A stalwart of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), and veteran journalist, Bashorun Dele Momodu, has accused President Bola Tinubu of presiding over a degree of political consolidation worse than that witnessed below former army Head of State, Normal Sani Abacha, alleging that the president has just about taken keep an eye on of the manager, legislature and judiciary.
Talking with Stand up Information on Wednesday, Momodu stated the inauguration of the APC Presidential Marketing campaign Council used to be paying homage to the Abacha generation, describing it as an elitist show geared toward consolidating political energy round Tinubu.
“What else can one be expecting from Tinubu and the APC? That is paying homage to the Abacha generation.
“What I do know is that the historical past of Nigeria recorded a person referred to as Normal Sani Abacha. And when Sani Abacha sought after to be a existence president, he did precisely what President Tinubu did as of late. And that’s, to motive, that’s the phrase, deliver everyone—however it is only an elitist sing their own praises. Very elitist.”
Momodu argued that the lifestyles of opposition events such because the ADC and NDC displays the battle for political pluralism in Nigeria. He recalled that Tinubu’s camp had up to now adverse former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s try to deliver political actors below one roof, however accused Tinubu of presiding over a fair better focus of political energy.
“It’s because we fought for it. Tinubu’s camp as soon as fought then-President Olusegun Obasanjo when he tried to deliver everyone below the similar roof. He stood on my own. And this is why a large number of folks felt, ‘Oh, it is a revolutionary governor, it is a very robust guy, very courageous.’ However the whole thing he did has since evaporated. He’s a ways worse than what Abacha did. Is {that a} truthful evaluate? No.
“Nowadays, Tinubu has just about taken over the whole thing: the manager, the legislature, the judiciary, virtually the whole thing below Tinubu is worse than what we fought towards previously.”
He additionally claimed that some individuals of the APC had been privately nervous about Tinubu’s imaginable go back to workplace in 2027, alleging that they feared political oppression would accentuate if he secured a 2d time period. Momodu added that the president’s insurance policies had deferred a number of problems to subsequent 12 months, with out specifying which issues he used to be relating to.
“Persons are so petrified of Tinubu. Nearly all of my buddies are in APC, I say this always. You wish to have to hear them in the back of the scene; they’re the similar. They’re all scared, and a few of them are even praying privately that Tinubu is not going to come again in 2027 as a result of they know the oppression will proceed and worsen. A large number of issues now were deferred via Tinubu to subsequent 12 months.”
Momodu additionally wondered whether or not governors’ endorsements of Tinubu would translate into votes, arguing that political improve from elected officers does now not mechanically ensure the loyalty in their constituents. Bringing up Anambra State for example, he expressed self assurance that citizens may just reject Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s place and handle their improve for NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
“That isn’t true. I’m partially from Ogun, my mom got here from Ogun, and I will be able to inform you that Ogun individuals are among probably the most good human beings you’ll ever to find in Nigeria. And they’re very fascinated by their democracy. They supported Adetilewa as a result of he carried out. However that improve isn’t unconditional. I will be able to ensure you, if he tells them as of late to vote for Tinubu, they’re going to move towards him, and they’re going to move towards Tinubu.
“And I will be able to inform you one thing: Soludo is identical. I will be able to guess my existence on it that Peter Obi will humiliate and shame Soludo in Anambra State.”
At the 2027 elections, Momodu described Peter Obi as a significant political drive within the Southeast and South-South, claiming that the previous Anambra governor may just deal an important electoral blow to Tinubu and his supporters within the areas. He argued that Tinubu would want robust improve throughout all 3 southern geopolitical zones whilst additionally competing for votes within the North.
“Peter Obi is a rock superstar the place he comes from, particularly within the Southeast and the South South. I’m supporting Atiku, however I’d be more than pleased—when folks say, ‘Oh, when you folks don’t come in combination, you’re going to lose the election,’ the situation is other this time.
“Peter Obi will humiliate Tinubu and all his supporters within the Southeast and a few portions of the South South, and that’s bad for Tinubu.
“For Tinubu to win, he wishes to fasten down all of the 3 areas within the South, and now he has to head and battle within the North.”
Arguing that political endorsements via governors don’t ensure electoral improve, Momodu stated Nigerians are going through better financial hardship than in 2023, whilst bringing up the electoral losses suffered via some individuals of the G-5 governors’ team regardless of their political affect.
He additionally wondered the affect of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, pointing to the losses suffered via some individuals of the G-5 governors’ team of their senatorial bids after the 2023 elections. Momodu accused Wike of the use of cash and intimidation towards political fighters, whilst suggesting that the ruling birthday party’s rising improve amongst politicians didn’t essentially mirror authentic voter loyalty.
“Nowadays, a mean Nigerian—that is now not about APC now—a mean Nigerian is poorer as of late than she or he used to be in 2023. So the folks Tinubu has to stand now are Nigerians in droves. And we’re already seeing it, and I’m positive on social media, if you wish to see a mirrored image of what a rustic appears or looks like, you’ll see it on social media. Nowadays, Tinubu is being attacked from each nook of Nigeria and majorly from his personal tribe.
