Tinubu: The Kingmaker Who Wants To Be King

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), like the ancient samurai warrior, is a man, who, over time, has mastered the art of timing. His sense of timing is uncanny; as he knows when to wait patiently and when to turn the wait to an offensive weapon with speed and force. Coupled with the patience of the snake charmer, Tinubu has mastered the political game with such artistry, that political opponents look on with envy, and most times, with awe at what he has achieved so far. When he speaks, his words reverberate, as to be expected of a political titan that has paid his due. When he decides otherwise, the silence is so loud that its echo can be heard a million miles away. That is Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the man touted to take the reins come May 29, 2023.
The race for the 2023 presidential election started the moment the curtain fell on May 29, 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari took the oath of office for the second time. It will be foolhardy to ignore the handwriting on the wall, as different political divides have indirectly thrown their hats in the ring, in what promises to be an exciting game of wits, permutations, alliances and betrayals.
Some elements in the North, with access to the seat of power, have suddenly found their voices on the dangers of zoning, an unwritten agreement to satisfy the various geo-political zones that make up the Nigerian entity. The South-East is on the front burner, as the rightful heir to the throne with valid reasoning that the South-West, through Olusegun Obasanjo, had enjoyed uninterrupted eight years in power while President Buhari, will, Insha Allah, complete the cycle for the North. The South-West, with exceptions to few individuals, has queued behind its own, seeing this as an opportunity to once again return the seat of power to the descendants of Oduduwa. The plot is undoubtedly getting thicker!
As other interested regions are still at the political crossroad, the South-West seems to have reached a consensus in Bola Tinubu, the former Senator and two-term governor of Lagos State. Who else has what it takes to galvanise the people, if not Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political-octopus with far-reaching tentacles. The kingmaker, who has decided to go for the crown. The Lion of Bourdillon, whose roar silence every other animal in the jungle.
Politics is like a game of seasons which is always changing, as evident in the way the 2019 presidential elections panned out. The 2019 elections defied permutations, especially with how the votes in the South East turned out. There are many factors for this and such is what led to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking redress in court for alleged electoral misconduct.
Being the deft politician that he is, Tinubu is the sort to form political alliances with even his perceived enemies from any part of the country. As it is known, the majority of the votes come in from the northern part of the country, so his fate lies with them. In 1999, two South-Westerners, Chief Olu Falae and Olusegun Obasanjo, both contested for the presidency. We know how that turned out. The eventual winner of that election was the one embraced by the northerners while the support of the South-West was not enough for Olu Falae. So, if Tinubu wants to achieve his lifelong dream, expect him to reach out to all across political divides.
In addition to this, how he manages the South-East will also go a long way in reaffirming his political sagacity as a politician whose vision transcends that of his region.
Like every human being that has graced the earth, Tinubu is not without his baggage. In 2007, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, testified before the Senate Committee and declared that Tinubu’s corruption was so deep that it had an international dimension to it. Some days ago, the End SARs convener and activist, Segun Awosanya (with the Twitter handle @segalinks) engaged the official handle of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the two billion vans that drove into the premises on the Lagos Kingmaker, on the eve of the 2019 presidential elections. The EFCC, to save face requested for an official petition before making its move. However, on Friday, Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, officially petitioned the EFCC on the two billion vans.
Waiting for the EFCC to act on such petition will be like waiting for a ship to berth at the airport. What is, however definite is that when the time comes, Tinubu will have a hard time shaking off the corruption tag; he can ask Abubakar Atiku. His source of wealth will be looked at with a microscope –The Nation Newspaper, TVC, Alpha Beta and other investments will have nowhere to hide.
For someone who has made nobody out of many, he will require the steadfast loyalty of the beneficiaries of his political largess. For once, the kingmaker, who has carved a throne for many, will be at the mercy of his numerous charges. How they rally round him will determine if he will cross that thin line – from kingmaker to a king.For someone who has made princes and princesses out of many, he will require the steadfast loyalty of the beneficiaries of his political largess. For once, the kingmaker, who has carved a throne for many, will be at the mercy of his numerous charges. How they rally round him will determine if he will cross that thin line – from kingmaker to a king.