With less than a month until the 2023 presidential election, there are still signs that all is not well between the presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
Despite being members of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and other members of his cabinet appear to be dismissive of the former Lagos State Governor’s presidential ambitions.
Since Tinubu launched his campaign a few months ago, the presidency has not demonstrated a serious commitment to ensuring Tinubu and the APC’s win. While Buhari has attended only a few campaign events, Osinbajo has completely avoided them.
Naira Notes Saga: Individuals Working For Atiku In Buhari Govt – Fani-Kayode Alleges
Many people are perplexed as to why those at Aso Rock Villa, including some APC leaders, seem unconcerned about Tinubu’s victory or defeat.
Indeed, there are rumors that certain governors are secretly rubbing shoulders with the opposition ahead of the general election.
As the Jagaban could no longer pretend about the negative development, he was forced to let the cat out of the bag during a recent visit to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, exposing the extent of infighting tearing the party apart beneath.
Tinubu had taken on the Buhari administration over the new naira notes designs and the ongoing fuel crisis, arguing that the two occurrences were harming his presidential ambition.
According to Tinubu, they were purposefully hoarding gas and naira bills, which he predicted would harm his chances.
“With our PVC, we will wrest power from them. Even if they said there is no fuel, we will trek. They are full of hanky panky. They are cleverly creating fuel scarcity. Let the fuel continue to be scarce, they know where they hoard it.
2023: Anambra Ready For Tinubu – APC Campaign Council Reveals
“You hoard the naira, you hoard fuel, but we will vote and we will win. You can even change the ink on the naira notes, we will win. They sabotage fuel supply. Whether they supply fuel or not, we will go and vote. This is a superior revolution. You know me. We are going to win,” Tinubu said in Yoruba.
Following Tinubu’s speech, the media was flooded with criticism from the opposition, who perceived Tinubu’s words as an attack on President Buhari and his party, the APC.
Tinubu and his campaign team immediately began damage control after realizing the statement could cause havoc inside the party, claiming the presidential candidate was actually criticising the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not the APC-led Federal Government.
However, many people are wondering whether the PDP or President Buhari is in command of the Ministry of Petroleum. They also want to know whether the PDP or the Federal Government controls the Central Bank of Nigeria. The answer is obvious enough to understand who Tinubu was alluding to during his campaign in Abeokuta.
Some Nigerians are wondering why the presidency is less concerned about Tinubu’s presidential bid.
House Of Representatives Rejects CBN Extension of Old Naira Notes Swap
Buhari’s chosen candidate
There were suspicions prior to the APC primary that President Buhari had anointed a candidate among those vying for the presidential ticket. Aside from Osinbajo, a large number of Buhari’s cabinet officials, friends, and others were vying for the ticket.
Before the primary, Buhari spoke with party governors, informing them that he would choose his successor in the same way that they would choose theirs.
Buhari told the governors: “In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“We gave governors re-election tickets or an opportunity to pick their successors; allow me to pick my successor.”
Though Buhari did not disclose his decision, once Tinubu realized he was unlikely to be Buhari’s chosen candidate, he began to talk harsh.
South-East Under Pressure As Sit-At-Home Shortens Deadline On Old Naira Notes Swap
The Abeokuta remark
Tinubu was in Abeokuta in the run-up to the APC presidential primary in June 2022, seeking the support of party delegates. Tinubu recounted how he brought Buhari to power after the former Army General cried on live television at the Presidential Lodge in Ibara Housing Estate, where he met party officials.
He also claimed to be the one who suggested Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate after Bukola Saraki fought the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Osinbajo was running for the APC ticket alongside Tinubu at the time, which is why he was labeled a “betrayer” by Tinubu supporters.
“He tried the first time and failed. He tried a second time and failed. He tried a third time and failed. He even cried on television that he will never run for president again. I went to meet him and told him this is not a crying matter: ‘we will support you and you will be president’. If not for me, he wouldn’t have become the president,” Tinubu said in Yoruba.
His remark was alleged to have enraged the President and his officials, who responded by ordering Tinubu not to take sole credit for Buhari’s election.
A statement by a presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, partly read: “There are those who advised the president to run again; those who decided to build a political party – the APC – that could finally be the political vehicle capable of delivering victory where all other opposition parties and alliances before it had failed.
We Can Win Any Election In Nigeria With Our 41 Million Members – Buhari boasts
“Those decisions may have been agreed upon by a few. But they were delivered by thousands and voted for by tens of millions. No one can or should claim to have made this possible.”
Tinubu’s angry remark in Abeokuta in June was thought to have helped him acquire the APC ticket since it forced the president to avoid whatever transpired at the APC convention.
However, it remains to be seen whether Tinubu’s latest Abeokuta remark will similarly garner him favorable treatment from the presidency.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.