In withdrawing himself from consideration
on the presidential ticket of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu described it as a patriotic
duty and personal contribution towards
rescuing Nigeria from the clutches of
poverty which he said the ruling
administration had plunged the country.
HIs statement of withdrawal termed “I serve
the nation,” followed the dithering
procrastination of General Muhammadu Buhari in
announcing his running mate. Ahead of
yesterday’s formal proclamation of Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo as the running mate, the political
landscape had been enraptured by the keen
interests by the nation’s geopolitical interest
groups in positioning themselves for the vice-
presidential position.
The interest followed the bounce received by
Buhari after last Thursday’s convention of the
APC when the opposition party for the first
time became the first political party to be
seen as really threatening the hold of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the presidency.
It was no surprise that presidential aides
including Dr. Doyin Okupe and officials of the
ruling party went on the offensive after the
APC came out united behind Buhari after the
convention. Buhari is bringing to the fray a near
universal reputation for personal integrity and a
reputation of having reclaimed the country’s
integrity from bandits – two issues that are
presently dogging the PDP controlled Federal
Government.
So, following his emergence, the matter of
balancing the ticket became an issue of great
consideration. It was especially so given the
impression created by his political rivals in the
past of Buhari as an Islamic extremist even if
no one had faulted him beyond his normal
obligation to his Islamic faith.
Following his victory and as acknowledged by
Tinubu yesterday, Buhari gave the APC national
leader, the right to bring a running mate. It
was a tempting offer, Tinubu said.
“There came a time during the course of the
events when our Presidential candidate, General
Muhammadu Buhari offered the Vice Presidential
slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was
deeply moved and honored that he would
consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I
had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of
its dimensions,” Tinubu said yesterday.
Associates of the APC leader disclosed that
Tinubu was really tempted and sought to bring
himself forward for consideration despite his
Islamic faith, but many of the associates it was
learnt dissuaded him. Even outside his inner
political circle, there were many others who
also stoutly resisted the suggestion of a
Muslim-Muslim ticket.
It was such an offering many feared would be
interpreted as the real Islamic agenda of the
APC and capable of deflating the global agenda
of defeating the PDP. A number of serving
governors involved in the Buhari project were
said to have confronted the idea headlong and
thereby incurring the wrath of the political
leader.
But Tinubu had his limitations on names to
project from the Southwest. Those who
otherwise who could have fit into the religious
permutation were whispered as political
associates who could not be trusted once in
power. Prof. Yemi Osibanjo who was third in the
names proposed by the political leader was,
however, said to have been initially dismissed by
Buhari as not weighty enough to attract
political sympathy.
However, that consideration was clearly ignorant
of the importance of structure and the power
of the influential flock of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, RCCH where Osibanjo is
a senior pastor.
Tinubu was, however, able to press that
Osibanjo with the backing of the Tinubu
machinery could turn into an asset. Besides with
tens of millions of congregants looking up to
their senior pastor on the ballot, Buhari was
undoubtedly able to look beyond the electoral
weight to the religious weight.
But putting the country’s political options on
the balance of religion is one idea that Tinubu
ruffled at in his withdrawal statement
yesterday.
“I ask you to remember that too many Christians
and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you
to remember that the true religion of the PDP
is poverty, APC come to bring prosperity to the
people. Please vote for that.”
Some critics of the APC leader were quick to
allege that the choice of Osibanjo was proposed
to weaken Buhari and allow the PDP to return
to power. But such insinuations were bereft of
rational reasoning and did not consider the
words of Tinubu in his withdrawal statement.
Pledging his determination to ensure the success
of the Buhari – Osibanjo ticket, Tinubu said:
“This is a time for cohesion and an overriding
sense of mission.
We must defeat the foe before us and resist
all temptations intended to entice us to fight
among ourselves.
“I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda
of General Buhari and Professor Osinbajo.”
“I declare to you, I will work and dedicate
myself so that our ticket succeeds and wins
the 2015 election — not for his good, not for
my good, not even for the party’s good but
for the good of the nation we inhabit.”
Tinubu has since his secret political alliance
with Buhari delivered almost faithfully. He has
so far shown no reason to be doubted.