Tinubu Has The Right Of First Refusal To A Second Term

By Shehu Bashir Esq.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, was a child of necessity. It is a child born to wipe the tears of a “barren mother” who was desperately in need of relieve from the depression and frustration of “loneliness” (bad governance as it were).

That barren mother was Nigeria which needed to get out of the despondency of governance failure at a time. The principle behind the drive for that change was driven by political and developmental ideology. The campaign was against bad government and not “a bad region”.

Cut the long story short – the APC had the first shot at government with the coming of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. It was a government that was born with the highest hope Nigerians ever had in any previous administration. We all thought we were going into a government of zero corruption, self actualization, national transformation from agrarian to true industrialization and Utopianism.

On the contrary, the celebration didn’t last long and the expectation didn’t come as wished. Corruption was never abated. Infact, it became a “cabalized” paraphernalia for a few. The door of inclusivity was shut to many and opened only to a few. The anti-corruption fight became a target tool of oppression. Even the best friend of the Buhari government was targeted in a mischievous covert investigation.

Appointments into political offices were for the highest bidders – the region you came from, the religion you worshipped, the language you spoke, the powerful men you knew in the corridors of power, the contacts you had, etc, were the most publicly hidden but subtly applied yardsticks to consider your qualifications for an appointment. Merit was kept in the cooler with defence of under qualified candidates graciously over promoted to head some of the most strategic government agencies.

The arrogance of access became source of oppression of many dedicated patriots. Yet, in acquiescence, no member of the progressive family formed any rebellion coalition to ruffle the feathers against the then government.

During that time also, Nigeria financial power house became a bank of fraud. Money were printed like “toilet papers”. The financial market was flooded with “counterfeit” to buy over our national assets.

Our national asset became personal assets of few privileged government officials. Seized assets were re-seized and converted into personal assets while recovered money were rediscovered and re-looted by the then government officials. The records are there.

The billions of dollars received in foreign loans that were secured on behalf of federal government, to be used for development projects were diverted into personal use. The burden of repayment became more difficult. The train services didn’t match the value of the loan secured. The airport upgrade was done just to be concessioned for personal ownership. It was that bad.

All these happened mostly during the first tenure of the last administration. Though we were all shocked and disappointed. Yet, most of the times, the general mood was to give that administration the benefit of the doubt with the benefit of another opportunity for a second tenure.

During this disastrous time, inspite of the first tenure nearing full four years time, no one from the progressive family, either from the north or south was singing the song of coalition for dissolution of the government half way into that tenure on this basis of that disappointing poor performance.

No northerner called for abrupt change of government (of Buhari) then. No southerner wanted to grab power to fill the gap on the basis of southern intellectual superiority claim. The collective song then was “Sai Baba”. And we all chorused “Sai Buhari”.

During the second term contest, even though there was going to be expected competition between the then president and another candidate from the opposition, who was also ironically from the north, the strongest support base for Buhari’s re-election bid came from the south and the leader of that campaign for Buhari’s second term was, again, as usual, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This is not to say that Tinubu was majorly absent in the scheme of things during that first tenure. He was nearly schemed out and would only visit the villa to merely say “hello” to Buhari, probably, once in two years.

That notwithstanding, Tinubu didn’t get frustrated by the Buhari seeming poor start and even ostracism. He still supported Buhari and ensure that he got his second term. The records are there for anyone to contest.

Therefore, the current gang up against PBAT who is barely two years into his tenure is a betrayal of the gentleman understanding on equitable power rotation between the south and the north. Even though this is not a written law in our statutes, it has become a political convention for the convenience of peace, harmony and national integration.

Without being hypocritical about this and without any attempt to feign ignorance on the ongoing conspiracy, intent and actions, had the coalition’s most noise been coming from somewhere else, we might not have been as alarmed.

That such mostly coming from the most members of the last administration, with a threat to use the electoral strength of the north, in terms of numbers, against the incumbent, President Tinubu, is a delicate hegemonic drive and “must always be in control mentality”. Such is capable of tearing us apart. It should be avoided.

It is democratic for all political parties to take part in an election. We are not operating a one party system. However, using blackmailing tool, subtle threat of violence and uprising against the incumbent should the opposition lose the presidential election, fanning the embers of ethnic superiority will only exacerbate the already tensed ethnic mistrust amongst us. Again, it should be avoided.

Just as we did for Buhari, we gave him all our supports, unconditionally. We didn’t care which region he came from and which religion he worshipped. We didn’t even remember how some of us were betrayed and abandoned after elections. We remained loyal and dedicated. We supported his second term bid and we made sure he won.

We didn’t do this because we were slavish or dogmatic, we did so because we felt there should be balance of power sharing as a convention for national unity and cohesion.

We will repeat the same thing for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

In maintaining that standard, it is our belief that Tinubu should be given the right of first refusal. This is not to say that the second term should be handed over to him without a democratic contest. But that contest should not be colourated with ethnic, tribal or religious struggle.

It is dangerous for the cherished unity of this nation, for the most noisy dissension to be coming from one region of the country, with those desperate politicians inciting the north against the south, to “take back” power from the south as though the contest is north vs. south.

Like any other new administration, the initial take off of the plane comes with slow pace and scary turbulence. Infact, most times, drastic steps (to save the plane from crash) may come with tough cloudy encounters. The passengers may panic in fear until the plane is stabilized for a smooth flight and eventual fulfilled landing.

We are not going to deny the fact that the “luxury” we were used to is no more available from free market subsidy. The subsidy regime itself was fraught with insane corruption. Therefore, we have to make decisions on the basis of economic realities. This will come with tough times. We are experiencing that now. But we are not on a hopeless journey. This GPS is leading us towards a desirable destination.

Two years into the current tenure, like a patient who just came out of the theatre after a surgery, there is going to be an experience of pain from the surgery point until the wound finally heals. The healing process will take time but not endless.

Therefore, as we convalesce after that successful operation of subsidy removal, Naira floatation, foreign loan repayment, local government autonomy, tax reform, etc, we have to allow the surgeon to settle down for a fresh period of treatment.

As far as 2027 presidential election is concerned, Tinubu has the right of first refusal. The conspiracy and campaign of calumny against him on the basis of north-south “tug of war” is a dangerous campaign that is capable of fragmenting the already fragile tiny rope that connects us.

Political campaign should be hinged on policy criticism and offering of alternative solutions. Democracy is all about winning votes based on arguable policy development and not sentiment nor emotions. Sentimental and emotional campaigns such as ethnicity, tribe or religion is an inflammation of a propane gas tank, it is capable of creating avoidable inferno. We should avoid it.

It is therefore uncharitable for any members of the progressive family, the APC, the inner or out caucus, political office holders or ordinary floor members, to betray the trust of oneness, to conspire subtly or openly against the re-election bid of President Tinubu.

We weren’t loyal to the APC because a Buhari northerner was the candidate then. Being a northerner myself, we were and still loyal to the party because we believe in its democratic principles regardless of who is the flag bearer at any time. We cannot afford to be baited into that emotional sentiment now. Emotional loyalty is a dangerous loyalty. Whatever that was good for the geese then should be good for the gander now.

*GOD IS HERE*