President Bola Tinubu is not just the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria but also a magician-in-chief. He understands better, I contend, than any Nigerian President since Olusegun Obasanjo how to build a powerful political coalition that transcends party affiliation.
For instance, Obasanjo and his adept advisers relied almost heavily and exclusively on sneaking their ways into the stronghold of the opposition like thief in the night to neutralize and undermine their plans and plots with reckless and relentless abandon.
In 2003, facing re-election, Obasanjo reached out to the opposition Governors in the South West for an alliance. Thinking the former military general could be trusted, the governors backed Obasanjo’s re-election only for the ‘ebora owu’ to strike and stab them in the back until they all fell like packs of card save for one man.
Tinubu, having established himself as a dexterous political deal maker, and a trusted political heavyweight knows full well the ways and means to extend his hands across the Niger and make his enemies work for him without breaking a sweat. Tinubu, a skillful negotiation used his trademark trick: consolidating power to disarm his enemies and fortify his base.
Anyone who has followed the President’s political trajectory will know negotiation and strategy are two of his greatest strengths. In the build-up to the 2023 Presidential election, Tinubu once again proved his mettle. First by reasserting himself as a foremost politician who understands the complexity and intensity of the country’s political landscape.
In the Presidential primary for example, he showed the stuff that made him a political grand master. Against the gimmicks of his traducers, Tinubu won the primary by a wide margin, defeating his closest rival, Rotimi Amaechi. Here in Oyo State for instance, the President carefully trudged the political terrain by striking a deal with the Governor, Seyi Makinde, a PDP man without demoralizing members of his party. That deal opened a new chapter in the anal of the country’s political alliance.
In effect, the deal he made with Governor Seyi Makinde was replicated in Rivers under Nyesom Wike. While Makinde was tactical often favoring silence over hard talk, Wike went all out with ‘bazooka’ in a state where the odds were stacked against the President.
In essence, the President, being the master strategist knows that only a handful of politicians have the stamina and political artistry to survive re-election with his unpopular but necessary economic policies. In less than two months since Delta State Governor, Sheriff Obvorevwori collapsed the structure of the PDP to that of the APC, another PDP Governor, Uno Emo, the pastoral governor of Akwa Ibom has followed the similar path by decamping to the APC.
In Osun State, the recent visit of the Governor, Ademola Adeleke, his brother, Dr, Deji Adeleke and Afrobeat star, David Adeleke aka Davido to the President in Lagos has equally sparked political debate in the state and beyond, with many arguing that party politics is slowly grasping for breath in the country. Proponents of this assertion often opine that the country is sliding towards a one-party state. In my column of May 10, I delved into that widespread assumption noting that in many states of the federation, party politics is as strong as second fiddle.
“Politics anywhere is inherently a game of interest”, I argued in that column “and that people only move where their interest is protected”, and safeguarded. I added that in Oyo State, like most states of the federation, has a rich history of multi-party democracy. In fact, I gave instances of how different political parties have governed the state without one accusing the other of willful domination and subjugation. Locally, party politics remain strong, competitive and vibrant.
Despite the change of time, I reckon that loyal party members still abound in every nook and corner of the country. While there are rumors and speculations that the President is bludgeoning opposition governors to join his party, my contention differs, slightly. For one, we still have politicians with certain degree of conviction. The likes of Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa who, despite the temptation and thrills of the national cake have stuck to their guns of belonging to the PDP.
In Akwa Ibom as well, we’ve also seen the lofty decision of the Commissioner of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, Comrade Ini Ememobong who resigned citing personal conviction. “You have directed that any appointee who is unwilling to accompany you to switch from the People’s Democratic Party to the All-Progressives Congress should resign”, the former commissioner blurted out, “Ipso facto’ based on my personal conviction, I will be unable to join the All-Progressives Congress”. So, basically, the idea that opposition governors like Sheriff Obvorevwori and Pastor Uno Emo are being coerced to abandon PDP for APC does not hold water. Two points will explain this.
The first is the character of the President. When it comes to making political deal, the President is known for his words. Unlike Obasanjo who sought the help of Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Alhaji Lamidi Adesina (Oyo), Aremo Segun Osoba (Ogun), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) and Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo), all members of the defunct Alliance for Democracy only to conspire against them, Tinubu hardly go against his words.
I reckon that it is not possible to build a party from the scratch and capture all the six south west states unless your followers and supporters trust that you will not leave them to suffer. While followers of the President often come and go, the true test of the President’s character has consistently remained. That the President etched his influence in Lagos politics for such an extended period of time wasn’t an accident but a deliberate and painstaking reflection of his character: I am the guy you can trust.
Yes, politicians can be tricky and treacherous. They can betray and backstab. They can renege on their promises and retract their words. Still, the difference between a successful politician and a failed one is the degree to which they are willing to give, more than take, compromise on deals, soft-pedal on their foes and agree to disagree on contentious matter. In 2015 when the President built the largest coalition of the opposition in the history of Nigeria, he did so not because of his power and political patronage.
How was the President alongside other eminent opposition bigwigs lure notable PDP Governors, Senators, members of the House of the Representatives etc from the PDP against a sitting President? The secret has more to do with the head of the coalition than party affiliation, financial warchest or clout. This, right here is the missing link among the current crop of opposition leaders in the country.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @Upliftnuggets on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
