Election 2023: Oyegun Is Right — APC Has 12 Consensus Candidate And Just One Presidential Candidate By Peter Awanrin
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the other Aspirants.
At this stage of our country’s history, we should agree that, only fools would expect Nigeria to move from BABYLON to the PROMISE LAND without going through different upheavals on its way back. How do you give pounded yam to a patience that is just coming out of coma? The best thing is to give him something light. The government of Atiku or Tinubu would serve as prelude to a saner polity that can later accommodate Peter Obi and co.
Introduction
The people from the Southern part of the country should be in reflection mode at the moment, as it appears they are about to be schemed out of any decent shot at the presidency come 2023. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has secured the presidential ticket of the PDP, and the APC ticket is about to go from the expected to the unexpected.
For Nigerians as a whole, they should be scared because of the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari that APC aspirants should allow him free hand to pick his SUCCESSOR. This is a big problem because aside Bola Tinubu, there is no other person in Nigeria currently that can defeat Atiku Abubakar of the PDP [no sentiments, please].
Yet, Tinubu is too big for President Buhari to choose as his successor, despite evidently being the one with the right to the APC ticket because of his commitment to the party, readiness for and resources for the presidential election come 2023! The implication is simple [or complex]: Give an unpopular aspirant the APC ticket, thus putting asunder to the party, while relying on the Federal Might to shortchange Atiku and Nigerians for a second time.
These should be issues for most of Nigerians and especially the Social Media Activists [SMAs], most of whom have ceased to reflect on political developments of late, preferring instead to follow the trend. Well, since I lack the privilege of sleeping inside the social media or allowing same to influence me, let me be charitable with this disadvantage by presenting my thoughts on these and other electioneering issues as they are about to translate doom for the country.
Where Are the Southern Governors?
Sometime in November last year, I wrote an article entitled, 2023: SOUTHERN GOVERNORS AND THE CLAMOUR FOR SOUTHERN PRESIDENCY: LITTLE WISDOM; MOSTLY FOLLY. In it I stated in bold that:
The North will produce the next president come 2023 …. For now, the only thing the Southern electorates should do is to support a Northern candidate that is first and foremost a Nigerian before being a Northerner, from among the lots that would be parading themselves as worthy presidential aspirants.
Prompted by the meeting of most governors from the South insisting that the next president must come from the South, I had to ask the South and especially their governors what they had in their political amoury to wrestle power from the North come 2023. I saw basically nothing, other than noise, an unwritten agreement and some change the governors hold in trust for their respective states. In the article, I was quick to remind them that that total of what they have is still less that than money that President Buhari has access to in the IMF and other financial institutions, who just require that the borrower is the president of a backward country! I told them that every institution touching on elections in Nigeria is in the hands of the North.
I did not really bother about dissenting opinions since I did a very thorough investigation before arriving at the conclusions made in the write-up. And since I am only south by birth, and a True Nigerian by orientation, I enjoy the advantage of being removed from ethnic or regional politics of envenomy divide when I write. Now, I only have to laugh, as I watch the South noising their way into the status of second class citizens of their country. Bola Tinubu is the wedge between Nigeria producing the president of their choice and Buhari continuing his 3rd term through his preferred candidate.
Also, as someone from the southerner part of Nigeria, my sympathy is with the South. But as I noted, we can’t eat our cake and still have the cake. The South sold our birth right and then enabled the North to consolidate on power, to the extent that even the profit made by these politicians can now be enjoyed under the watch of the North [ask Rochas Okorocha]. APC will so indulge these southerners only to come back and rub you in mud. What need there is dinning with the devil?
Wike Cheer Up; Nigeria is in needs of a Unifier!
With utmost regard, I will use this medium to commend Governor Nyesom Wike of River State for his courage. I mean, it has to be real courage to take such a gamble, considering the odds against him. How he managed to secure 237 delegates to come out 2nd is a great feat. Your Excellency Sir, you try.
Having said the above, I must state that, the figures he got was the best he could have mustered. I will spell out the odds. The number of delegates from the South were less that the delegates from the north with about a hundred. So, there was no level playing ground to start with. Whether it was possible for an enlightened northerner to cast ballot for Wike with or without any inducement is difficult to phantom. Therefore, if Nigerian politics was North/South as we are made to believe, then, Wike went to the finals with handicap, having about a hundred delegates to entice to enable him catch up with the favoured candidate from North.
