APC presidential jesters and the Umahi, Akpabio con, By Yemi Adebowale

For about three years, I was projecting Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State as one of the few politicians around that could help Nigeria disable those of the old order that turned this country into a big mess. Prior to the All Progressives Congress’ presidential primary election, whenever I ran into him, I would ask the Ekiti governor, “Do you still have your eye on the presidency?” He would tactically accept the challenge. By my calculations, the young, vibrant, suave, Fayemi was capable of giving the old brigade a good run for their money in the APC presidential primary. Like most young Nigerians, I desperately wanted a change. I wanted an end to the dominance of the old politicians holding Nigeria by the jugular and Fayemi was looking like a breath of fresh air.

Regrettably, all my projections and expectations came crashing on D-Day of the APC presidential primary. The Ekiti State governor disappointed big time. Fayemi, the man I was privately selling to people as being competent and capable of turning the tides against the old brigade stepped down for Bola Tinubu, a key member of the old order. His pathetic announcement on the floor of the national convention of the party on June 7 shattered many young Nigerians.

On D-Day, Fayemi declared: “It is only in unity and cohesion that we can meet our destiny. I am stepping down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Give me the honour to step down for my leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is a democrat that I worked with. I am not doing this for any prize.” What nonsense! This Ekiti State governor, who spent N100 million for the presidential form and went round several states lobbying delegates and party leaders, in order to get the ticket, suddenly realised on the day of the primary election that Tinubu is his leader and should not be competing with him. Fayemi should tell it to the marines.

Few days later, Fayemi was tweeting that Tinubu was one person he had worked with in the democratic struggles and was one of the wheels on which the engine of NADECO spun in the dark days of authoritarian rule, adding, “He is tested and has more experience to steer the ship of our country from May 2023.”

Sharing photos of their meeting on Twitter a few days after the primary, Fayemi tweeted, “It was a real delight to spend the weekend with my leader and mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” So, what Fayemi is telling young Nigerians is that he had realised that Tinubu “is tested and has more experience to run Nigeria.” The Ekiti State governor did not realise this while he was running round the country and campaigning. He did not realise he was untested. Fayemi suddenly realised that at 57, he was too young to run Nigeria. What a shame.

Well, Fayemi needs to be reminded that so many young men are doing wonders as leaders of many developed countries. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Mirella Marin is just 36. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is just 41. Jacinda became Prime Minister at just 36. Canadian Prime Minister James Trudeau is just 50. Swedish Prime Minister Eva Magdalena Andersson is 55. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is 57. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is 59. So, what is Fayemi talking about? Nigeria must break from the old and unproductive order of using only seniors as presidents.

Another jester that regaled Nigerians with the story of Mungo Park on the day of the APC presidential primary was the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio. He stepped down for Tinubu, saying, “I am ably qualified to be your President, but I have stepped down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Unite Nigeria, vote for Tinubu.”

This is the same Akpabio that resigned as minister because of his conviction that he was qualified to be the President of Nigeria. This same Akpabio was going round the country lobbying party leaders and delegates to vote for him as the party’s standard bearer. Suddenly, on D-Day, he discovered that his presidency would disunite Nigeria. So, he stepped down for Asiwaju who would unite Nigeria. What a disgraceful excuse. Akpabio was evidently under the influence of something on that day. Only God knows what it was.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun also realised on D-Day that Tinubu “is the best man for the job and in the spirit of consensus building”, stepped down for him. That was after spending weeks bluffing that he was the only one qualified for Nigeria’s number one job. Amosun should please go back and read some of his newspaper campaign materials showboating about his capabilities for the office of the President of Nigeria. How does he feel now describing Tinubu as the only man for the job?

Another comic, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State discovered on the day of the primary that Tinubu is “soldier of democracy” and realised that “this soldier of democracy, who has seen it all, will lead our great party to victory.” So, the hyped Ayade is no longer the solution to Nigeria’s problems as he claimed weeks before the primary election? The cross River State governor should bury his head in shame.

What about the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who mounted the stage on June 8, still dreaming that the Holy Ghost would make him Nigeria’s 16th president? Bakare was obviously in wonderland. He did not visit a single state to campaign. Bakare did not worry about lobbying delegates. He was just banking on the Holy Ghost to do the miracle; that he would miraculously get the ticket, run and become Nigeria’s 16th president. Bakare told his congregation that it would happen and they believed him. No doubt, religion is opium.

All these jesters that masqueraded as presidential aspirants made a mockery of the APC primary election. These people will always be remembered simply as deceitful politicians that turned the presidential primary election into a charade. They are evidently politicians without principles.

Akpabio, after his Abuja debacle, returned to Uyo, and tried to manipulate the system, in order to get a senatorial ticket. He desperately wanted something to keep him relevant in 2023. This former governor, working with leading NWC members at the APC headquarters in Abuja, organised a fraudulent fresh primary election for Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District on June 8. An earlier primary election held on May 27 had produced Udom Ekpoudom, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The State Chairman of the party, Stephen Ntuekpo, cited imaginary security infractions during the May 27 primary and got approval from the national headquarters to conduct a fresh one on June 8.

The conspirators are determined to push Akpabio’s name to INEC based on the con primary, but the good thing here is that both Ekpoudom and INEC have vowed not to allow Akpabio’s garbage to stand. The retired DIG rightly described the fresh primary as “a scam, unconstitutional, deceitful and legally defective,” adding, “Under no circumstance will I relinquish, withdraw or be substituted no matter the degree of pressure and inducement dangled by anyone.”

INEC has equally declared that Akpabio is not recognised as the senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-west. “The re-run primary that led to the emergence of Akpabio as the APC candidate for the district is strange and unknown to law,” said the election umpire.

Akpabio’s co-jester, Umahi also returned to his state after his Abuja calamity to fraudulently pick Ebonyi South senatorial ticket. The Ebonyi governor had cunningly put his younger brother, Austin Umahi forward two weeks ago and he emerged winner of the primary election. Umahi ensured no other person picked the senatorial form. So, when he returned from Abuja, his brother notified the party that he was no longer interested in the ticket. The deception was well planned. However, I believe it’s just a temporary victory for Umahi. The people of Ebonyi South will put him in the garbage can in 2023.

-First published in Thisday Newspaper