OPINION: Osinbajo Aspiration: Opening Yorubas’ Flanks For Intruders,  By Kola Amzat

Until when the news hit the airwaves like a thunderstorm, nobody believed it would ever going to happen. To the unsuspecting Nigerians, they erroneously see in the VP Osinbajo a sufficiently contented man, very much in hurry prepared to return to his private life and pastoral assignment after an incredible and life time achievement of 8 years tenure as VP of the most populous and prosperous black African nation under the surface of the earth, a man of honor & principle, who holds in high esteem principle of fair play, equity and justice and who would never for whatever reasons, challenge a benefactor for a public office, more-so where such benefactor has previously publicly registered his interest for such an office.

Nigerians suddenly realized that they were practically wrong to judge a human being with very hapless, pretentious and innocent look and ascribing honor & dignity unto him, particularly those beings who have little or no regard for the principle of give & take, and who especially revel in repaying evil for good.   

The point we’re now is that VP Yemi Osinbajo has against all expectations, declared for the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria without little or no regards for the interest earlier expressed by his political god-father for the same office. As much as we’re not challenging him for his declaration on account of respect for his fundamental human rights to contest for any office in the land as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the expectations & views of the generality of discerning minds is that, it shouldn’t be VP that would be cutting Asiwaju Tinubu back with knife.

Where do we start from? Tinubu didn’t only appoint him as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in his glorious administration loaded with stars, he gave him unusual visibility. He made him superstar in the midst of stars. Tinubu, characteristic of the way he operates with his faithful, didn’t finish with him as Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, he offered him life time platform to assume the office of second in command in our prodigiously blessed country, substituting his name with Osinbajo when he became apparent that he, as a muslim couldn’t run on the same ticket with Major General Buhari (rtd) in 2015 presidential election. Interestingly, Yemi Osinbajo was oblivious of all this political move and elevation going on underground, until when the news hit him that he’s been considered as VP presidential candidate. 

The world should ask a very pertinent question; who should be running helter & skelter for Asiwaju Tinubu to be handed APC presidential ticket if not Yemi Osinbajo? Who should be passionately drumming it into President Buhari’s hearing on the need to make Tinubu the APC flagbearer if not for Yemi Osinbajo? Who should be in the fore-front of mobilizing and canvassing supports of Nigerians for Tinubu presidency if not for Yemi Osinbajo? Who should champion the building of war-chest for the Tinubu presidency if not for Yemi Osinbajo?

The VP has suddenly been enveloped and overwhelmed with the splendor of Aso Villa. That’s why he has suddenly forgotten who provided him political ladder to hug visibility, fame, wealth and honor, but providence and nature don’t forget. His political trajectory are well documented in the annals of providence and he would be called to question at the fullest of time.

Meanwhile, the greatest tragedy for the Yorubas in this moment of debauchery and betrayal by VP is that we seem not to have learnt any lesson whatsoever as a race. This was the pit of hell the Yorubas found themselves when Chief Ladoke Akintola was alleged to be making a nocturnal and subterfuge move to supplant the leadership of illustrious late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1962, exactly 60 years ago by colluding & collaborating with enemies of the Western Region. The Western House of Assembly consequently passed a vote of no confidence on Akintola leadership in a bid to remove him as the Premier and crisis erupted on the floor of the House. The rest is history.

Similar to aforementioned was the coup against Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s bid for Nigerian presidency by Olusegun Obasanjo military regime in 1979. Consequent upon the inconclusive presidential election in that year as Chief Awolowo and Alhaji Shagari fates ought to be resolved by the Electoral College, Obasanjo suddenly raised Chief Richard Akinjide to advocate at the Supreme Court for NPN candidate that his 12.67(122/3) he garnered during the election was mathematically 13 states. Obasanjo mindlessly deployed Nigerian resources to fight against his kinsman, Chief Awolowo and denied him of an imminent victory at the Electoral College.

It was the same Obasanjo who eventually nailed the coffin of Chief MKO presidential mandate genuinely given to him by Nigerians in 1993 by his infamous and most tragic pronouncement that ‘MKO wasn’t the messiah Nigeria needed’. That message resonated with IBB military led government and got them emboldened. They capitalized on the pronouncement and finally resolved that the mandate was dead. 

Such is the diverse tragedy that has befallen Yoruba nation over years in our quest for leadership of this country. But, no one expected that VP Osinbajo would continue the macabre dance by opening the flanks of the race for the enemies of the region to penetrate and intrude. One expects the VP, a Professor of Law, a Christian of RCCG stock, operating at the highest level of the globally acclaimed church, and sufficiently urbane and a supposedly gentleman to have deeply researched into how Yorubas have been shortchanged over years in her quest for leadership of the country and therefore personally resolve to make amendments. Now that he’s fallen prey of the foes & adversaries of the region. Where do we go from here?

But, the beauty of our situation is that despite his supposed collaboration with our political foes, Tinubu looks good to clinch the APC presidential ticket. He has relentlessly and assiduously worked for it over decade. His level of acceptability across the country is incredible and unfathomable. He has amazing structure all over the country capable of winning the presidential election times and times over again. His foot soldiers across the land are like locusts, so much that if that election is scheduled for today, it would be a fait accomplice for him.

Besides, Tinubu has all the traits of a president this country needs today. Of course, we must acknowledge that our country is in dire need of renewal, rebranding, re-engineering, repositioning and new paradigm. He understands the country in-and out. He has built imperious bridges across the land. He indeed knows where to source human and material resources to launch this country into political, economic, infrastructural, educational and socio-political prominence. When it concerns political leadership, Tinubu knows what to do at any point in time. It’s a divine gift to him by the nature. We’re created by nature for diverse purposes. To submit that he’s a political rallying point for APC and opposition parties in the country is an understatement. Just mill around political players across this country and you would understand where I’m coming from. 

Tinubu is firm, courageous, a relentless fighter for whatever cause he believes in. He’s one of the developmental and transformational leader African continent has produced. Of course, he’s an acknowledged and accomplished wealth creator. Give this country to him to run and we’ll all be stunned by mindboggling the nation would make in a very short time. He also an awesome international contact that the nation could capitalize on to grow and develop.

We beckon on President Buhari to provide a level playing ground during the presidential primary by allowing democratic spirit, ethos and traditions to be at display and the world would not be surprised at all seeing Asiwaju Tinubu towering about other contestants, including VP Osinbajo with wide margins and landslide victory.                                                             

Kola AMZAT(FCA,FCIB,ACS,CTP,MBA)

LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,

09077509348

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB,  CTP, MBA)                                                                                                                  Lagos Based Financial Consultant

09077509348.