Wike and his supporters should understand that a Party Primaries is not an end in itself. They are not to select the best candidate or highest bidder of the party, but to select the best candidate for the general elections. They are means to a bigger end, that is, winning the presidential election. Only a handful of these aspirants can command votes at the general elections proper. Most of the aspirants, delegates and major stakeholder in PDP at that convention want to win an election after the primaries.
Also, Wike never showed sympathy for the folks up North. The clamour for true Federalism and Resources Control, with IGR run-ins with the Federal government are not in tandem with position of the North. Fuse memory is a thing of the South, not of the people from the North.
Even in the South, Wike had not made mastery of the South [-South] per his rancorous run-ins with these politicians, including his blatant disregard for the party elders, especially the former chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus. Disrespecting the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, barely months after his outburst with his Edo State counterpart, asking the Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shaibu who his father is, do not profess a politician that would be seeking the help of others soon. I am very sure that Wike had not made up his mind to contest the party candidacy when he made this comments.
So while Wike realized the possibility of monetizing his way to securing the ticked very late [I mean very late], Atiku was building bridges across the country with utmost humility. In fact, the recent comments on the Social Media that because he retracted his earlier comments about the victim of Sokoto blasphemy saga was as a sign of weakness should be dismissed. Alas; how do you offend people today and be at their presence very early the next morning? To do what? Atiku retracted and today, he has a shot at the presidency, where hopefully he would be in a position to curb the killings and other crimes in Nigeria.
Also, the statement that Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto betrayed HIS FRIEND Wike is difficulty to understand. Wike and Tambuwal were never friends. Wike’s support for Tambuwal in 2019 was not altruistic; it could definitely not have been for a nationalistic cause since the latter was a political light weight to Atiku then, as in now. In any case, the so-called support amounted to nothing since Tambuwal lost, woefully. Yet, while Tambuwal was quick to mend fence with Atiku, Wike decided to continue to ‘enemify’ Atiku.
Therefore, that Wike expect reciprocity in futility from Tambuwal is what the Governor of Rivers will have to sleep over. While one good turn deserves another, the same cannot be said about selfish interests. In 2019, their interests were aligned; in 2022, it was at variance. Both were in the race for the same prize, unable to convince the other to let go. Tambuwal had more loyalists from the North, Wike relied on mercenaries since he could pay more. However, the strength of both combined was less than or equal to that of Atiku. Tambuwal realized this and made a hero out of his decision to step down for Atiku. Wike felt it was too late in the game for one to use his card! He later said he would have scattered the whole thing, but he chose not to! Well; we thank the Most High God; I doubt if his ‘one thousand militants’ would have been able to help Governor Wike scatter the area.
In any case, even if the people from the North have suddenly become as greedy as their Southern brothers, it is doubtful if Wike would have been able to monetize Tambuwal’s delegates faster than Atiku in such a short time. Wike would have needed to first secure the services of an interpreter to start with! He may have needed to come to Rivers to get more lalobor to entice the delegates, since he does not have friends with that kind of resources close by, since such could not have been done on credit basis!
Is PDP Coming to Our Rescue?
As we have it, Atiku Abubakar has the PDP ticket. Most Nigerians are happy for him and his party. I am sure, whatever PDP did to Nigerians in 16years, APC has caused a hundred years’ setback for the country. The main achievement apologists of Buhari point to is in infrastructure! But I asked them, is the infrastructural development that is claimed to have been achieved by this government equal to a tenth of the resources wasted in this 7 or so years, which include the depletion of the foreign reserve of 35 billion dollars, with a current foreign debt burden of 78 billion dollars [$110b]. This figure is just for the country’s external debt alone. Internal borrowing and the fact that majority of Nigerians no longer have money in their savings accounts is a different matter entirely.
Security, economy, healthcare, education, etc., are all almost gone. Even hope that things will improve is almost lost. People are now travelling out of the country leaving their well paid jobs and businesses behind, because of the hopeless security situation in the country. May the souls of the victims of Owo shooting finds peace.
What about our conscience and trust; how many of us still have these? The issues like economy, security, etc., can be improved upon in two or three decades, but it is a different thing with our conscience and trust for the government and Nigerians.
Therefore, the emergence of Atiku was something of 51% away from Buhari’s eventful reign! The next logical thing that APC is expected to do would be to give Bola Tinubu the ticket. Mr President would not. So we see that, the one that was not interested in the candidacy of APC a short while ago has told the APC aspirants to allow him free hand to pick his SUCCESSOR. This will remain his intention, retraction immaterial.
