2027: President must forge new alliances, by Kola Amzat

Legion of political blocs across the country that studiously and religiously worked for the emergence of President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election must be applauded as they did fantastically well.

No doubt, history would be kind to them.

But, we need to appreciate that times are changing. New ideas are emerging. Young Turks and charismatic figures in the political sphere are also emerging, with tremendous influence & clout, panache and colours.    

The influence and political clout of many of those illustrious Nigerians and men of honour who did that yeoman job across the nation are fast waning and eroding.

Of course, it’s law of nature. No king reigns forever. Every political warlord has specific time that he would expire. There’s times and seasons for everything.   

Suffice to submit that power pendulum is fast swinging from those political leaders of yesteryears who selflessly and religiously labored for the emergence of Tinubu presidency.

It’s therefore an auspicious time for the president to be conscious of this stark reality of changes in political dynamics, with a view to re-strategize and re-draw the political programs and plans, ahead of next general elections.

In Lagos, the members of the hitherto indomitable and imperial Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), have significantly lost their political influence and clout in their respective political bases.

Truth must be told and in unequivocal terms, that on account of some of the members’ old age, occasioned with loss of vibrancy and fervor, their influence have considerably waned in their respective political bases, so much that it would be tragic and politically disastrous to place reliance on them in any future elections.

It’s therefore expedient for the president to forge new alliances and explore new political frontiers across the state.

Chief Oyedele, the emerging APC political chieftain in Ibeju/Lekki, Eti-Osa should be brought into the party political fold.

Despite the belligerence and ungrateful postures of Rauf Aregbesola, his relevance for the party’s triumph in the politically vast and essential Alimosho axis could not be over-emphasized.

Even in Osun state where APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru is presently making waves, Aregbesola is also a factor. I encourage and implore Asiwaju Tinubu to forgive him and bring him back to the fold.

After-all, politics is largely about permanent INTEREST and not permanent ENEMY.

Oyo state presents a complex situation, but Asiwaju Tinubu surely has in-built mechanism to navigate through.

In Ibadan, Rasheed Ladoja and the ever faithful members of Azeez Alao Arisekola political and business dynasty would swing the pendulum in favour of APC.

The president must faithfully cultivate the political bloc of the now deceased Michael Koleosho and Chief Awakan in Oke Ogun axis. Even though, they belong to the conservative party, we could navigate through them for victory.

With all intents and purposes, Ibikunle Amosun remains a moving force in Ogun central and president should ensure he’s brought back into the fold, with a view to joining forces with other emerging forces in the state, with particular reference to Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to deliver the state during the next elections.

In Ekiti political sphere, the undisputable crowd pullers today are the incumbent governor, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni. Even though, the latters are front-line leaders in the opposition parties, they indeed have sympathy for the president.

So, it’s incumbent on the president to devise political initiative for the duo to collaborate with the incumbent governor to deliver the state when the time comes.

In Ondo state, it’s clear that the center could no longer hold again for the political bloc of deceased governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, as the citizenry haven’t see the justification why they have to pander to the whims & caprices of his wife, who in any case, she’s considered an outsider in the politics of the state.

Clearly, political power has moved to the camp of the incumbent governor and a host of other new emerging political forces in the state, including incumbent Minister of Interior.

It’s therefore incumbent on the president to ensure that all new political gladiators in the state don’t work at cross-purpose with the governor, if the party must triumph in the state.

With unalloyed loyalty of Dave Umahi and his state governor, unassailable political antecedent of Orji Kalu and Benjamin Kalu, the House of Reps’ Deputy Speaker, combination of Hope Uzodinma, the governor and Rochas Okorocha, more importantly with the duo new found love in Imo state political space, Uche Ekwunife and ever faithful members of now deceased Ifeanyi Ubah political bloc in Anambra state, there is no iota of doubt that the fortunes of APC is bound to significantly improve in the South/East Geo-political zone.

Governor Charles Soludo is urbane, cosmopolitan, a visionary leader, developmental and highly educated, brandishing a First Class Degree Honours in Economics, with tremendous corporate antecedents, having been one of the successful CBN governor in Nigerian history.   

He will be opened to interact and confer with Nigerian leader of government who obviously share the same developmental attributes with him.

So, it won’t be out of place for Asiwaju Tinubu to cultivate Soludo to come to APC and indeed, work for the party during the next elections. 

Cross River has suddenly become the political fortress of APC, but, the president must find an ingenious way of bringing Donald Duke to APC fold, and indeed to government at the center. Even at his age, he has so much to offer the country.

In Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio remains an imperial power broker and coupled with his vantage status as senate president, his capacity to deliver the state, as well as playing great role in the victory of the party in other states in Niger Delta Region is not debatable.

That Wike Nyesom would deliver Rivers and also contribute to the fortunes of the party in other parts of South/south zone is not contestable.

This writer is very convinced that Edo people may be experiencing the last of PDP regime by the time curtain is drawn on the administration of Godwin Obaseki in November.  

