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Tinubu & Buhari
There must be something Asiwaju Bola Tinubu knows or does that is
beyond other politicians; for he is the only politician since 1999 that
sponsors people into political offices and they remain faithful and
loyal to him.
In the three zones of the North as well as in the South-East and
South-South, sometimes the relationship between a political godfather
and a godson does not even last until the inauguration before turning
sour. But in Tinubu’s case, no matter the attacks the public may heap on
him about his political and financial stranglehold on his godsons’
tenures, they still remain loyal to him and maintain sealed lips.
Whatever the reason for his ability to maintain a firm control over his
protégés, Tinubu deserves commendation.
For long, there have been rumours over a frosty relationship
between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. It is widely acknowledged
that Buhari’s candidacy in the 2015 election got a big boost due to
Tinubu’s support and media packaging. Buhari was effectively packaged as
an angel with no blemish but with the Midas’ touch to cleanse Nigeria
and catapult her into the First World in the twinkling of an eye.
The rumours about the rift between Buhari and Tinubu have refused to fizzle out despite all efforts made to deny them.
It was rumoured that Buhari made key political appointments,
especially from the South-West, without any recourse to Tinubu, who is
the godfather of the All Progressives Congress in the South-West as well
as the National Leader of the APC. Then, when Prof John Paden presented
Buhari-endorsed biography in October, a controversy arose from it.
Rather than the public being concerned about the messages from the book,
what occupied the attention of the public was the claim by the author
that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was not nominated as Buhari’s running
mate by Tinubu, but was chosen by Buhari in spite of Tinubu’s opposition
to it.
There was also the rumour and gloating about the demystification of
Tinubu over the governorship election in Ondo State. It was alleged
that Tinubu supported Mr Olusegun Abraham in the APC primary but Mr
Rotimi Akeredolu, supported by Buhari and the National Chairman of the
APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, won the primary and went ahead to win the
election on November 26, 2016.
The result of the APC primary in Ondo State led to an exchange of
words between Tinubu and Odigie-Oyegun, which further confirmed the
suspicion of a rift between the APC leadership and Tinubu. The eventual
victory of Akeredolu in the election was seen as the defeat of Tinubu in
the APC politics in the South-West, where it was believed hitherto that
any candidate backed by Tinubu in any APC election would win.
It was this seeming exclusion of Tinubu and others who worked for
the emergence of the Buhari presidency that made the wife of the
President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, to break protocol by granting an interview
with the BBC in October in which she lamented that her husband had been
hijacked by some people who did not work for his electoral victory.
These actions, seen as acts to whittle down the powers of Tinubu,
made some of his loyalists recently to organise some activities in the
South-West, especially in Lagos, with the theme: I Stand with Tinubu.
They held a walk and a rally to show support for Tinubu.
Some opponents of Tinubu have said that his sidelining by Buhari
serves him right, for he was warned about the consequences of working
for a Buhari presidency. But some of his opponents have also kept their
political differences aside and spoken against the sidelining of Tinubu,
seeing it as a disservice to the South-West rather than to Tinubu as an
individual. On his own part, Tinubu has publicly carried on as if all
is well, insisting that he will not leave the APC, a party he was
instrumental to building.
However, the part that is surprising is from the Buhari’s angle.
Even though he has not said anything to confirm that he is intentionally
sidelining Tinubu, his actions point to an affirmation. It is obvious
that no powerful president would want to have anybody lord things over
him, but there is no way a Tinubu can lord things over President Buhari.
The office of the Nigerian President is too powerful for such to
happen, unless the President willingly allows that.
What does Buhari lose by having more friends than foes around him?
Nothing. The North was the core support base of Buhari during the 2015
election. The South-West was the core media base. Even though the votes
of the South-West were split between the APC and the PDP, more went for
the APC than the PDP. But most importantly, the media support for the
APC from the South-West burnished Buhari’s image before the election and
has helped to keep Buhari presidency afloat since May 29, 2015.
As a powerful president (with INEC under his control) and a retired
general, Buhari can do without Tinubu and get his wish willy-nilly
during the 2019 election, either as a candidate or a President who
wishes to install his preferred as his successor. If protesters fill the
streets in response to a poorly conducted election, he can release the
soldiers on them. But what is the essence of taking a more tortuous
route when there is a smoother and shorter route?
The South-East and South-South were not favourably disposed to the
presidency of Buhari. Since assuming office, he has done little through
his actions and utterances to win their hearts. The South-West has been
his strong ally. Rather than worm his way deeper into the hearts of the
South-West, Buhari seems to be more concerned about creating some
enemies there.
Whatever some people may say, Tinubu is the political leader of the
South-West. Unlike other zones which have not had any central political
leader since the exit of the first generation politicians, the
South-West voters listen to the voice and direction of Tinubu. The
reason the South-West still supports Buhari is because Tinubu is still
with the APC and has not withdrawn his support.
If Buhari counts on getting positive electoral results through
unorthodox means, he may not need Tinubu by his side. But if he needs to
get positive electoral results via votes in a free and fair election,
he needs Tinubu as an ally.
Buhari needs to start playing politics the way it should be played
by maintaining his friends and reaching out to his opponents, so as to
win them over. This does not mean sharing money or food to people. It
means taking different steps to make those who voted for him to feel
proud that they voted for him and to make those who did not vote for him
to vow to vote him if he presents himself again. It means inclusive
governance: seeing Nigeria as one people with no first-class and
second-class citizens. It also means visionary, purposeful
people-centred governance.
An astute politician does not need to burn his or her bridges. A
savvy politician does not need to ignite many fires around him, which
will make him always quenching fires with no time for governance. A
seasoned politician never tells a man directly or indirectly: “You can’t
do anything to me.” It is completely unnecessary.
Buhari should change his brand of politics to achieve more results and have a happier following.
About the Author:
Azuka Onwuka is a writer and columnist for Punch Newspaper. Twitter: @BrandAzuka
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