EKO HOT BLOG reports that Jaafar Jaafar, the publisher of Daily Nigerian, has named several people who are reportedly working against the presidential ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
Previously, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, claimed that some elements in Aso Villa are working against Tinubu and do not want him to win the 2023 presidential election.
Jaafar, in a series of tweets, responded to El-Rufai’s claim and stated that Mamman Daura is not among the elements working against Tinubu. He listed some names and claimed that they are working for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
According to Jaafar, the major anti-Tinubu elements in the Villa are President Buhari, Sani Zangon Daura, and Sabiu Tunde. Zangon Daura is openly expressing his support for Atiku, while Tunde is working behind the scenes to influence Buhari.
Zangon Daura was previously a minister under Obasanjo and has always identified with the PDP, but surprisingly supported Atiku after being part of the APC government for eight years.
Tunde is also accused of persuading Buhari to provide military cover to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, to avoid arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS). Emefiele had left the country on “annual leave” and returned after the coast was clear.
Jaafar claimed that Emefiele’s decision to redesign the currency was politically motivated and was approved by the president without consulting the finance minister, economic team, or National Assembly.
He wrote:
“I’ve written a lot about Mamman Daura’s influence, but to my surprise, he’s not part of the “Villa elements” against Tinubu presidency. Mallam Mamman, who is currently convalescing in London, now stays longer in the UK than in Nigeria.
“In fact when Osinbajo visited Mallam Mamman at his Dennis Osadebay Street residence in Abuja in February 2022 to seek support for his presidential ambition, the old man clearly reminded the VP about an unwritten agreement to support Tinubu after Buhari’s tenure.
“I learn the major anti-BAT elements in the Villa today are President Buhari, Sani Zangon Daura & Sabiu Tunde. While Zangon Daura, 85, is openly expressing his support for Atiku, Tunde is clandestinely pulling the Buhari strings like a skilled puppeteer.
“Zangon Daura, a former minister under Obasanjo & notable Arewa elder, had always identified with the PDP until 2015 when Buhari won the election. But Zangon Daura, a close friend of Buhari, surprised APC powerbrokers for supporting Atiku after “eating for 8 years” in the APC govt.
“It was Tunde who allegedly persuaded Buhari to give military cover to Emefiele to stave off DSS from arresting him. Insiders said DSS sought a court order to investigate Emefiele for terrorism financing after it discovered that he gave intervention loans to suspected IPOB members.
“To rein in Emefiele, BAT camp got a willing tool in DSS. As a pretext for avoiding arrest, the CBN boss left the country on “annual leave” and returned after clearing the coast. The APC governors’ outcry is not about the plight of the masses but the waning chances of their party.
“One thing is clear in this drama: Emefiele’s election eve naira swap is as politically motivated as DSS’ plan to charge him with terrorism financing. While Emefiele was licking his wounds over the botched presidential dream, he got an intel that BAT had moved “logistics” to states.
“Emefiele then remembered it was time Nigeria redesigned its currency. He sold the idea to the president, who approved posthaste without consulting the finance minister, economic team, National Assembly, etc. In 2012, people’s voices killed CBN’s plan to coin lower denominations.“
In conclusion, the naming of individuals allegedly working against Tinubu has added another layer of drama to the already politically charged atmosphere in Nigeria ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Click here to watch our video of the week:
Jimmie Blackstone thought he was getting a $100 Visa gift card as a bonus when…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to submit the list of ambassadorial nominees to the…
A controversial American live-streamer, Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known online as "Johnny Somali," is facing up…