BY AKINROPO OLUFEMI
SUNDAY EDITORIAL – 29/06/2025
FEAR OF COALITION AND GANDUJE’s RESIGNATION : HAS TINUBU ABANDONED HIS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR 2027 ELECTION ?
” When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time – Haile Gebrselassie.”
Shouldn’t Tinubu just step down momentarily for Shettima to take over, in order for him to forthrightly focus on his re-election in 2027?. Going by some contemporary developments happening in the ruling party in the last few weeks, barring an improbable likelihood, Shettima wouldn’t emerge as the running mate of the bourdillon superintendent come 2027. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t be out of equitable context if Tinubu decides to compensate Shettima by allowing him to act in his capacity for the next 23 months. Afterall, this is Nigeria, and there’s nothing we’ve not seen before. There’s little or nothing Tinubu cannot influence. He removed a constitutional governor in Rivers state and the National Assembly ratified his decision. If he decides to step down for Shettima, and for as long as the next 23 consecutive months, the duo of Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas would cheerfully sanction such a national ignominy, and unhesitatingly.
As I was compiling this Editorial, a particular gospel certitude flashed across my mind. I was of the opinion that, while Tinubu and other APC gladiators were “diagramming” their permutations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, they probably forgot that Shettima hails from the North-East geo-political zone. An average Nigerian from the zone wouldn’t be pleased with the development (replacing him as the Vice presidential candidate), and might seek a pound of flesh by voting Tinubu’s oppositions in 2027. For Tinubu to walk away unscratched in the zone in 2027, shouldn’t Tinubu pacify the zone now by temporarily relinquishing his covetous seat in Aso rock for Shettima, for him (Tinubu ) to face his re-election bid consummately?.
On many occasions, Tinubu has claimed he’s a democrat. While I was barely a pre-adolescent when democracy was birthed in Nigeria in 1999, Tinubu had been deeply rooted in politics and had served in some capacities. Unfortunately, if he’s truly a democrat, he should have known that, under his watch as a democratic president, Nigeria is practicing pseudo-democracy. Infact, from the executives to the legislatures and then to the judiciary, Nigeria has opprobriously descended into a despicable haven and political miasma. Even after 2 years of assuming power, the self-acclaimed democrat has done absolutely nothing regarding the independence of the Legislatures and Judiciary. Till date, their survival depends on the executives, and entirely.
Tinubu continues to watch while the dividends of democracy are shared among the executives who have vehemently chosen to enslave both the Legislatures and Judiciary. Tinubu himself is the uttermost beneficiary of the rot ravaging the system. If he decides to tax Nigerians for the air they breathe, Akpabio would gleefully accede to his wish. We all know what the judiciary exemplifies, and how putrefied it has become ever since Tinubu came on board in 2023. As of today, even the supreme court judges cannot rule in favor of opposition parties. Is this the type of democracy Tinubu learned when he was in the US?. Should we assume that all that’s happening under his watch, are the democratic ideals he was taught to uphold during his time at the Chicago State University – a renowned Ivory citadel which he claimed he attended?. Smiles! .
Recently, instead of improvising fecund alternatives with a sole aim of improving the economy as well as bringing insecurity to a halt, reduce cost of living, create employment opportunities, etc , all Tinubu and other APC leaders care about is realignment ahead of 2027 presidential election. Despite APC, lead by Tinubu, continually inflicting a plethora of excruciating pain on Nigerians since May 29, 2023, it seems the party has now prioritized 2027 election over the promises made to the electorates.
In all facets and comparatively, this present government has impoverished Nigerians more than any other ever witnessed. Shouldn’t fixing the economy and curbing insecurity be Tinubu’s foremost priorities at this crucial moment?. As a president, if you are confident your performances are convincing, should you be agitated about re-election?.
Randomly, if the presidential election were to be conducted today under a free and fair condition, 8 of every 10 Nigerians would vote against Tinubu. Tinubu knows it. APC gladiators know it. APC apologists and loyalists know it. Every Nigerian knows it. Consequently, it’s no surprising seeing Tinubu desperately scavenging for political heavyweights in all geo-political zones for realignment. Quite a number of them have decamped to APC already. One can then continue to wonder if those heavyweights decamping to APC are the ones to tell a hungry man (who had been hungry for four consecutive years) the party to vote for in 2027. Or, probably those heavyweights would point a pistol at the skulls of Nigerians at the polls and mandates them to vote for Tinubu under duress.
It’s imperative for Tinubu to know that Nigerians are bleeding, and he owes them the responsibilities of fulfilling his promises ; not canvassing for re-election at the middle of his term in office. Nigerians might be docile and conveniently rank among the most patient humans on earth, but Tinubu shouldn’t take their patience for granted, and imprudently. It’s an affront to democracy, and also an indignity on the part of Nigerians for Tinubu and APC to slide into electioneering mode, and audaciously, even when they haven’t fulfilled even just 10 percent of their promises to Nigerians. It’s not only appalling ; it’s preposterous and also contemptible.
