Tinubu everywhere; where are the oppositions’ figures, by Kola Amzat

Presently in all the nooks and crannies, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s name reverberates. Across the country and, in the last couple of months the president has been the centrepiece of political discourse, particularly his re-election bid.

Without doubt, the ex-Lagos state governor has been indefatigably dominant in the political landscape, dusting other key opposition leaders in the battle for Aso Villa during the forthcoming polls.

Indeed, he has succeeded in turning Atiku, Obi and coy to political noise makers, as well as “ALSO INTENDING TO RUN POLITICIANS” in the eyes of the Nigerian electorates.  

The behemoth political structure that the former APC national leader vigorously build across the country over the years has suddenly assumed a larger than life image, so much that his re-election bid is fast becoming a fait-accompli.

It’s remarkable to note that all the who is who, bigwigs, top shots and key figures who have unassailable capacity and wherewithal to triumph in any election, as well as to deliver the states or their blocs in all the six (6) geo-political zones across the country, even, regardless of the party affiliations are now firmly within the political dynasty of the Lion of Burdillon and they’ve all been assigned key responsibilities and instructively, are very delighted to work with this ENIGMATIC political figure and unusual gift of nature to our dear country.

For the avoidance of doubt, let’s check the roll call:

In the North Central, there are the likes of political juggernaut-Senator George Akume, the incumbent SGF, who is leading the way and being assisted by Senator Gabriel Suswan, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC Chairman, Governor Caleb Mutwang of Plateau state, former governors of Nassarawa-Adamu Abdulahi, Tanko Al-Makura and incumbent governor, Sule Abdulahi, Yahaha Bello, Ahmed Usman Ododo, Umaru Bago, Muhammad Sani Musa and Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.

North West presents an intimidating political figures: Abdul’aziz Yari, Bello Matawalle, Dauda Lawal, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Umar Shekarau, Barau Jibrin, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Uba Sani, Sheu Sani, Ramadan Yero, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Nasir Idris, Adamu Aliero, Abubakar Bagudu, Attahiru Baffarawa, Aliyu Wamakko, Ahmad Aliyu, Dikko Radda, Ahmed Musa Kangiwa, Bello Masari, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, Umar Namadi, Badaru Badaru and Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

Spearheading the North East formidable group is the highly cerebral Vice president, Kashim Shettima, and ably being supported by the eminent political personalities figure like Banagana Zulum, Ali Ndume, Mohammed Tahir Munguno. Alli Modu Sheriff, Kefas, Agbu, Muhamma Ali Pate, Yakubu Dogara, Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Ahmadu Fintiri, Nuhu Ribadu, Mohammed Buba Marwa, Ahmad Tijani Galadima, Ibrahim Geidam, Mai Mala Buni, Baba Malam Wali, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Mustapha Gubio, as well as Mohammed Danjuma Goje.

South South presents the impressive list of political titans and masters of the game like Nyesom Wike, Magnus Abe, Simi Fubara, Chibudom Nwuche, Kinsley Chinda, Godswill Akpabio, Umo Eno, Bassey Edet Otu, Betta Edu, Doye Diiri, Adams Oshiomole, Monday Okpebholo, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Sheriff Oborevwori, Ifeanyi Okowa, Festus Keyamo, Ede Dafinone, and Ned Nwoko.

South East zone is poised to reintegrate themselves into the mainstream of national politics with amazing list of tested and trusted political figures been spearheaded by the mercurial Orji Uzor Kalu and been supported by Benjamin Kalu, David Umahi, Francis Nwifuru, Hope Uzodinma, Peter Uba, Ken Nnamani, Uche Ekwunife, Charles Soludo, Rochas Okorocha.

And from the political base of the president are Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Femi Gbajabiamila, James Faleke, Jimi Benson, Ademola Adeleke, Kashif Bode Oyedele, Musiliu Obanikoro, Mudasiru Obasa, Teslim Folarin, Sarafadeen Alli, Ayodele Fayose, Biodun Oyebamiji, Opeyemi Bamidele and Niyi Adebanjo.  

