Razaq Bamidele
“It is no more news that the trend on the political arena presently in Nigeria is the purported ambition of the one-time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and later two term governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It is an open secret that, several other aspirants who have voiced out their intentions to run and those showcasing their aspirations through proxy and body languages are still waiting with bated breath towards hearing directly from the horse’s (Tinubu’s) mouth. It is a well-known fact that, open declaration of Tinubu for 2023 presidency would alter a lot of permutations across the country and across various political parties.”
As the 2023 year of general elections inches closer, aspirants, especially, the presidential ones, are not leaving any stone unturned towards ensuring their victories both at the party primaries level and the general election proper.
The Nigerian Xpress investigations reveal that, as the former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is reported to have slated January 2022 for making his stand on the 2023 presidential race known, not a few other aspirants are of the belief that, the 69 years old politician would not contest but anoint an aspirant for the post.
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Our checks further revealed that, those in the school of thought that Tinubu would not contest but back somebody else premise their conviction around his advanced age and his not too much encouraging medical fitness. It is on this premises that some aspirants and their backers have chosen to seek spiritual assistance towards seeking the face of Tinubu to consider them as his anointed choice.
However, it is interesting to note that, even some of the aspirants seeking for Tinubu’s anointment are from other political parties apart from the APC! Our investigations further reveal that, those from the other parties in the spiritual game are banking on deflection they can embark upon with just flimsy excuses.
It is also surprising that, the spiritual consultations go beyond the shore of Nigeria as our checks unveil that some spiritual patrons go as far as Rome in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Madinatul-Kaolaq in Senegal, Fas in Morroco as well as Cameroun, Republics of Benin, Togo and Jerusalem in the State of Israel.
“Before January 2022, precisely by December 2021, there would be exodus of politicians towards Saudi Arabia on Umrah (Lesser Hajj), and to Jerusalem in the State of Israel in preparation for the January 2022 Tinubu’s bomb shell.
But, some sources, who claim to be close to the Jagaban of Borgu told our correspondent that, Tinubu, God sparing his life, will contest for President in 2023, saying, “he has paid his dues and he has what it takes to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and continue the good work he has started.”
Another source, who does not want his name in print said, “though, I am not saying whether Tinubu would contest or not, what I know very well about him is that he never engages in a battle he knows he could not win.” According to him, his principle of engaging in the war he can easily win would form the basis of his January 2022 awaiting purported declaration.
The source however debunked the emphasis on the health issue, reminding that, there are many countries around the world that are governed with leaders on wheel chairs, enthusing that, Tinubu’s ability to use his brain to assign responsibilities to competent hands would make the job easy for him.
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So, nobody needs a soothsayer to know that Nigerians are passing through an interesting period most especially when a likely presidential aspirant, Tinubu, is keeping the whole country in suspense over his purported ambition to throw his hat unto the ring to contest in 2023 for President.
An article from an anonymous writer last week stated thus:
“It is no more news that the trend on the political arena presently in Nigeria is the purported ambition of the one-time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and later two term governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is an open secret that, several other aspirants who have voiced out their intentions to run and those showcasing their aspirations through proxy and body languages are still waiting with bated breath towards hearing directly from the horse’s (Tinubu’s) mouth. It is a well-known fact that, open declaration of Tinubu for 2023 presidency would alter a lot of permutations across the country and across various political parties.”
Admittedly, the man at the centre of conjecture (Tinubu), has not openly declared intention to contest in 2023, his body language at several fora indicates that he is likely warming up for the contest.
Confirming that Tinubu has not likely told anybody about his ambition towards the 2023 race is his political godson and his successor in office, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Fashola, the current Works and Housing Minister, who was also a two term governor after Tinubu, was quoted to have told news men recently that, “Tinubu has not informed me he is running for 2023 Presidency.”
The 58 years old minister, who is also being rumoured to be secretly nursing an ambition to succeed his present boss, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, was reported to have told the Channels Television’s ‘Hard Copy’ programme that, he was yet to ask “Tinubu whether he is interested in the 2023 President or not.”
Concluding, the minister therefore urged Nigerians “to wait till January 2022 for the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to declare whether he will be running for president in 2023 or not.”
On what he would do if Tinubu declares for President, Fashola was reported to have said he would consider supporting his purported presidential ambition only if he (Tinubu) declares interest, adding that until that is done, “I will not pre-empt him by going ahead to say what I would do to support his presidential bid.”