Over a year after the inauguration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president, those who are feeling shortchanged are back to the trenches to plot their return to political relevance. After the change of baton from former President Muhammadu Buhari to Tinubu, many were assured of their continuous relevance in the corridors of power. The way and manner they acted; they left only a few in doubt that they had in their possessions the keys to Tinubu’s heart. Not anymore, it seems.
It’s a season of visitations being embarked by importance-seeking politicians to altars and temples of political juggernauts for endorsement ahead of the 2027 General Election year. The visits are now taking place across party lines, ethnic and religion, with strange bedfellows uniting for shared common interests. While Kano is still in a state of animated tension, following the present emirate tussle that has led to resorting to court actions, there is cause for apprehension as no one can tell the outcome of the legal fireworks in the weeks and months to come. The titans in the fight are exerting enormous influence, as the battle is turning into a proxy war inspired and dictated by political forces.
Not too strange
Just last week, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited the former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and the immediate president, General Muhammadu Buhari. Apart from being national leaders of northern extraction, both IBB and Buhari have had the honour of serving Nigeria for no less than eight years, excluding the latter’s tenure as Head of State from December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985.
The official reason for the visits was Sallah homage, but analysts who read between the lines insist that it was subtly aimed at soliciting support and building a bulwark coalition by the North to checkmate and frustrate the comeback bid of the incumbent in 2027. Former lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani was explicit when he revealed that Northern Politicians are mobilising against the re-election of Tinubu in 2027. Just on Thursday, a video clip showing former governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai visiting former governor Engr. Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), gained traction on media platforms. As it was with Atiku’s visits to IBB and Buhari, the visit to Kwankwaso by the former Kaduna governor has attracted speculation by analysts who said the event may not be unconnected with the drumbeats of 2027.
Wrong timing
Amidst the flood of national tragedies that are majorly self-inflicted as manifested in insecurity and economic hardship, many, including yours sincerely, see these visits as being done at a time when all hands ought to be on deck to tackle challenges that have not only reduced the North into a walking catastrophe, but also turned the entire nation into an embarrassment in the comity of Nations.
For a nation that once held the bright prospects for Africa, present realities have shown that the country has many rivers to cross in improving the security of lives and property. With tens of thousands of innocent citizens and hundreds of thousands kidnapped for ransom, including coldblooded murders of defenseless and peace-loving people and the decimation of communities across various parts of the country, especially in the North, what ought to be done now is to rally citizens towards the defence of our sovereignty and work towards building blocks of unity across our rancorous national identities.
The Nigerian State was founded on ethnicity, with regionalism being the cornerstone. From the regional struggle amongst the regions at independence, the various regions were scattered into states, with emergent powers deploying religion and ethnicity to perpetuate themselves. Even in states where the major big ethnic groups are not into reckoning, the wind of disunity and mutual suspicion remains the Achilles heels in some of these states. The incapacity of the country to wield the thread of unity over the nation is hinged more on personal interest that has been superimposed over the national dream. Systems and laws are effective only when the right motives are imputed.
Nigeria first
Over 64 years of political freedom, our country is still enmeshed in finding what best system can work for citizens. For our country to work, leadership at all levels should see Nigeria as belonging for all and not only for a few selected groups that have continued to be at the helm of affairs. As it is being done, Nigeria is just for the political elite and their fawning cronies whose pastime is engaging in wars of proxies to ensure the perpetuation of their sponsors in power.
A system that protects the criminal and punishes victims of crimes cannot be relied upon to work for the common good. Those who deploy religion and ethnicity for political ascendancy and divide citizens are the real enemies of Nigeria’s unity. To survive the present challenges plaguing our nation, working for the growth of the nation to provide for citizens is now the only available option for leadership.
The world is moving fast beyond ethnicity and religion. Present leaders must learn fast and retool plans in not resurrecting the ghosts of ethnicity and religion that has kept us glued to our past, while our leaders rob us blind to acquire choice property in Dubai, Europe and Americas, among others. Nigeria can only be developed by Nigerians! The earlier we refocus the imperatives of leadership in realising our potentials, the better for all of us and our country.