In contemporary politics in Nigeria, electoral victory revolves around the eminent politicians identified in the six geo-political zones above.

Without them, a presidential candidate would just be struggling in vain and grandstanding. These people hold the key to electoral triumphs, particularly, the governorship and presidential offices. They jointly hold the ace to victory in the presidential elections.

If providence therefore is on the side of a presidential candidate and lucky to have them on his side, fulfilment of his ambition become easier. Such candidate’s case becomes a fait-accompli.

It’s an understatement to submit that all the aforementioned political key figures are presently firmly with the president and relentlessly routing for his re-election.

It’s already in the public domain that President Bola Tinubu inaugurated APC Presidential Campaign Council yesterday, with Wike Nyesom assigned the responsibility to take charge and deliver FCT and Rivers State votes during the forthcoming polls; Ademola Adeleke is the main coordinator of Osun state elections, and with Charles Soludo taking charge of the affairs in Anambra state.

Since the turn of the 4th Republic in 1999, and even, since Nigeria ventures into democratic rule, a coalition initiative of this magnitude has never happened.  It’s therefore a new dimension in the nation political history. It’s a new political concept that would surely occupy a big chapter in Nigerian political encyclopedia.

The new arrangement succinctly ensures that no geo-political zone would be left behind in Asiwaju Tinubu’s bid for re-election. All zones would be adequately represented to mobilize and canvass the support of Nigerian electorates for the president’s election, and ultimately, all geo-political zones would optimally benefit in the IMPENDING VICTORY.

It’s also instructive to submit that to become Nigeria president, a candidate must be dominant and unassailable in Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Kaduna.

Presently, the president is not only formidable in the four states, it would be practically difficult for any opposition candidate regardless of their standings to record mandatory constitutional stipulated 25% in any of the four states.

Also, victory is guaranteed for a presidential candidate that has the capacity to successfully climb the North West and South West mountains.

Even though, it’s not a documented political law, but a candidate that is not significantly rooted in the North West and South West geo-political zones would have difficulty in berthing at the Villa.

As we speak, nothing appears to be on the way to prevent President Tinubu to record less than 65-70% of the poll cast in these two zones during the forthcoming polls. Not with the type of imperial and impenetrable political structure he has built in the two regions over decades.

And, similar political scenarios pervade in other zones-South South, South East, North Central and North East.

The pertinent question remains: who would stop the moving train? Who would halt Asiwaju Tinubu’s re-election bid? Who would truncate his second journey to Aso Villa?

Opposition key candidates are just there, distracting Nigerians with rancorous noise.

They make regular appearances in Television stations; they appear in Radio stations and pay heavily for advertorial in pages of Newspapers for falsehood, propaganda, concocted lies and misinformation about government programs, policies and agenda.

They even paid dubious foreign consultants fortunes in millions of dollars for the purpose of projecting negative image of government and the president.

Every second, the most disruptive political groups this country has witnessed since her existence-OBEDIDIENTS are in social media for irrelevancies, pedestrians and mundane issues that would never glorify them and the country. They practically live in the social media for nonsensical matters.

This writer is making it abundantly and unequivocally clear: the name of the game is political structure, wherewithal, good intention to run the public office, visionary, purposefulness, resourcefulness, capacity to forge unity and harmony amongst diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria, sustaining the territorial of our nation and ability to give sense of belonging to all Nigerians irrespective of age, sex, political affiliations, ethnicity, religion, and beliefs.

Without doubt, Asiwaju Tinubu ticks all the above boxes. This is why the golden man is flourishing, blossoming and thriving, even against all odds.

In contrast, the game is not about arrogance, flaunting of ill-gotten wealth, leadership deficiencies, desire for power without any reasonable things to do with it, ethnic jingoism, propaganda, falsehood, pool him down attitude and religious fanatic, social media manipulations.

General elections is just few months ahead. Nigerians have resolved who their president would be.

This is the bitter truth that the likes of Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, Kwakwanso must be ready to acknowledged and contend with.

Kola AMZAT(FCA, FCIB, ACS, ACTIN, MBA, Bsc),

Lagos based Financial and Management Consultants.