Nice one Tambuwal, you played it well for Atiku

Those of us who followed Aminu Tambuwal’s so-called consultations across the country will tell how much effort, energy, and resources he put into it.

Traveling from Sokoto to Abuja, Lagos to Ibadan, Abia to Rivers states, all on a private jet, only tells of his desire to achieve his ambition of clinching the presidential ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and possibly go on to win the 2023 presidential election to become Nigeria’s next president.

He also traveled by road, covering short distances and not minding the death trap of the Nigerian roads coupled with the menace of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism that has bedeviled our expressways all over the country. He shrugged off every thought of evil and took all these risks nevertheless.

Tambuwal was so busy negotiating with governors of his party (PDP), other presidential aspirants, and party delegates. His arrival to these places was greeted with a handshake right from the airport, as well as singing and dancing as he boarded and alighted from his highly secured black sport utility vehicle (SUV) provided for him by his hosts.

He waved as the women who had sewed ‘aso-ebi’ and so dressed to showcase their support in the most visible way they can, while they sang new songs hurriedly composed in his name. The smiling Tambuwal, would wave, accepting all the accolades and feeling fly. But deep down within him, he knew the cards he was playing.

On the other hand, the game boy, Atiku Abubakar, was somewhere in Abuja or Yola, or even in Dubai, taking care of ‘business’ and pressing the right buttons like a boss. Of course, he is a boss, a rich, wealthy boss with so many resources to deploy in order to get what he wants without moving afoot.

Atiku had little energy to throw around. With age not on his side, and having been vice president, spending eight years inside the Aso Rock Villa, he is obviously not as desperate as others on the PDP platform. After officially declaring his interest to contest in March, he embarked on a rather quiet consultation tour to the southeast and southwest. After that, we barely see him in public making promises. He rather settled for his Twitter handle.

Wike, on his side, was so confident as seen or heard from his many speeches, always confrontational. He doesn’t care whose ox is goed. He talks to anybody ‘wotowoto’, and if you’re not in his good book, ‘you go collect’. Perhaps he was so sure he had had all delegates from the south on a lockdown, while also hoping that the presidential ticket of the party would be handed to a candidate from his region. He was wrong and a big lesson has been learned as regards his political character.

Except for Atiku who was publicly less active many days prior to the primary election date, many people already knew the likes of Bukola Saraki, Udom Emmanuel and Bala Mohammed are not even contenders for the ticket. It was going to be either Wike or Atiku or by luck, Tambuwal. But I dare to say that if not for the withdrawal of the Sokoto state governor, Wike would have emerged as the winner.

Atiku eventually won the contest with 371 votes from the 767 national delegates accredited for the poll. Wike polled 237 votes to place second, followed by Bukola Saraki with 70 votes, Udom Emmanuel with 38 votes, Bala Mohammed with 20 votes, Pius Anyim with 14 votes, and Sam Ohuabunwa with a lone vote.

After so much effort, Tambuwal succumbed in the face of the real battle right on the day of exercise like a fearful soldier in the heat of war. He chickened out after misleading so many delegates and Nigerians in general. And when many thought it was going to be a tough contest between three close rivals, he watered down the efficiency of the primary election and asked his supporters to vote for his northern brother or the highest bidder. But who is surprised though? This is politics where it is believed that everyone has a price.

I will not join the school of thought who argue that Tambuwal made that decision on that same day. I refuse to believe that narrative. In my opinion, Tambuwal has been working for Atiku all along. All the consultations, meetings, travels, sweet talks, and spending, were all planned for the purpose of what he finally did. Whose money was he spending for all the trips on a private jet? Who will foot the crazy bills? Don’t tell me otherwise, I will not buy it.

It is what it is. Politics is a game of money, real big money and we have all seen that despite the huge sum of dollars allegedly shared to delegates by Wike on the day, there is someone who is richer and bigger.

But what do I know? It is now a time for alignment and realignment as the PDP negotiates for a vice presidential candidate, a privilege Wike may still miss out.

Good job Tambuwal, you played it well for your boss, Atiku.

Israel is a Nigerian journalist and can be reached via [email protected]