by Ayekooto Akindele.
Atiku went to the 2023 election with the hope of benefitting from the possible division of the South owing to emergence of Two major candidates from two major tribes in the region. Atiku saw himself as the only force from the North capable of getting maximum votes from the North and picking a few votes from the South.
He openly asked the North to vote for Northerners at Arewa House in Kaduna to formally launch what eventually turned to be the most politically tribalistic campaign of this century! Atiku also engaged the Ulamas in the North not just to pray for North to continue to rule after 8 years of President Muhammadu Buhari(only because he wanted to be the beneficiary), he also asked them to speak with other crowd pulling Northerners to step down for him so that North can put its votes in one basket. Atiku and his supporters were seen bragging on all media outlets about this strength and their arrogance became unprecedented when they called the bluff of their G-5 Governors.
Atiku didn’t stop there, he stopped his campaign temporarily towards the end of 2022 to strike another deal with elements in the Presidential Villa opposed to power shift to South especially to Bola Tinubu, this deal will be Atiku’s masterstroke to destroy the APC from within using economic hardship as the game changer!
Suddenly, these elements allegedly served the President the meal he loves most ANTI-CORRUPTION. They sold him the cash confiscation tragedy which was aimed at damaging the image of APC few weeks to a major election, inflicting injuries on common man and putting the lives of front line desk officers of commercial banks at risk. Not even the Supreme Court could stop them! Immediately this policy was having these anticipated negative effects, Atiku and his supporters rolled out massive supports for it, their media outlet especially ‘Arice’ was at the forefront of this support, treating Emefiele like the economic Pope who will eventually stop Tinubu from winning the election. Gullible Obi also embraced it, that one hardly know his left from right in politics.
But not surprisingly, Atiku’s campaign in the North was telling the traders that APC deliberately took away their cash to punish them. They urged Northerners to vote against APC so that Atiku can return their cash to them.
Another joker by the elements in Aso Rock was deliberate fuel scarcity. This was initially the dessert served before the naira confiscation main meal. However, kudos must go to the Group Managing Director of NNPC for his great sacrifice and efforts to ensure that the pain wasn’t as horrific as planned. Kyari ensured that this fuel scarcity was fought, although it was hard for him but he was unrelenting. Unlike Emefiele, Kyari was never political, he resisted economic sabotage of the country.
On the other hand, Obi used the remnants of Professor’s strategy during APC Primary, Religion! Knowing fully well that SE will vote for him based on sentiments, he realised that SE votes are not enough, therefore, he majored on Religion. One, he thought one Christian should be able to defeat two major Muslims if his propaganda is well oiled! He confirmed this officially with his popular statement “Church Take Back Your Country”. This was a message that easily elated many Pastorpreneurs in the country and Nigeria Suddenly became ‘Jerusalem Above’, so they all forgot that Jesus said ‘My kingdom is not of this world’, the black clothed angel has given them a better verse, newly created to fulfil a personal agenda. The choice of Tinubu’s running mate further confirmed to these guys that indeed this is a ‘Religious war’. Obi moved from church to church, spare part market to computer villages preaching the gospel of Religion in a political contest.
Major well known Pulpit cabal confiscated the Word and rolled out false abysmal prophesies like spiritual manifesto, some were threatening their customers during their services. Front pages of major newspapers were filled with Prophecies of Obiism! Social media picture of a black angel descending from heaven was everywhere. He didn’t stop at that, he recruited several IPOB Propagandists who are experts in chaotic write ups and computer manipulations to finish the remaining job. From doctored pictures to Bala-Blu, social media became the home of fake news and slandering!
However, Bola Tinubu was never perturbed. Having won a hard party Primary against all odds from army of educated betrayers, he was ready for more daring battles. Tinubu had over the years established a longstanding relationship with the North. This relationship is not an emergency pseudo relationship of a parasite, it was long, tested trusted. Tinubu chose his friends well. Again, Tinubu had prepared well before he struck, he never gambled. Since he became the Governor of Lagos State, he was conscious of his performance, he deliberately performed well for future reference. He also ensured that his legacies remain in Lagos permanently by ensuring positive political continuity, whereby, Lagos government has been run by members of Tinubu’s cabinet since 2007 when he left office. This made it impossible for his adversaries to erase his masterplan!
Tinubu knows that Muslims are minority in the South, and he is a Muslim, becoming president for him may be too herculean but he didn’t give up! Tinubu, after winning his Presidential Ticket, chose another Muslim from the North. This he did to avoid a 100% minority Ticket that may likely end up in disaster. Tinubu knew where his critics would come from before the campaign kicked off, however, he has been a victim of negative criticism since 2003 when he was the only opposition Governor in the South! He knows the battlefield very well but his eyes are forever on the ball. He has been Governor of Lagos, under him, there was no religious war in Lagos, no discrimination. In fact, mega Churches began in Lagos under his administration. He is never a fanatic. His wife is a Christian before they married and after they married, the wife became a pastor in a pentecostal church. The man who was using religion to campaign was also Anambra Governor, a state with one religion, yet, the Man still managed to cause war between the Catholic and Anglican. So, Tinubu knows the truthful and honest Christians will vote for him, besides, his jokers were his antecedents and relationships. He didn’t look at tribe and religion. He went straight for politics of track records!
TINUBU didn’t stop there, he took the full advantage of PDP’s division, raked the chunk of G-5 supports, benefitted from Kwankwaso’s stance against Atiku and also, inherited the profits from Obi’s kindergarten politics that wasted SE votes. These are the reasons why Emefiele thunderstrike couldn’t stand Tinubu’s hurricane! The Cabal bowed and Pastorpreneurs defeated. Endsars faded and all evil alliances perished!
The JAGABAN should be studied by those who cherish success and are determined to fulfil destiny.
©️ Ayekooto Akindele