Please, do not raise any eyebrow because I mentioned Bola Tinubu. As Dokesi stated some time ago, “the Waziri [of Adamawa] is the right person that could match Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should he eventually emerged as the candidate of the APC”. The current Nigerian space has just two candidates that can successfully slug it out at the presidential level – Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu. Keep your sentiments in your pocket.
Bola Tinubu and the Consensus 12
King Solomon is renowned for being the wisest king in the Holy Bible. His wisdom was first evidenced in the case involving the two harlots and the little baby. In the end, King Solomon gave the baby to the rightful owner, owing to compassion she showed. We see how it was easy for the fake mother agreed that the baby be divided in halves, without caring about the life of the baby. But the real owner insisted that the baby should be giving to other harlot. At least HER baby would remain alive. [1King 3: 16-28]
The main lesson from the above is that people will do everything possible to safeguard what they hold dearly, and conversely, pretenders [and consensus aspirants] would not bulge to let go of something they have pretended to love. These will fall for anything, since they have never stood for anything.
John Ogigie Oyegun recent statement that of the 13 aspirants that have been successful at the screening exercise, 12 agreed to consensus, while just Bola Tinubu refused such [nonsense] in indicative of seriousness of the APC aspirants. I mean, how could Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, the Jagaban of Borgu, the Lion of Bourdillion compromise his right to the ticket of the APC? Let us look at the general list of the APC presidential aspirants [without Tinubu] and attempt a pick:
Adamu Garba, Yahaya Bello, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Ahmed Yerima, Zamfara. Ahmed Lawan [NORTH]. Yemi Osibanjo, Ibikunle Amosu, Kayode Fayemi, Dimeji Bankole, Akinwumi Adesina, Ajayi Borroffice, Olawepo-Hashim, Tunde Bakare [South West]. Dave Umahi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, Emeka Nwajiuba, Ken Nnamani, Barr. (Mrs) Uju Kennedy Ohnenye, Nicholas Felix Nwagbo, lkeobasi Mokelu, [South East]. Rotimi Amaechi, Timipre Sylva, Tein Jack Rich, Godswill Akpabio, Ben Ayade, Adams Oshiomhole [South South].
You still want to pick? Please, forget it. The sum total of these candidates is less than Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP]; even if the federal might has to come in, in its most naked form, than we witnessed in the 2019 presidential election. In fact, with the exception of a few, most of these are more of spoilers than of sincere aspirants.
I mean, how is it possible that right thinking men will buy presidential forms for the sum of ONE HUNDRED MILLION NAIRA [including Tunde Bakare], spend resources making a number of shuttles across the length and breadth of the country, cultivating supporters, only for these adults to cave in and agree to some wield consensus, insisted on by President Buhari, who has informed his errand boys that he should be given a freehand to choose his ‘SUCCESSOR’! I mean, to allow President Buhari to be the final arbiter of something as serious as a presidential candidate of APC!
Interestingly, these CONSENSUS 12 agreed to such unholy arrangement even without time to consort their virtual supporters or allies! Or these 12 do not have political leaders and war-men to consult? In any case, we now know, most of these boys bought the forms on the instigation of Mr President, not because they were ever conceived of having any chance at the presidency, not even in their wildest imagination, but because it would make the process look competitive.
It should not be surprising for right thinking Nigerians to see that, all along, the APC had had multitude of presidential aspirants/spoilers, but with just one candidate ready for the battle for presidency come 2023 in the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Let me put this in mathematical term:
ATIKU vs X [+ Federal Might] = ATIKU’s Victory
[X being the totality of the APC Consensus 12 and the 10 others]
Also: TINUBU + X [+ Federal Might] ≤ ATIKU
Please, no misconception. Atiku and Bola Tinubu are not the best candidates for the job of the presidency of Nigeria; they are not saint at all. We have very fantastic individuals that are really QUALIFIED, having performed considerably well in their states, like Wike, Fayemi, Makinde, Kwankwaso, Bello, Bala, and others, all purporting to have solutions to the country’s multiplex problems. I mean, as Thomas Hobbes informed us, “every man thinketh himself wise, since his wisdom is before him”. The truth of the matter is that, most of these are aspirants are mere opportunists, without any clout or decent investments. I mean, we should have grown beyond these election promises presented by weak politicians, and rather look into their harvest reports or pedigree. As I ask, how many of these persons have companies with up to 50 employees on a pay roll of over N50,000 per monthly? Atiku and Tinubu have such.