“Sure, Wike used to be round remaining time in 2023 together with his G-5 governors. There have been 5 of them. 3 out of 5 contested simply to be senators. Benue governor misplaced his senatorial bid, he used to be a sitting governor. Enugu State governor misplaced his senatorial bid, he used to be a sitting governor. Abia State governor misplaced his senatorial bid, he used to be a sitting governor. The one guy who escaped via the whiskers used to be Seyi Makinde in Oyo state, out of the G-5.
“Wike’s bravo, everyone knows what it’s all about. It’s about spending cash after which the use of a wide variety of subterranean forces to intimidate and bully his fighters. Identical to they did to even the governor, Fubara.”
Brushing aside the APC’s rising political improve as an “optical phantasm”, Momodu argued that the ruling birthday party’s display of energy does now not mirror authentic voter improve, accusing Tinubu of failing to ship on his guarantees and describing his resolution to not marketing campaign national as a “crimson flag”.
“What APC is doing is all about optics, and it’s an optical phantasm. It’s now not actual. Nowadays, Tinubu has been totally demystified. This can be a disgrace. Glance, I in my opinion would have supported him if he carried out. However there is not any efficiency. Everyone is crying, and it will probably best be worse.
“So a person who already is telling us, ‘I can’t move round campaigning, I’ve been suggested to not marketing campaign, and I’ve authorized their advice and recommendation’—that’s a crimson flag!”
On opposition harmony forward of the 2027 presidential election, Momodu described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as probably the most bold opposition candidate, arguing that his improve around the northern states may just put him in a robust place. He additionally suggested Peter Obi to stay within the race, pronouncing the NDC presidential candidate’s presence within the South may just problem Tinubu’s improve within the area.
“The one guy, the one bold candidate and opposition chief as of late is Atiku Abubakar. He’s the one one from the northern areas of Nigeria: Northwest, Northeast, North Central. He’s going to without a doubt get his 25 p.c from all the ones, that’s 19—19 states from the ones spiritual zones. Then you will have 17 within the South. And all it wishes would simply be about six, seven extra states. He’s going to coast house to victory.
“Tinubu now has to divide the South with Peter Obi. So, actually, I’m imploring Peter Obi to proceed, to torment Tinubu within the South.”
The ADC chieftain stated his evaluate of the 2027 race used to be in response to the political panorama, arguing that Obi’s endured candidacy may just cut up southern votes with Tinubu and spice up Atiku’s possibilities.
“It so occurs that strategically, it is advisable see that APC, they had been looking to beg or to drive Peter Obi out of the race not too long ago. However the extra it was cussed, the easier for us. So this means that you will have a lone bold—there’s no person extra skilled, extra bold than Atiku since 1993. He’s been operating, and he’s been constant, and he’s been centered. So as of late, you will have two folks in 3 areas with 17 states within the South vying for a similar factor, and you wish to have them to compete a lone contender from the North?”
Alleging that Tinubu had populated INEC with folks of Yoruba starting place, Momodu wondered the fee’s neutrality, claiming that Nigerians, together with one of the president’s supporters, doubted his dedication to a unfastened and truthful election.
“He has populated INEC with folks from Yoruba land. Should you ask a mean Nigerian as of late about Tinubu, do you agree with Tinubu to behavior a unfastened and truthful election? I will be able to inform you, 90 p.c of it is going to say no.
“No one trusts Tinubu to run a unfastened and truthful election, together with his personal supporters.”
He, then again, declined to divulge the ADC’s technique for fighting Tinubu’s re-election, pronouncing efforts had been ongoing in the back of the scenes. Momodu additionally alleged that governors, judges and legislators had been afraid to problem the president, including that Nigerians had been longing for a transformation in management.
“Don’t fear. I will be able to’t inform you our technique in public. What we all know is that after upon a time, Tinubu fought for himself to live on his 2d time period as governor of Lagos State. So others also are operating very arduous in the back of the scenes. We’re now not going to come back in public and say this. However we all know what to do to be sure that he does now not get that 2d time period.
“And we additionally know that one of the folks pretending to be supporting him as of late—and I’m now not looking to trivialize this factor, I do know a few of them. They’re praying fervently that they’re going to now not have to head via this factor the place governors change into like houseboys. Governors are scared, judges are scared, legislators are scared. How about that?
“Nigerians are desperately in search of an afternoon they may be able to say, ‘Ah, thank God!’”
Protecting Atiku’s credentials, Momodu described him as probably the most skilled baby-kisser within the 2027 race, bringing up his tenure as vice-president and document in industry and public provider.
He argued that Atiku would uphold democracy, disregarding complaint over PDP zoning via insisting that the Nigerian Charter takes priority over the birthday party’s charter.
“Atiku is probably the most skilled baby-kisser within the race as of late. He used to be Vice President from 1999 to 2007. He has controlled himself in public existence, in non-public existence. There don’t seem to be many politicians like him who left energy since 2007 and feature been ready to regulate their non-public companies successfully. And that’s all it takes. Management is ready managing folks and assets. He’s achieved that. And when he used to be in govt, all of us noticed how impressive he used to be. And as soon as and for all, I will be able to guarantee you that Atiku will provide you with true democracy.
“The charter of Nigeria is above each different charter. And that’s it. Atiku has now not flouted the charter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Favour Odima
Practice us on: