CAN NIGERIA AFFORD ANOTHER BOLA AHMED TINUBU IN THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)?
The title of this article will appear as confusing as it may be offensive.
This is because Nigerians are currently suffering from the hardline policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration; so it should not be contemplated that such character be replicated in the major opposition Party, the PDP.
How can one imagine replicating a character who callously removed fuel subsidy and crashed the country’s currency in his inauguration speech? How can one suggest to replicate a character who removes electricity subsidy in the heat of excruciating pains and suffering of over 200 million people under unparalleled economic hardship?
Even a leveled headed APC member will agree that Nigerians have got more woes than they bargained for when they voted in the 2023 general elections.
Perhaps as we progress, you will undoubtedly agree or disagree whether Nigeria needs more of the “qualities” of Bola Ahmed Tinubu if our democracy must endure.
Backtrack to 2004 when HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State. People around his Government admit the fact that Tinubu had started nursing the ambition to become the Nigerian president someday. He started by setting human structures and empowering people in preparation for a day he could not define with precision how soon.
In 2007, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was already a billionaire (by hook or crook). He had enough money to have propelled him into the presidential race; but No, he would not venture into it because, by his calm calculation, he understood the odds to have contested so soon as a Southern President Olusegun Obasanjo just completed two tenures of 8 year Term.
He chose to remain in his unpopular opposition Party, then the ACN, with very limited chance of giving him a good shot at the presidency.
Late President Musa Yaradua won the 2007 election with relative ease because it was generally agreed the Zoning arrangement favored the North.
In 2011, the incumbent president, GEJ contested and won even in the face of agitation that the North would have been allowed to take back their Turn.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not contest because he respected the argument that the Northern Term would have been restored. He never wanted anarchy; he never wanted his ambition to be the cause of disputes between the North and the South.
In 2015, it was glaring to Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the North had been seriously denied and deprived by the continuous attempt by incumbent president GEJ to seek a 2nd full Term (or 3rd Term) as many interpreted it to be.
In spite of all his wealth and burning desire, Tinubu held his peace and rather chose to merge his Party with a Northern candidate to ensure that justice takes its cause. Truly it did.
To him, his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian – the slogan which the defeated incumbent president later adopted as a face-saving claim to swallow the bitter pill of his shameful defeat.
Fast forward to 2019. The ailing and frail President Buhari insisted in completing the 2nd Tenure of the Northern Turn in spite of a monumental failure in governance and an all-time security breakdown in the country.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had become unarguably one of the leaders of APC didn’t enjoy the failures of the then APC government; but he simply needed to endure and lend his support regardless because, in his calculation, patience was the only option that will ensure a seamless revolving of power to the South at appropriate time.
His endurance and Political tolerance stood in the face of his increasing age and deteriorating health also.
By now, he had conditioned his mind that if he died before 2023, the year to which power will conveniently revolve back to the South, it means he was not destined to rule Nigeria.
Patience, endurance and long-suffering are virtues that even mother-nature respects.
Alas, Tinubu survived all the unfavorable Political and health challenges and lived to 2023. Little wonder he couldn’t hold back his emotions when he made the unpopular declaration that “It Is My Turn”.
But how else could one have acknowledged a “turn” after waiting for good 20 years for the ground to level before contesting?
Regrettably, the PDP as it stands is made up of people who must contest the presidency in season and out of season.
At one time these gladiators preach Zoning. At another time, they preach “Experience” and “Political Merit” in total disregard to Zoning which they once held dear.
How did the PDP degenerate to the point where political scavengers take over party structures and seek to superimpose themselves on the Party and on the masses?
Can it be said that Party Constitution or Party leadership is no longer effective to check such inordinate and unbridled ambition and quest for power? Must party tickets be allowed for grabbers at the detriment of Party cohesion and National Unity?
These, and many more questions stare the Party leadership in the face as the PDP gears up to her NEC meeting from 18th April 2024.
Me: until PDP evolve party loyalists in the mould of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it will continue to wallow in internal crisis, thereby weakening their strength as a formidable opposition Party, let alone their chance to return to power in Nigeria.
