OPINION: TINUBU AND THE REALITY ON GROUND

Senator Bola Hammed Tinubu fondly called Asiwaju which literally translates as “The Leader” has no doubt paid his dues in the political land scape of Nigeria. Right from the SDP, NADECO, AD, AC, ACN through the formation and emergence of the mega-party APC which eventually swept off the self acclaimed biggest political party in the continent; PDP. Tinubu is no doubt a colossus, feathering his nest at every stage of his political career. He no doubt has a large political followership cutting across tribal, religious and ethnic barriers. These three albatrosses had always been the bane of partisan politics in Nigeria. Tinubu has been able to ride their storms successfully.

As popular as the man is in Nigeria politics today, nobody can really accuse him of tribal jingoism. He is a bridge builder no wonder he was installed as the “Jagaban” of Borgu in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. His bridge building process paid off in the emergence of the mega party; APC.

While his political opponents find him difficult to tackle, his political followers are increasingly pinning the toga of dictatorship on him. The criticism is from within. They queried his democratic claims. They are accusing him of forcing his candidates on the majority at every level of the political landscape.

A typical example was what happened in Kogi State. Abiodun Faleke was a local government chairman in Lagos State. He won election on the platform of APC into the Federal House of Representatives, representing Lagos State. While still in the Federal house, he rode on the back of Tinubu to become the running mate of Late Prince Abubakar Audu during the gubernatorial tussle. When Audu died, Faleke fought tooth and nail to replace Audu, an act which the democrats in the party faulted. This was still going on while Faleke has not resigned his membership of the house. The general opinion was that Faleke could not have challenged the party if he did not have approval of his god father. When Faleke was not successful through legal means, he licked his wounds and quietly resumed his sitting in the house, still representing Lagos State. As if there was nobody qualified to occupy the seat.

While the Jagaban and his political son were still Sulking the loss, Ondo State election came. Political watchers thought Rotimi Akeredolu would be the automatic choice of the party because he was their candidate in the previous election which he lost to the Incumbent, Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Tongues were wagging that Akeredolu fondly called “Aketi” had fallen apart with Tinubu. As the tension was mounting, Tinubu came up with another candidate in person of Abraham Oke. Akerdolu was accused of being a surrogate of Tinubu at his first shot. Rumours had it that Tinubu saw the hands of the National Chairman of the party, Chief Odigie Oyegun in all these he accused the Edo Chief of checkmating his hold on the party.

My take on all these is that Tinubu should practicalise his democratic theories in its entirety. We love him and it is painful the way his political relevance is dwindling. Imposition destroys the political family and gives room for disintegration. He should allow every candidate to exercise his/her political freedom without any iota of freedom favoritism or hindrances. He should treat all party candidates as his political sons/daughters. This way, his fatherly relevance will be sustained and the party will remain strong.