Leader of Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, has claimed that some Northern governors are allegedly conspiring to ditch the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The 87-year-old renowned historian who spoke with the PUNCH claimed some northern governors elected on the platform of APC have perfected plans to scuttle the chances of Tinubu in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.
According to him, the interest of the APC northern governors is not genuine, but a well-thought-out plan to make Atiku emerge as the President of the country in 2023.
Akintoye recalled that it was after the PDP elected Atiku as its presidential candidate that some stakeholders in the APC, including the Northern governors came out boldly to support that presidency should be zoned to the South.
The New Diplomat had reported that the Northern Governors of the ruling party, fews days to the primary elections, expressed support that the presidential ticket be zoned to the South. The governors also called on the northern aspirants to withdraw their ambition. However, northern aspirants like Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state shunned the directive and went on to contest during the primary.
Tinubu later went on to clinch the presidential ticket, scoring 1271 votes.
Reacting to the development, Akintoye urged Tinubu not to be deceived by the support he is getting from the Northern governors, saying that they will ditch him for their brother, Atiku.
In his words, “That is understandable; he (Tinubu) is one of us and we have people who think, ‘Let’s try this one, whether he would perform; let’s see whether this one would bring some good results’. Naturally, we expected that, but we were also able to look in-depth at a level that an ordinary citizen will not be able to look.
“For instance, why did the northern governors suddenly turn around to say they were supporting Tinubu? They turned around after Atiku (Abubakar) emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. Up to that point, they were saying they didn’t recognise rotational presidency and there was nothing like rotational presidency but when Atiku was nominated, the next hour, they said they supported a southern candidate – Tinubu. So, there is something hidden in that.
“A lot of people don’t know it but when we looked at it, we know that the interest of northern governors in Tinubu’s candidacy is not genuine; it is not honest. What they have decided to do is to give him (Tinubu) the nomination, and then support their brother (Atiku) in the PDP. That is where they will migrate to and give him (Atiku) the victory and that is what is going to happen. So, it is not worth giving up the (Yoruba Nation) struggle for.”
