Tinubu’s Bad Coins For APC Governors, And How They Bounced Back As Osinbajo Intimates Them Of His Ambition
The Oasis Reporters
April 12, 2022
There was a season in biblical times when a bandit like Turji named Goliath tormented the state of Israel. The entire army of Israel cowered before their Fulani Turji named Goliath, but little David stepped out and challenged the terrorist. With a catapult, little David brought down Goliath with a thud and delivered Israel from shame and defeat.
You’d think that Israel would remain eternally grateful to the young deliverer.
Wrong to think so.
King Saul was to later resent David and conjured several plots to eliminate David.
Why ?
The beautiful women of Israel sang about David after another exploit that Saul had killed his one thousand; and David, his ten thousand.
So it happened that King Saul became deeply upset.
After the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as governor in 2007, he installed Fashola as his successor. It wasn’t long before the new governor started earning praise for turning the endemic “go-slow” capital of Africa into a free traffic flowing city which became the envy of all. Many people started seeing Fashola as a potential problem solving presidential possibility.
Such a thought could not make love flow from his godfather to him. It was so bad that rumour became rife that the governor would be denied a reelection ticket.
Trust PDP to keep pressing it’s nose, mouth and ears on Bourdillon road sign post. Tinubu was alleged to have done some smart mathematics that made him realize that letting Fashola be would be a smarter option. And so he did.
Years later, Fashola’s successor, Akinwumi Ambode was not so lucky. In 2019 Akinwunmi Ambode was about to be denied a second term ticket to contest again as Lagos State Governor.
His godfather said no.
Ambode then approached his governor colleagues to help him beg Asiwaju. The APC Governors forum met Tinubu in Abuja and their Chairman, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state prostrated before Asiwaju the godfather. Prostrating for people is not part of Fulani culture but Bagudu swallowed his pride and did it anyway.
Still, their request was not granted. Ambode was finally replaced by Sanwo-olu at the behest and insistence of Tinubu.
The APC Governors’ forum were disappointed and embarrassed.
In this dispensation of presidential tickets consultations, Asiwaju has now gone before the APC Governors led by the same Atiku Bagudu who previously had prostrated before Asiwaju. The Jagaban is seeking their help and support, the way Osinbajo did a day earlier, and even Babajide Sanwo-olu was in the team that met with Yemi Osinbajo at Akinola Aguda House.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hosted members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), at his official residence, Akinola Aguda House, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Sources close to the Vice President said he used the occasion to consult with the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on his presidential ambition.
About six governors, including that of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, were already within the premises as at 7pm, the source said.
Other APC governors seen being driven in before the 7pm scheduled time for the gathering included Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.
Oyetola, a source said, was being represented by his deputy, as he is away in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for the lesser Hajj (Umrah), fueling thoughts that the Osun State governor’s car might have conveyed the deputy governor, Benedict Alabi.
The meeting, which seemed exclusive to only the invited governors and some of their aides, did not admit journalists in the premises of the Vice President’s residence.
Well, the Governors are in control of the delegates that will vote in the primary.
What was it they said about one good turn deserving of another ?
These are interesting times. Tinubu stirred the hornet’s nest. The governors are waiting.
Interesting times ahead.
