THE GREATEST asset of many Nigerian politicians is their ability to deceive, manipulate, and cheat the people. A thinker once noted that a successful politician is one who can straddle the fence, making people believe they’re taking a firm stance, only to jump down and join the welcoming side or quickly switch to the opposing side if not accepted. This cunning approach is a necessary requirement for success in Nigerian politics.
I appreciate Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s efforts to rebrand himself as a born-again politician genuinely interested in Nigeria’s wellbeing. His efforts to rally support to rescue Nigeria from his former ally, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are also noteworthy. However, I’m disappointed that despite his newfound image, el-Rufai still resorts to lying to Nigerians.
I sympathise with him that he has been excluded from the eating machinery of the party. The idea of having another merger that can challenge APC is good, since Wike is assisting the ruling party to kill PDP. We cannot afford a one-party state. If PDP had succeeded in effectively muzzling out of existence other parties while in power, there wouldn’t be APC to have truncated its (PDP’s) dream of ruling, or ‘ruining’, our lives for 60 year.
In a recent interview with Arise Network, a claim was made that the APC was aware of President Tinubu’s alleged Chicago certificate forgery, but still chose to support him in the hopes that he would replicate his Lagos achievements at the federal level. However, it’s essential to set the record straight – Lagos’ development cannot be attributed to Tinubu.
ALSO READ: Saudi Talks And The Bloody Road To Peace In Ukraine; By Owei Lakemfa
During its time as the nation’s capital, the federal government undertook significant development projects in Lagos. Most of the road networks, bridges, estates, pedestrian bridges, industrial parks, etc., were built by the federal government.
Additionally, the late Lateef Jakande, a former governor of Lagos, was also responsible for many of the state’s infrastructure projects. el-Rufai is fully aware that Tinubu did not do anything in Lagos. Tinubu’s actual legacy in Lagos is more complex.
Tinubu’s tenure was marked by the dismantling of the old democratic structure, which ironically almost prevented his own emergence as governor.
He established a new political structure that has allowed him to exert significant control over the state’s politics, effectively deciding who becomes governor since 2007.
ALSO READ: Natasha: The Conspiracy Of Vultures; By Hassan Gimba
Furthermore, Tinubu successfully consolidated revenue sources, channeling them into a single pool that his power lever mechanises, giving him considerable influence over the state’s finances
The APC’s choice of Tinubu as their leader suggests that they prioritised a strong-willed politician who could oversee the exploitation of Nigeria’s resources without being swayed by public opinion. This leader encourages party loyalists to thrive while the majority suffers.
Nigeria’s political class prioritises its own interests over the welfare of the common people. Their primary goal is to maintain power and control over resources, imposing rules and policing the state to achieve this objective. Unfortunately, the country’s political landscape remains primitive, driven by a passion for accumulating wealth and resources rather than serving the greater good. If the only motive for this move is to take away power, and judiciously dispense it for the good of Nigerians, then I will support it, but if it is just to remove Bola Tinubu, then the effort is useless.
We’re told that reforms are necessary and that we must endure the painful consequences. However, these reforms don’t seem to impact the government’s extravagant spending habits, such as purchasing new presidential aircraft, a presidential yacht or embarking on frequent, non-essential foreign trips.
ALSO READ: Senate Remains In Shame As Distinguished Senator Natasha Fights On; By Jibrin Ibrahim
It appears that the APC found their ideal candidate in Tinubu. Meanwhile, el-Rufai’s criticisms may be motivated by his own exclusion from the party’s inner circle, as evidenced by his reported snub from Tinubu’s cabinet.
I sympathise with him that he has been excluded from the eating machinery of the party. The idea of having another merger that can challenge APC is good, since Wike is assisting the ruling party to kill PDP. We cannot afford a one-party state. If PDP had succeeded in effectively muzzling out of existence other parties while in power, there wouldn’t be APC to have truncated its (PDP’s) dream of ruling, or ‘ruining’, our lives for 60 year.
Nasir el-Rufai’s recent move is reminiscent of the 2014 merger that led to the formation of the APC. Unfortunately, his team has consistently demonstrated an inability to select suitable candidates. A prime example is their choice of Muhammadu Buhari in 2024, a retired army general with no notable intellectual contributions since leaving service. The APC exploited his perceived righteous image and the talakawa followership, ultimately leaving the nation worse off.
ALSO READ: The Natasha Affair: Nigeria’s Senategate Scandal; By Aminu Habibu Jahun
El-Rufai’s push for a new formulation implies that the 2022 arrangement also yielded a defective outcome. Drawing from the principles of mathematical induction, if a specimen fails the first and second tests, it will undoubtedly fail the third. Given their past failures in 2014 and 2022, it’s likely that el-Rufai and his team will fail us again in 2026.
Nigeria’s political class prioritises its own interests over the welfare of the common people. Their primary goal is to maintain power and control over resources, imposing rules and policing the state to achieve this objective. Unfortunately, the country’s political landscape remains primitive, driven by a passion for accumulating wealth and resources rather than serving the greater good. If the only motive for this move is to take away power, and judiciously dispense it for the good of Nigerians, then I will support it, but if it is just to remove Bola Tinubu, then the effort is useless.
To move forward, Nigeria needs a shift in leadership mindset, one that prioritises the well-being of citizens and promotes modern, inclusive ideas.
Until then, the country risks remaining stuck in a cycle of primitive accumulation and power struggles.