As I have pointed out, we have very fantastic candidates, but winning an election at this level is difficult, especially because of the timing. Take Peter Obi for instance; young, agile, intelligent, appealing to our generation, and other positive qualities; the question is, how is he going to convince the Northern electorate to vote for him? What TV Station is he using; just Social Media alone? Even if you give him Kwankwaso as running mate, it may not translate more votes for him. The North would not fall for such.
At this stage of our country’s history, we should agree that, only fools would expect Nigeria to move from BABYLON to the PROMISE LAND without going through different upheavals on its way back. How do you give pounded yam to a patience that is just coming out of coma? The best thing is to give him something light. The government of Atiku or Tinubu government would serve as prelude to a saner polity that can late accommodate Peter Obi and co.
Peter Obi ought to have persevere the antics of Wike, resist the temptation of the Social Media and remain in PDP. His would have been to study under President Atiku Abubakar for four or maximum eight years, and thereafter take a decent shot at the presidency. Whether there is a foreclosure to this is something I would not wish for; but I must state that greed – of wanting to have it all – without paying the mandatory dues is one of the reasons why the presidency has continued to elude the people of the South East, and this is why Bola Tinubu can lay claim to the presidential ticket of the APC having served the APC.
The North has more voters. Aside those that feel that Atiku may not really push for an exclusive Northern Agenda, the bulk of these voters are favourably disposed to Atiku. For Tinubu, the South-West would certainly vote for him, but the South-East and South-South would be a very complex thing entirely.
We should be scared because of the announcement and intentions of President Buhari and his handlers as this will definitely produce a number of unpleasant consequences in the coming period. Mr President has HIS consensus candidate, and it is not Bola Tinubu. Of course in line with the endgame of the Cabal in the North. In fact, as aptly captured by Tayo Oke:
…. They [the North] would concede the presidency to the South, after Buhari, but not the power that underpins it. In other words, northern oligarchs would endorse an apolitical, malleable (if cerebral) southern candidate for president in 2023, who would be in office but not in power. They are implacably opposed to a calculated political beast in the manner of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aka “Asiwaju”, aka “Jagaban”. [emphases mine], [Punch, 25, January, 2022]
Therefore, for the APC, it is a very pathetic plight. The party is finding it difficult to give Bola Tinubu the party ticket. Not for anything, but because, as Oke pointed out, “Tinubu is that candidate. … who now represents their [the Cabal] worst nightmare coming true. The man himself has inadvertently stoked this tension by revealing the presidency to be his “lifelong ambition”.” Allowing Tinubu the ticket of APC has become a problem for the North. Mistrust has certainly set in. He is bigger than the Cabal. Is Tinubu now a devil? But, you have been dining with him!
There is the fact that, Nigerian leaders have almost perfect the act of ensuring that a less intelligent candidate succeed them in office! This is a problem now for President Buhari, who has tried hard to put the names of worthless people out to get feelers from the public. I trust, the feelers are far stronger than these candidates.
Call Jagaban by different names, but definitely not a pushover. He is too big to be told by his beneficiaries what to do. He is not the type that will tell Nigerians he annulled an election because a coup was imminent [I mean, IBB could have just continued with in his Transition without End instead of allowing the election at all]. Or that as president, he is unable to fight terrorism because of some contrary interest! God punish that Defense minister say Jagaban send am to tackle insurgents and im com de give excuses?
In spite of the above, Mr President is trying to determine where the PARTY ticket goes, even though he is not the owner of the party. In fact, at the time of the merger that led to the formation of APC, President Buhari could boast of a few cows [about a hundred], while Tinubu practically paid the bills of the new party and allowed Buhari to take the shot at the presidency
Who would embark on such a gamble? I mean, put your money on a horse with tract record of losing! Jagaban gambled and won because he is Jagaban. I mean, even the supporters now flanking President Buhari gave up on his political career after the defeat in 2011. Babachir Lawal and Abdullahi Adamu can now say whatever they want to say; at least, it was not their compounds that Bullion Van was spotted in 2015.
Yes! Tinubu has Entitlement Mentality; but only to APC Ticket
Telling truth to power has become an abomination. Even in family settings, it is difficult to tell the head of the family that what is he/she has done is wrong. It was not really surprising that when the Asiwau of Lagos State stated that he made Buhari the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after three failed attempts; and that President Buhari was crying after 2011 defeat, that he was not going to contest again; some opportunists and inconsequential people saw such as disrespect. Disrespect for whom? For Mr President that wants to place a successor on HIS THROWN?
I mean, laying claim to a party ticket, and imposing a successor as president of a democratic country, which one is more heinous? And the enemies of Jagaban swam out from their hives to say all sort of things, forcing the camp of Tinubu to sort of retract, or explain the context of the leader’s speech at Ogun State. And we have some Yorubas saying that Bola Tinubu thinks he is God! Yet, they are slaves to Mr President! Well if claiming his entitlement makes you see him as your god, so be it; there is nothing you can do about it. Who pass person, don pass person!
In any case, there is only one context to put the comments of Tinubu, and it is as the Asiwaju meant it. That is, that he is responsible for Buhari’s victory in 2015. For this and other reasons, including having laboured for the party all the way, incurring the wraths of some Southerners; including the fact that there were no real primaries for APC presidential candidate in 2019, Tinubu is right to lay claim to the ticket. Frown if you wish; it’s your frown!
Let us forget the backlash from the noisemakers claiming that Tinubu is not solely responsible for the 2015 victory of the APC, and referring to his remarks or attempt to take the Northern oligarchy through memory lane as an outburst. “Men [should] weep more over the loss of their Patrimony than of their fathers”. Even if it was an outburst, it is justifiable in Law, Equity, and the Street where credibility is valued.
So, whatever the Northern oligarchs are thinking, it appears a lost case – Jagaban is entitled to the ticket. In fact, to borrow from Tupac the Philosopher, besides giving Jagaban the ticket, the only thing APC can do is to give Jagaban the ticket. Alternatively, the party can just be disbanded, having served its purposes.
Tinubu has the political base of the West. He has loyalists and allies across Nigeria. He has the resources, and particularly knows how/when/where to deploy them more than any politician in APC. No other politician in the history of Western region has the combination of these qualities. Not even Awo [no disrespect; I know my History just too well]. In fact, I will borrow extensively from Tayo Oke:
Tinubu will remain colossal in the shifting quicksand of the Nigerian political power play. … he is rightly credited for masterminding the defeat of the previously all-conquering and ‘unbeatable’ Peoples’ Democratic Party, shutting down its agenda for a one-party dictatorship and opening up the democratic space to the Toms, Dicks and Harrys …. Nigerian democracy would not be as plural as it is on the surface without Tinubu’s guile and guts. Many people in the APC, especially in the South-West, may not have been ‘made’ by him but they owe their political heft to him. They cut their high-wire political teeth in hisinnersanctum,allexpensespaid,foradecade. Hetaughtthemboldnessandcalculated political risk-taking. Aside from cutting the PDP to size, they also witnessed him slaying Afenifere’s dragon. … They have all benefited, indeed, profited immensely from this coup de grace. [bold being mine]
As otherwise, what is Osibanjo doing, saying or thinking? I mean, against Jagaban – your benefactor; the undisputed owner of Lagos, and by extension, the whole of the West – with visible tentacles in the North! I mean, presidential election is not child’s play, and definitely not for lily-livered individuals.
Added to this is that, there is an agreement on Zoning the Presidency– however illicit, but which core APC members of the North cannot deny [in private].
The trouble will be that the successor is to be chosen by Mr President himself, and not the APC as a party. Buhari will have his way and field in a lightweight against Atiku in the next election. This action will mark the end of the party since its major shareholder will abandon it. Probably for another party, or move his support to Atiku. But this is not all.
In 2019, Atiku got about 11m votes, while the ruling party CAME UP with about 14m votes. How this was possible is still a mystery. Atiku fought the case up to the Supreme Court that already had signed Tanko. Atiku had to let it be.
It should be stated here that. Nigeria is on the brink, with the following choices now open to its people: Remain as second class citizens under the captivity of few individuals referred to as the Cabal; put asunder this thing we have long revered called Nigeria, while allowing the different peoples to pursue their destinies separately; or hope that the APC would allow a level playing ground at their Convention so that Nigeria can continue to meander until we get it right and then emerge as the true Giant of Africa. The APC can only have the means to make the last choice and save the nation. The other two choices remain with the people of Nigeria. What is certain is that, the APC should know that having a handful of persons ready to do the biddings of the Cabal should not be taken to mean Nigerians are cowards. Nigeria has endured enough; its people are tired; anything is possibly.
