That Ibadan summit of political vultures, by Kola Amzat  

On Saturday, April 25, the nation’s political vultures converged again in Ibadan. Their desire is continual political relevance after they’ve individually been displaced by the younger, creative and better-skilled political masters in PDP, NNPP and even, in the ruling party-APC.

The Agenda for converging in Ibadan remained the same–forge a common front by presenting a sole presidential candidate that would unseat and wrestle the mantle of nation’s leadership from the very resourceful, vibrant, development and people-centric, patriotic and visionary incumbent that has tremendous and incredible national appeal.

From their respective countenances, it’s evidently clear that they’re obsessed and completely traumatized, as well as disorganized with Tinubu’s image and unique aura that surround the former Lagos state governor. Hence, their desperation to unseat him at all costs!

Are they on the right path with their devilish agenda? Time would tell!

Tragically, Ibadan has suddenly become the political haven of opposition groups, on account of inordinate, arrogant and selfishness of Seyi Makinde, who has completely lost out in the power game, and therefore deploying all evil initiatives in his armoury to remain relevant.

Just as he was alleged to have squandered about ₦1.5 billion of the state resources in a botched chieftaincy event at Mapo, a gathering  meant to crown three unwilling Obas, who indeed bluntly refused to attend, he was again alleged to have wasted over ₦2 billion of the state treasury in hosting the band of oppositions.   

Ibadan–the iconic ancient city where the late sage-Chief Obafemi Awolowo ruled from, and protected, as well as jealously guarded the interests of the Yorubas, has been violated.

Ibadan-the historic and symbolic city that has long been the political capital of the Yorubas has been shamelessly handed over to political scavengers to deploy as centre to hatch plots and evil agenda to unseat President Tinubu–one of the few political legends and statesman of gargantuan standing that Yoruba nation and this country has ever produced.

Presently, Obi/Kwakwanso are fiercely locked in a titanic battle to outwit Atiku Abubakar for the presidential flag bearer of ADC.

The party is also embroiled in many other internal challenges, including the much-awaited Supreme Court verdict that would determine whether the ADC will even be on the ballot or not.

These are the warring and displaced politicians’ frantically running helter skelter courting Nigerians to support them at polls.

Meanwhile, ex-president-Olusegun Obasanjo, who was billed to preside over the Ibadan Summit cleverly stepped back, ostensibly occupied with the thought that, it’s an auspicious time to make atonement with the man he has devoted significant period of his political sojourn to fight, but, without a single victory.

The Owu high chief might have also reasoned that, now that he’s in the twilight of his sojourn on earth, it’s germane to make peace with the president.

Meanwhile, let’s check the list of the attendees at the event:

Atiku Abubakar- The man Obasanjo lampooned in his book- “My Watch”.

The ex-president characterized Atiku as dishonest, selfish, and prone to corruption, with a “shadowy” background, alleging that Atiku is willing to sacrifice national interest for personal gain.           

Even during a temporary reconciliation for the 2019 election, Obasanjo refused to hold his breath as he generally criticized Atiku’s capacity, loyalty, and character, focusing on the need for a “conversion” similar to Paul on the road to Damascus.

The ex-president expressed that if he supported Atiku for the presidency, knowing what he knows, he would not be forgiven by God.

Obasanjo confirmed that Atiku was linked with embezzlement of $20 million earmarked for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), as well as other $125 million meant to fund PTDF in 2003 fiscal year, as well as Atiku’s corrupt practices with iGate, a firm and William Jefferson, a former congressman that was jailed for 13 years in the United States. 

While he was the vice president, Turaki Adamawa never covered himself in glory as he performed woefully in key assignments thrusted on his path to super-intend:

As Chairman of National Council of Privatization (NCP), Turaki Adamawa acquired more than 145 federal government companies either directly or through his cronies to stupendously enrich himself.

The prized companies he cornered included ALSCON Ikot-Abasi built for $3.2billion and was sold to him for $250 million. Delta Steel Company was sold to one who didn’t bid.

Ajaokuta was concessioned to looters who have only been stripping the company. Atiku’s NCP also sold Kaduna and Portharcourt at throw-away prices, a development that got deceased president, Umaru Yar’Adua enraged so much that he had to revoke the sale.         

Atiku’s performance as chairmanship of Banking Sector Reforms, as well as Economic Team Recruitment during the better-forgotten era were also less-salutary as the fraud of monumental dimension trailed both reforms. Billions of Naira passed hands from banking chieftains in a bid to curry his favour.

With his antecedent as vice-president, Turaki Adamawa would convert the whole Nigeria to his private estate, if Nigerians ever make the mistake of handing over to him the mantle of leadership of the country.

David Mark-This is a retired Brigadier General turned politician who famously vowed to shoot Aare MKO Abiola if his presidential mandate was ever restored.

Nigerians recall vividly that it was Oturkpo born former soldier who made that offensive declaration that mobile phone is exclusively for the rich and never made for the common man.  For eight solid years he was senate president, there wasn’t any significant milestone recorded in his favour except the doctrine of necessity for which he maximally benefitted from.

Peter Obi– The eight years of the former Anambra state governor was a colossal failure, as the regime was characterized with infrastructural decay, insecurity, educational and social rot. When he vacated, Obi was alleged to have passed onto his successor a humongous debt burden of about ₦70 billion, a fact he has not denied till date.

During the 2023 presidential campaign, he almost set the nation on fire through his ill-conceived, destructive and myopic campaign manifestoes anchored on religious and ethnic sentiments.

Peter Obi is also notorious for constantly feeding the hapless and uninformed Nigerians with falsehood in economic and political data & statistics, a satanic initiative always aimed at inciting the populace against the government.

Hand over Nigerians to Obi to manage and it won’t take this country three months to collapse!

Rabiu Kwakwanso-This is one politician with no allegiance to specific and identified political ethos, principles and norms. He only dwells wherever his political bread would be buttered. At the slightest opportunity, he’s on the move.

Of course, he recently ported from NNPP to the hijacked ADC when APC leadership hierarchy called off his bluff after several months of negotiations, when he was apparent that he wanted to reap where he didn’t sow by demanding the VP slot, a selfish demand aimed at  rocking the boat of the ruling party.

The Kano state governor he claimed he assisted to power has since parted ways with him on account of continual unreasonable demands. No doubt, he’s one of the desperate ADC members.

Rauf Aregbesola–The former Osun governor should cover his face in shame for the reckless, rapacious and very malicious way and manner he conducted the affairs of the state while he was in charge.

He deliberately shortchanged the civil servants in the payment of their salaries. He created a huge gulf between the Christians and Muslim faithful, with his opaque and archaic policies rooted in Islamic doctrines, a development that brewed enmity in places of worship and institutions of higher learning.   

His tenure as Interior Minister was also a huge disaster, as no significant accomplishment was recorded in all the key agencies under the ministry.

The above mentioned political figures including the likes of Rotimi Amaechi and Babachir Lawal are the band of opposition stalwarts moving helter skelter, plotting and strategizing day and night to unseat a sitting president with divine mission and mandate to reposition, reengineer, restructure and refocus Nigeria so that she could achieve her potentials, as well as emerge as a key economic and political bloc in the global affairs.

This is therefore a clarion call to the well-meaning and discerning Nigerians to move and reject these already displaced political vultures and their antics, as they’ve no better plans for the country other than to expand their hegemony, through rapacious looting and vandalization of the nation’s treasury.                                  

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),

09077509348, [email protected]