My random thought on those Tinubu’s rants in Ogun

By Sunday Michael Ogwu

This is basically me trying to make sense of the comments that was made by the ‘owner of Lagos’ earlier today in Ogun State.

I personally feel irritated by the whole talk of “payback time”. Maybe Buhari owes Tinubu but certainly not the party APC.

Let us even concede in our mind that there was an agreement. So tomorrow, Gandollar will show up in 2027 and tell us how he got Jagabans understanding that he will handover to him abi. (Oshe! Turn by turn Nigeria Limited.)

You cannot be talking about being a unifier and a man of equity and fairness and at the same time publicly and shamelessly deposit how you negotiate a lopsided agreement to the detriment of an entire section of the country and then cry foul that yours was not respected.

What Tinubu negotiated is considered treacherous by Nigerians and APC members from the other side of the devide. It was the reason why his paring with Buhari in 2015 was considered unsuitable by Saraki and el-Rufai. It is still the reason why his candidature presents a certain sense of imbalance.

2. Tinubu in my honest opinion has gone about as though all that is important is a hand shake between the southwest and Northwest and everyone else can go to hell. There are palpable concerns that even in his consultations, people from the other part of the country have not featured prominently. So, rightly or wrongly, there is a sense of mutual suspicion between Tinubu and the people of the South East and South South. Fullstop!
3. Tinubu cannot honestly claim he did not take any contract or appointment from this government. He single handedly chose the VP (to spite the Governors who didn’t support his VP candidature). He seconded Aregbesola as Minister despite his funny record in Osun. Lai Mohammed was his mouth piece. He pushed Mr Banire in. Same for Sunday Dare and a host of others. These are all pay back cheques into Tinubu’s political accounts with different surnames.
4. Another point that needs correction is that, It is on record that El Rufai convinced Buhari to return to politics in 2015 not Tinubu . The account of that effort is sufficiently in the public dormain since 2014. You will find a screen shot attached here. So that part where Tinubu made it look like he woke up after a very sumptuous amala and gbegiri from Iya Burdillon and called Buhari in his cattle farm and said, ‘go and run am behind you’ is a fallacy.
5. One incontrovertible facts about the multi level marriage and alliance between ACN and CPC would have amounted to nothing without the critical contribution of the new PDP. Those guys who Tinubu bitrayed by wanting to sideline and minimize their ambition, made it happen not Tinubu. Let the attribution be made correctly. These events happened in broad day light not in Tinubu’s mind.
6. Tinubu claimed that he had an understanding that he was only going to provide support for Buhari who would in turn look the way of the Yoruba nation after his tenure.

Would it then be right to assume that Buhari would have failed to do so if he prefers Osinbajo. Isn’t that a payback? Is Osinbajo any less qualified or any less Yoruba?

7. The Jagaban took turn to also velify the person of the Ogun governor whom he claimed would have amounted to nothing where it not for his support. Agreed. But, In all honesty, did Tinubu expect the governor of Ogun to openly discard Osinbajo and openly endorse Tinubu whilst still governor without clearly and fully understanding whether Osinbajo is the anointed one? A decision which could backfire. What would be the worst case. Tinubu will emerge and the governor will also emerge and serve out his tenure.
8. Like a Prophet and Emperor, Tinubu overtime has perfected and perpetuated a system of anointing and enthronement. He has always foisted a candidate on Lagos against popular opinion, frustrated internal democracy and truncated ambitions to fortify his acclaim to a king maker status.

His Machiavellian mode of operation popularly referred by jesters as ‘Baba sope’ has ensured that a Lagos governor, a state considered the 5th biggest country in Africa has very little influence compared to the governor of Zamfara or Yobe, within the state or nationally. In the reverse, the most powerful people in other states are the serving Governors.

Sanwo Olu cannot take a position on issues around amotekun because of Tinubu’s ambition. A simple policeman would embarrass and refuse a Sanwo-Olu’s order whilst carrying out illegal operation within the state. The governor could not take a stand on the EndSars report all because of Tinubu. In the Southwest today, leadership rests with Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo because the Governors are fully in charge.

We know how Fashola emerged. Same with Ambode against Hamzat who was preferred by Fashola and now Sanwo Olu.

It is therefore safe to assume that the indefatigable Buhari has been a good student of this ‘Baba sope’ anointing methodology. He learnt from the best. He too wants to begot a successor with whom they can have some bedroom discussions when he pleases.

9 Finally, Tinubu and all those who sold this government to us as the best thing that happened after God created water cannot honestly tell us today that they know what is good for us.

If we as citizens are prepared to stand up. None of these elements whose credentials shows nothing other than meandering around public office or office holders would be carelessly throwing words around as if this country owes them or cannot do without them.

Goodnight or good morning depending on when you see this.

Peace!

Caveat: these are strictly my thoughts. Am not speaking for or unbrhalf of anybody.