Tinubu’s Game Plan from the Shadows BY Inno Paul
THE vigour he displayed in the political field over the years earned him the blessings of his mentors put together. Prudence and vision were instrumental to his ascendance to the top. Undeniably, his dedication to the seeming common good galvanised the followership he enjoys now, no doubt. But his ultimate goal to create a kingdom far beyond his clan demanded a masterly blend in the documented rules of power. As a gladiator, he applied the skills he knew so well to overcome his opponents. At the negotiation table he made tasty offers to win the hearts of prospective partners. As a croupier who must not gamble would say, I foresaw the bounce back of an emerging generation of pragmatic leaders who believe in themselves beyond the old school of thought. So, right in front of us, the unfolding game was anchored on throne and thorns. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always wanted to rule, and his tactics have always testified to it. When he led his party, the AC (Action Congress) into a merger to challenge the ruling party the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), he had set his eyes at the top only to discover that his domineering card was being watched by the new generation of checkmates. He wanted to be the President of this country just like every other aspiring Nigerian, and there was nothing wrong with that, but what was available at that time was a pairing with General Muhammadu Buhari as his running mate. His ambition could not fly on a Muslim - Muslim ticket as these checkmates pointed out, because the people were not as desperate for the actualisation of CHANGE 2015 as HOPE 1993 had enjoyed in the time of the late Bahorun Moshood Kolawole Abiola popularly called and known as MKO. So many reasons played out in this resolution, and in a few words, fate favoured someone else. It took his spirit of sportsmanship to let go the loss to still remain the captain, yes he showed it indeed. Then the task of enlisting marketable options took over, and it didn’t come easy either. The natural drive to control the unfolding scenario always offered itself, but simultaneously the new generation kept sounding an alarm that it was a merger. Yemi Osinbajo, a Professor and former member of his cabinet while serving as Governor of Lagos State was nominated by him and sold for the job, much for loyalty and team spirit. In that scenario one would want the very best candidate to beat a sitting brilliant President. From a critical point of view, it has remained an after- thought. Within the realm of incumbency there were lots of impossibilities against the opposition he had formed. And truly the incumbent had gathered the masters of the media game to tear their opponents apart. And Tinubu had his own fair share of the pudding. In the course of strategizing to win, external alliances were explored to embolden this merger. There and then, was the arrival of the Dr. Bukola Saraki-front, a very potent arm that got the ears of the Presidential candidate. It is worth mentioning that they factored the checkmate against his candidacy as the running mate. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai brought in a certain analytical approach to most matters, he saw himself as a veritable participant, a thinker of a sort. When I sit back to ponder, I always wonder who wasn’t a thinker after all. His role merged with Sarak’si political dexterity to create a seeming balance in the emerging new generation of dreamers with purpose. The great Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a warrior of sorts, a Bashorun in his own rights, had matters arising with these gladiators. For Dr. Bukola Saraki, we all knew that a battle was going to play out in the future somewhere, somehow. When the platform emerged in the National Assembly playoffs, political analysts easily knew where the heat came from against his ambition for the Senate Presidency. The emergence of Saraki as the new Senate President was a Hollywood capture, and till today, the witty theatrics have only kept the western wing on the apprehensive to destabilise and overthrow. In the synopsis, new blocs have been formed thus creating factions, deadly factions, unforgiving factions and much more, and all of them within a particular house. With every passing minute and hour, the factions in their political worlds get more emboldened as they increase and multiply with every taken step. At some point, even their shadows are equally perfecting the art and science of creating more factions. Interestingly, we hope that shadows will not play some major roles in Tinubu's game plan for 2019. Inno Paul, a public affairs commentator cum activist writes from Lagos.
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