer in the course of 2015 election campaigns, because Bola
Tinubu was neither the party’s national chairman nor the presidential
candidate.
Seasoned pundits had reasoned that Muhammadu
Buhari, having been elected president, would assume the title of the National
Leader while the Asiwaju would be anointed the chairman of the party’s Board of
Trustees. Glaringly, that was not meant to be.
Tinubu’s political sagacity was seen as a threat
by the Buhari’s post-election inner caucus, a clique of primitive loyalists,
whose visions appear concocted from the philosophies of Stone Age native
doctors. Instead of the change agenda of the ruling party, the clique focused
its energy on strategies to decimate the Tinubu-led brain trust that brought
Buhari to power.
The president had no reason to look back. Buhari
was still gloating with precipitate pride having been greeted with a worldwide
goodwill after declaring that he “belonged to no one”. Many took the memorable
line as a quaint exit from the military arm of Nigeria’s corrupt oligarchy that
needed to be carried along to dislodge PDP from power. Well, events since have
shown that “I belong to no one” might have been referring to an imaginary freedom
from Tinubu. The rest, they say, is history.
This history is that party indiscipline, which
had been a cancer of past regimes, became full grown as soon as Tinubu was
sidelined. The opposition took advantage to wangle its men to critical
leadership positions in both arms of the Legislature. The paradox is that a
corrupt opposition party dictates the content and character of the
much-anticipated change under the APC government. Even boards of vital
government agencies, including strategic foreign posts, remained in the hands
of the opposition over two years after Buhari assumed office.
The president remained indifferent. To his
advisers, the post-Tinubu Tsunami would eventually subside in time for the next
election. This false hope prompted Buhari to openly admonish that Bola Tinubu
was not the National Leader but merely one of the leaders of the party.
The mockery of Tinubu became an appetizing
ingredient in every pepper soup joint. But the man kept calm. And he had to.
What could he possibly tell the political gods about his predicament? How could
he face his long-standing left-leaning NADECO allies and the powerful Southwest
media that he coopted to produce a Buhari presidency? How could he possibly
reconcile his new fate in APC after enduring the worst political fire ever
directed to a non-candidate in the history of Nigeria? How could Bola Tinubu
reconcile the fact that, instead of Buhari, the Nigerian masses are mocking the
Asiwaju himself for the failures of APC government?
One can now relate to why I pity Tinubu; and I
truly do. But what has followed is even more intriguing.
The Asiwaju is now re-baptized “the National
Leader”. With APC in crisis, combined with his waning popularity, President
Buhari did an abrupt U-turn, turning to the same virally discredited Tinubu.
The goal is to salvage the party and create a favorable image in time for 2019
elections.
Buhari deserves commendation for the peace move.
Tinubu, on his part, has embraced the assignment as a Christmas in June, and he
has what it takes to weave the innocent opinions of party members as well as
the Nigerian people towards common purpose. However, how that common purpose
aligns with the president’s 2019 individual agenda is another aching dilemma.
Nevertheless, as a fervent fan of Buhari from
ages and a sapient adherent of Tinubu’s visions, and now a presidential
aspirant under APC, let it not be misconstrued that I openly state as follows:
The president can make the assignment less herculean by recognizing that
Muhammadu Buhari has become the problem. Yes, there comes a time nonsense paves
way to commonsense.
The commonsense dictates that the Nigerians are
in dire need of a new breed president—regardless tribe or religion—who is
roundly equipped to lead the country to greatness. The Nigerian people also
yearn for a party that can earn their trust. APC can become that party once
again, if Asiwaju Tinubu is seen as an agent of the truth. The truth is that
the history already celebrates President Buhari for his sacrifice in rescuing
Nigeria from the ruins under PDP, but the same history will commit him to its
darkest side, if he ignores the warning signs and furthers any individual
ambition that can propel PDP back to power.
SKC Ogbonnia, can be reached
via: SKCOgbonnia1@aol.com
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