For the eight years he’s at the helm of affairs, the governor has refused to justify the people’s mandate.

It would therefore be in order to confirm that the state would return to the fold of APC during the next elections.

It would also be important to re-invent the wheel of victory in Bayelsa state by bringing back to the fold of APC the party’s gubernatorial candidate who trounced the incumbent governor at the polls, before tribunal upturned the election in favour of Governor Duoye Diri.

With him and Tim Alaibe combination, victory is assured during the next elections.

Despite the vociferous voices of discontent and disapproval of this administration in the north been obviously orchestrated and sponsored by few disgruntled northern leaders, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kaduna are still rooting for the party and the president, with the party in neck-to-neck with NNPP in term of popularity in Kano.

In Sokoto state, Senators Wammako and Alhaji Bataggarawa remain impregnable force and would deliver the state any time for APC and the president.

To ensure continual electoral victory in Katsina and other parts of North West zone, the president is implored to manage very well the immediate past president, Muhammud Buhari.

In Kano state, this writer is of strong view that President Tinubu could revive his long-term friendship with Rabiu Kwankwanso and this, with the combination of awesome royal influence of Emir Lamido Sanusi, Kano may just be a fait accomplice for APC and the president during the next elections.

As temperamental and cumbersome as Sule Lamido is, he is a tremendous factor in Jigawa. Even though, one of the faithful and loyalists of ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, there is nothing untoward for the president to reach and connect him for support towards the 2027 elections.

If Kabiru Marafa, Bello Matawalle and Abdul-aziz Yari could bury their hatchets, re-commit, re-dedicate and reinvent their loyalty to APC, Zamfara would be a done deal for APC and the president.

It’s therefore incumbent on the president to devise way & means of breaking through the trio, with a view to settling their deep-rooted animosity for the party to triumph.

With the fervor and impressive performance of the incumbent governor, Kebbi should logically remain in the fold of APC.

Asiwaju Tinubu is also encouraged to connect and cultivate Senator Adamu Aliero. For decades, he’s been and still a huge factor in the politics of the state.

Pendulum of power has shifted in Kaduna state. The new governor has emerged as the new rallying point. His combination with Comrade Sheu Sani and other relevant but, hitherto abandoned political gladiators in Kaduna north and south axis should be cultivated with a view to ensuring triumph of the party in the state during 2027.          

In North Central Geo- political zone, Kwara governor has remarkably done well for the state to remain stable and steadfast for the party and the president. The senators especially the Kwara Central Senatorial Districts, as well as Kwara North Senatorial Districts have also justified their respective mandates to ensure that the state is safe for the party.

If Tanko Al-Makura, Adamu Abdulahi and incumbent governor of Nassarawa state could display political maturity and bury their differences, the state would be a tea-party for APC and president. The onus is therefore on ex-Lagos state governor to broker enduring peace between the trio for the success of the party.

The party need all the forces and blocs in Kogi state, including Yayaha Bello, Senator karimi, Smart Adeyemi and James Faleke to guarantee electoral victory in 2027.

Benue state, with the top-notch political antecedent of SGF, George Akhume, incumbent governor and other political chieftains, should be safe and stable for the president and the party.

In Plateau state, the combination of Samuel Lalong, Dariye and other young political Turks across the state, particularly, the national assembly members should ensure victory for the party during the next elections.

It also won’t be out of order if the president could cultivate the incumbent governor of the state, who no doubt have sympathy for the president.

Governor Bago has done well in Niger state and his performance so far is good enough to attract victory for the party.

In North East zone, Borno is safe. Yobe is stable. Gombe look good. But, president and APC must find way to cultivate Danjuma Goje with a view to ensuring that the party have unassailable edge.

In Adamawa, everything must be done to compensate Senator Binani. This writer feels strongly that the valiant, brave and illustrious woman has not gotten his due after her impressive outing in the gubernatorial elections. If she’s pacified, her combination with Nuhu Ribadu, Nyako political bloc and other political gladiators in the state would be good enough to dislodge PDP and swing victory onto the path of the president and APC.

The party must deploy all the resources within its disposal to dislodge the incumbent governor in Bauchi state. It won’t be out of place to make remorseful Yakubu Dogara and gubernatorial candidate of the party during the 2023 general elections, and other emerging political figures across the state the fulcrum of the party.

With the above arrangement, there is no doubt that the state could stage a comeback into the fold of the APC.   

However, while planning for 2027, there is no gainsaid the fact that the TIME IS RIPE for cabinet reshuffle.

The president has taken very bold and courageous to cause turn around in all the facets-Economy, Infrastructures, Education, Agricultures, Socio-political etc.

The ex-Lagos governor has also been very patriotic, resourceful, unwavering, undeterred and exemplary in putting those reforms through but, some of the cabinet ministers are not just working in tandem with the Agenda.

Continuing to keep them in the cabinet would be counter-productive and inimical to the success of the party during the 2027 general elections, and more importantly, for the Nigeria’s march to prosperity and development.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.