Interesting times are here

Around July, a friend told me that later this year, a book on President Muhammadu Buhari would be published and it will contain some ‘revelations’. Since he is not resident in Nigeria, I probed him further on his source of information and he merely said he would not tell me. He added, however, that the book would define Buhari’s relationship with former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, in ways we have not seen before.

Curiously, another friend, at around the same period, told me that Mr. Tinubu sent emissaries to former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, to reconcile their political differences. Since the ways of politicians are usually strange to those of us who are not politicians, the revelation left me confused. The gentleman who told me is not flippant and I had no reason to doubt him, still don’t have to till date, but the information seemed incredulous to me. Both do not know each other so there was no way they could have shared notes at all. I know there is nothing politicians cannot do for relevance, but with all the brickbats thrown at each other in years past, who could have imagined Tinubu and Daniel seeking rapprochement in politics? I also confirmed this to be true.

Fast forward to the events of the last three weeks particularly since the Ondo State APC primaries were held and Tinubu’s anointed candidate lost, stranger things have happened. The Ondo APC debacle had forced the Tinubu political machine on overdrive with missiles fired at the party’s national chairman, John Odigie Oyegun. The chairman has been responding carefully to these missiles until the book by John Paden on the president. This is not a review or critique of the book since I’ve not read it, but with excerpts reported by the media, one could safely conclude that those who advised the president to go ahead and publish it do not mean well for him politically. Aside the perception that it is a little bit early, too early, for an authorized biography of the president, passing off lies as facts does no little damage to Buhari’s integrity.

Based on arguments and counter arguments so far, we might not really blame those who think the book is an attempt at cutting some people to size in the political firmament. I mean who does not know that Tinubu facilitated the emergence of Yemi Osinbajo as vice president? Or that most of the votes APC got in the south west were due to his influence? Buhari contested previously three times but could not penetrate Yoruba land, Tinubu aided him last year and that’s a fact. Of course, facts later emerged that Buhari would have preferred others apart from the vice president. Two of his ministers were believed to have weighed heavily on his mind – Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi, but political exigencies and Tinubu’s refusal made him jettison the idea. Even without Tinubu’s lieutenants debunking such claims as contained in the book, Nigerians knew he gave Osinbajo to the president.

For all the noise now, this is no attack against the Yoruba as some irredentists would want us to believe, but a mere political realignment. And for a weak state like ours where the political divide is always tenuous, this should be expected. We should also not be quick to sing nunc dimittis of the Tinubu political machine. Too early for its obituary yet, but like every other political machine, it would go into oblivion one day, a fact that must not be lost on Tinubu. Legendary political machines like the Tammany Hall in New York and Daley family in Chicago are not as powerful as they were before. By the way, the Tinubu machine actually displaced others too so it should not be surprised if it is displaced one day. The template in use by the Buhari group is not new, ride to office on the back of a person, and on getting there, jettison the person as quick as possible and establish your own structures.

A wonderful reaction is what Tinubu has embarked on: mending fences, re-strategizing and building alliances including willingness to work with even Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. This approach is a good one politically and with it, he will always remain relevant as long as he controls his base. But how does this affect Nigerians? Well, we’re alone with nobody to fight for our interests. Our politicians are merely interested in the next election cycle and can’t be bothered with citizens’ welfare. The end justifies the means. For those who have chosen to be their vuvuzelas or who take sides during their disagreements, go and read what Governor Rauf Aregbesola said while on a visit to Mr. Fayose last week again. That’s the way our politicians roll.