2023 is going to be different. That masses are already fed up by this APC government whose last days in office are now replete with announcements of billions of naira misappropriated by members of this administration. For Buhari to field in a light weight only points to one thing – bringing in the overbearing might of the Federal government to highjack the elections.
Conclusion
Therefore, though Atiku and Tinubu are not the most intelligent or agile politicians or aspirants for the presidency of Nigeria, but if what MI said makes sense, like always, then I will beg you to show me some other candidates that are better. No other candidate in the APC or any other party can do battle with Atiku other than Ahmed Bola Tinubu [see table below]. Not Peter Obi and/or Kwankwaso or any other politician or religious figure. Most of the 22 ‘aspirants’ in APC pretending to be interested in the presidency are incapable of successfully win a local government 90%. Most cannot win their states 50%. At most, some will have votes from only their states [Umahi, Yahaya Bello], others such as Rotimi Amaechi, Tein Jack Rich, Adamu Garba, Olawepo-Hashim, Nicholas Felix, Rochas Okorocha, Godswill Akpabio, Yemi Osinbajo, Emeka Nwajiuba, Tunde Bakare, etc., would struggle to clear a local government.
Therefore, if Buhari is in charge, and cares for the country, he would tread the right path by allowing the contest of selecting a candidate for the APC to be open – and support the presidential candidate most likely to have some impact in the presidential election proper [which is Bola Tinubu]. In this case, the reign of the CABAL will end though, but the APC might still remain in power. The alternative is to support the PDP, which put some smile on the faces of Nigerians, with Nigerians enjoying a contest of equals and apparently a peaceful election, and outcome.
Mr President might proceed according to plan. Field in an unpopular candidate, while supporting same with the federal might. This will most likely backfire. The whole of South would be bitter. The last time I checked, the South-East want to secede from the Nigerian federation; the South-South have the resources to go its way; the South-West might just become too wild. Just one more aggrieved region adding to this already volatile situation of the country would complement the job of disintegration.
As we know, leaders of the world are increasingly indulging themselves in taking wrong decisions. We are seeing what is happening in Europe, where instead of searching for avenues for peace in the crisis between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, by sending envoys to the affected countries, European statesmen, led by their feeble Transatlantic overlord, have continued to supply more weapons to Ukraine, imposing more sanctions on Russia, which they are not in any way immune to. The APC government must therefore learn from Volodymyr Zelensky’s wisdom and do everything possible to avert crises. We must pray for President Buhari to do the right thing, and be added to those that have successfully led Nigeria, of course, irrespective of the manner or quality of such leadership.
Lai lai a ti lai lai, Nigeria kọ ni di Ukraine! Atiku Abubakar
A Northerner, entitled to the PDP ticket, by age, contribution to and zoning arrangement by the party).
Bola Tinubu
A Southerner, entitled to the APC ticket, by age, contribution to and zoning arrangement by the party).
The Clowns NIL
Has been in politics since the 1980s. A dedicated follower of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and founding member Peoples Front of Nigeria (PFN). The PFN included politicians such as Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Baba Gana Kingibe, Bola Tinubu, etc. A member of SDP in 1990, later joined the PDP where he was elected governor of Adamawa State in 1998, later became running mate to OBJ.
Member of the PFN. Senator in the Third Republic under the Social Democratic Party [SDP] Founding member and main financial of National Democratic Coalition [NADECO]. Member of the Action Congress, where he was elected Governor in 1999. He won re-election in 2003, while all other states in the South West fell for PDP.
NIL
Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Not a pushover – Cured OBJ of his Third Term Madness.
Holds a Masters degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Abubakar worked for the Nigeria Customs Service, retiring as Deputy Director
Turaki, and later Waziri of Adamawa
Former Governor of LAGOS STATE.
Not a pushover – successfully piloted the affairs of Lagos State when OBJ withheld its funds.
Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Chicago State University.
Worked for American companies such as Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells, and GTE Services Corporation
Asiwaju of Lagos, the Jagaban of Borgu, The Lion of Bourdillion
Probably NIL
Probably Probably
NIL
Co-founder of Intels Nigeria Limited, owner of the Adama Beverages Limited and the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
Part owner of Oando PLC., owner of Oriental Hotel, TVC Television and Radio, Lekki Concession Company, Ikeja Shopping Mall, Renaissance Hotel, The Nation Newspapers, Radio Continental, Apapa Amusement Park. Is it true that Jagaban has shares in Apple and Man United?
NIL
