Tinubu's presidential candidacy against theories that APC is working against itself

Even before the outburst of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abeokuta on Wednesday, there had been unease among some members of the ruling party, be it the recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ), monetary policies, the continuing fuel crisis, the increase in electricity tariffs, among other policies, were not intended to undermine the chances of the party and its candidate in the February 25 elections .

While some party stalwarts said President Buhari had nothing against Tinubu succeeding him, others expressed doubts about Mr. President's commitment to the campaign. They claimed his actions so far did not indicate a serious commitment. Although President Buhari said he supported the candidate and joined the campaigns, his half-hearted pledge came after critical stakeholders shouted that the decision to redesign naira banknotes at this critical time in the election could be against Tinubu and the chances of the party. It has been said that the fact that Buhari remained indifferent to forceful efforts to rein in an unstoppable CBN governor, Emefiele, shows some understanding between the president and the CBN to increase pressure on hostile policies and fume dependent politicians. strongly ingots. vans to deliver the elections. Recall that the members of the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance tried to challenge the policies of the CBN, also considering the implications of these policies on their own elections. Stakeholder concern is that Mr. President should not have endorsed CBN policies now, if he really meant any good to Tinubu and the party. The national leader's loyalists, particularly those in the South West, believe that Mr. President and some APC figures, do not want Tinubu, given how the administration previously ostracized Tinubu shortly. after Buhari took power in 2015. Recall that for more than three years after President Buhari took office on May 29, 2015, he refused to travel to Lagos, just as he walked away from Tinubu. The situation deteriorated so much that Tinubu's wife, Remi, had to sound the alarm on how her husband, whom she believed had sacrificed so much for the incumbent president, was diminished in the corridor of power and also sidelined. Most ministerial appointments in the South West have not had Tinubu's input. Even his "boys" were named without his input, as the vine intended. To back up Rémi's outcry, the President's wife, Aisha, also at one point alleged that unknown individuals, who had not invested as much in the APC merger, had taken over the presidency.

Through all his troubles, Tinubu has weathered the storm, biding his time to demand revenge. Ahead of the 2019 re-election, President Buhari managed to close ranks with Tinubu and soon after his re-election another cold war season ensued so many loyalists of the former Governor of Lagos been kicked out and/or relieved of their date. The development created serious doubts in the minds of Tinubu loyalists as to whether the President truly considered him (Tinubu) an ally. The coldness intensified when former transport minister Rotimi Amaechi claimed he was unaware of any pact that President Buhari should have conceded to power in Tinubu after his tenure (Buhari). In a quick reaction to Amaechi, outgoing Public Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola said there was a mutual and courteous agreement that power would shift to the South, and specifically the South West, after the Buhari's tenure. It wasn't just Amaechi who started such a plot. Even Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir el Rufai had stirred up similar plots, saying there was no pact to cede power to the south within the APC. Again, the national leader's loyalists interpreted these plots as part of schemes to thwart Tinubu's lifelong ambition to be president and prevent Southwest from producing his successor. Shortly after the Fashola, Amaechi altercations, the troubles of the party's former national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who is considered a Tinubu loyalist, began. He was later removed from office and the entire National Working Committee (NWC) sacked and replaced by the Interim Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) headed by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni .

Oshiomhole's removal and Buni's appointment were approved by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party led by President Buhari. The rest is history on how the CECPC led by Buni did everything to undermine the South and Tinubu. The mandate of the CECPC, initially scheduled for six months, has been extended to almost two years. The development has also created doubts about Mr. President's commitment to the transition program. Once again when APC started selling...