- Says He Made Him Governor
The Nigeria’s political space was hit by a quake on Thursday as a former governor of Lagos state and a presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a swipe at Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state in a tell-all public outburst rarely seen.
Tinubu, while addressing delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, said without him Abiodun could not have become governor of Ogun state. He also said same for President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Tinubu who was apparently dissatisfied with the consensus presidential candidate being touted by Buhari and the APC Governors, recounted in Yoruba, how he supported Abiodun in 2019, using “eleyi”, a word considered demeaning, which transcribes as “this one” on the Governor.
Abiodun and Osinbajo are both from the Remo area of the Gateway state in Ogun East. The Governor has been reported to be backing Osinbajo to pick the APC presidential ticket against Tinubu.
Apparently reacting to this concern, Tinubu said he made APC give the governorship ticket to Abiodun in the build-up to the 2019 polls.
Recall that there was crisis in the Ogun APC prior to the 2019 elections over the refusal of the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was completing his second term, to support Abiodun as his successor.
Amosun, who had supported another aspirant, Adekunle Akinlade and later got suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
“This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he can be the governor without me? We were together at the MKO Abiola Stadium, he was intimidated, they didn’t want to give him the party’s flag. I was the one that handed the flag to him. He knows that he cannot be the governor without the help of God and my support.
“It’s been over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting at my back, Dapo, could he have become a governor if not for me?
“If he wants to hear, his life will be long. If he wants to meet God in his position, he would admit that he wouldn’t have become governor if not for God and I,” Tinubu said.
The New Diplomat had earlier reported that Tinubu, during the meeting with the Ogun APC delegates boastfully recounted how he led the ‘war’ that made President Buhari victorious in the presidential election of 2015 after previous failures.
Since the statement, individuals across the country have been giving their takes with many saying that Tinubu’s statement is a clear sign of desperation and fear that the presidential ticket of the APC might be slipping from his grasp.
Commentators in the country have also opined that Tinubu may have decided to go for broke, after sensing he may be losing the opportunity to achieve his ‘lifelong ambition’ to be president of Nigeria.
“I’ve said it before and let me say it again, no man can play God, not Tinubu and not Buhari. God gives power, if you like scream from now till 2089. Tinubus political survival in the South West was a COLLECTIVE EFFORT! With many INDIVIDUALS contributing to that survival.”(@ogundamisi).
“That video just confirmed what we’ve always known about Tinubu’s presidential bid; it’s about him and his power lust. It has nothing to do with Nigeria’s progress. That’s why all he has to say is “emi lol kan”. “It’s my turn.”(@TheFavouredWoman)
“Talking about Tinubu/Buhari fiasco, Tinubu should be apologizing to Nigerians for installing such a board-certified, blatantly incompetent Buhari on Nigerians. He should apologize, seek forgiveness & retire to a care home for a solo retirement life. Affliction won’t rise again!”(FS_Yusuf_)
“Tinubu for sure does have a bragging right, but the way he framed it here may jeopardise his ambition. You don’t do ‘buga’ to a sitting President. A President from the largest voting bloc for that matter.”(bolajiabu).