Few weeks ago, whilst delivering his democracy day speech, Tinubu threw a jab at the opposition parties. He said : ” For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray”. How could a president, an assumed father of all, unleash such a jab on democracy day?. Being a day of history and a time every Nigerian was expected to slide into a sober mood, instead of appealing to opposition parties to put the country first and support his government to propel the country forward, he was overtly concerned about the cataclysmic conflagration ravaging opposition parties.
He couldn’t hide his enthusiasm about the tsunami engulfing opposition parties. One could then begin to imagine how Tinubu would have reacted to this present government in the last two years assuming himself and APC aren’t at the helm of affairs. Undoubtedly, Tinubu would have assembled his followers and would have protested a minimum of 10 times assuming either of Obi or Atiku had won in 2023, and the economy is in shambles like we are experiencing and the situation of Benue’s massacre continues to fester, and on daily basis. We were all alive in 2015 when Yemi Osinbajo declared that if APC didn’t win the presidential election, himself and other APC gladiators would create a parallel government. Jonathan didn’t arrest him for treason then. Today, under Tinubu’s watch, Pat Utomi never proclaimed as much as Osinbajo did. DSS and other security personnels have been trailing him ever since.
Just few days ago, after realizing opposition parties were beginning to swiftly amalgamate to dispose him from Aso rock in 2027, Tinubu hastily masterminded Ganduje’s resignation – a move many attributed to a political machination aimed at pacifying the northeners and which could also further cement his fortress in the north. To many, the move was a political strategem to pave way for Rabiu Kwankwaso – one of the most influential politicians in the north after Buhari.
Sadly, this is the same Ganduje who has been accused of a plethora of corruption cases, and for over 2 years. Althrough, despite calls and outcries from Nigerians to Tinubu to ensure Ganduje stepped down as APC national chairman, Tinubu never bothered. Tinubu was enjoying how Nigerians were gnashing their teeth at Ganduje’s appointment. Ganduje on the other hand continued to mock Nigerians. He once said that APC would rule Nigeria for a minimum of 50 years. He also said APC is going to win all the states in 2027 elections.
But after realizing ADA was formed and registered by INEC, and also perceiving his political adversaries were beginning to pose a formidable threat, within days, Tinubu was able to facilitate Ganduje’s resignation. It indicates just one thing : ” when national interest is involved, our democrats don’t care. But when a personal agenda or mission is on the line, they can move mountains within a jiffy “.
” The man who carried out the attack is still in power and still insane, so we shall expect another attack any minute – Muammar Al-Gaddafi ” . If Tinubu has shown a preference for retaining his seat in Aso rock in 2027 instead of fulfilling his promises to Nigerians even when he still has almost two years left to prove his critics and oppositions wrong, what’s the tendency that Nigerians (particularly the electorates) wouldn’t witness in 2027 exactly the same electioneering malfeasance they witnessed in 2023?. Is a do-or-die an eccentricity embedded in democracy?. Are real democrats desperate individuals who prioritize their lifelong ambition over the will of the electorates?. Do democrats rule with iron-fist by gagging other arms of government (legislatures and judiciary), for them to be used to subvert the will of the electorates?.
REMEMBRANCE
Pa Akinropo Olaoluwa Adekunle was born in Ibadan on November 16, 1952. As a less-privileged child whose parents were uneducated and principally agrarians, he struggled all by himself to attend Old Wesley College, Ibadan. Thereafter, he proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University (formally University of Ife) where he studied Political Science. Even when he could barely feed himself while in the University , he still graduated with a first class honors.
After graduation, he declined approaching reputable companies for employment. Rather, he chose to go into “teaching” , and was employed as a secondary school teacher at Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
As a revolutionary and an activist (even though very mild in behavior), he practically lived for humanity all his life. As a teacher, for 35 consecutive years, he would divide his salaries (on monthly basis) into seven. He never for once missed awarding one-seventh of his salary to less-privileged students, many of whom couldn’t afford to pay for their school fees and uniforms. He did so, and passionately even before he could build a house of his own and vehicles he drove. He decided to give back to the students who weren’t opportuned because he never believed he could go to school.
As one of the most powerful writers of his generations, between 1982 and 2015 (when he became ill), he wrote more than 3000 Editorials, many of which were published in Nigeria Tribune Newspapers, defunct Daily Sketch, Daily Times, etc . Althrough, he never collected a dime from those newspaper companies as he wrote all the Editorials for humanity.
He answered the call of his ancestors on July, 1, 2022. He was happily married to Cecilia, and the marriage was blessed with 5 children (Ikeoluwa, myself, Mercy, Blessing and Glory).
This week marks the third year of his departure to the celestial consciousness.
Continue to rest in peace Olaoluwa!.
Olufemi is keeping your “writing” legacy and penchant for activism flying.
(Akinropo Olufemi writes from Ibadan. He’s a writer and poet).