By DAVIDSON AYOADE OJENIYI
The long awaited presidential primary election of the ruling party, APC, goes underway today at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The list of the aspirants justling for the ticket includes Osinbajo, Tinubu and others.
There’s no long story about it. We all know what has transpired since the beginning of the contest until the outburst by Tinubu in Abeokuta. Many who pretend as if they don’t understand human nature condemn the outburst.
They are all hypocrites. The same set of people blamed Buhari for his outburst during a presidential media chart when he asked if it would be sensible to leave those who gave him 95% votes for those who gave him less than 5% votes (My own phrase).
There are times when people reach break points in their lives. We all do. Those who use it against Tinubu know that we’re tractable people who forget the past very fast. Can we ask those people to tell us what happened between Aregbesola and Oyetola?
How did Aregbesola picked people for elective positions whilst he held sway in Osun? What is the problem with Adeyeye who talks like there’s no tomorrow in the evening of his life?
In all of these shenanigans, one thing I wish to advise is for Osinbajo to thread with caution. He has demonstrated his lack of understanding of the Nigerian political terrain. He does not seem to understand that those who encourage him to contest are of different categories.
The first category contains those who hate Tinubu and are looking for who to use against him. The second category consists of those who have sympathy for PDP. This category wishes to use him to decimate the power of the APC because they believe that if he emerges, it will be a walkover for Atiku and if he doesn’t emerge, he may scuttle the chances of the ruling party.
The last category is populated by those who believe that an Osinbajo presidency will give them the opportunity of a life time.
The first category covers about 40% of his supporters. The second category takes about 50% of his supporters. The last category, which is responsible for the rest 10% includes his wife and children and not even members of his extended family.
Having made the analysis above, it will be very instructive for Osinbajo to understand that he is into a battle that’s not against Tinubu but against himself.
His stepping down would have doused the unnecessary tension created by his predictability. What Faroouq wrote seemed to be harmless in recent weeks but has now become very damaging in the face of the current happenings.
However, it is not too late to seek remedy. But those who don’t wish us we will prevail on us to go ahead with our steps towards self harm.
Tambuwal stepping down for Atiku, Majority of the Northern Governors stepping down for a southern candidate is a clear indication that the South is yet to mature politically. You can’t claim that you are politically mature when you don’t understand how to make use of your political opportunities.
May we all be the winners.
