Oyegun’s tenure extension: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu finally ridiculed by Kelvin Adegbenga

macfranc007 February 28, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Wale Akinola

Editor's note: The tenure elongation for the APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and other executives on Tuesday, February 27, has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians. While most people believe the elongation was done to rubbish the party's national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who had recently called for Oyegun's removal, others opine that the move would affect the party negatively during the 2019 general elections.

In this article, a Lagos-based public affairs analyst Kelvin Adegbenga, pukes out his opinion on the Oyegun's tenure elongation, Tinubu's chances in APC ahead of the 2019 general election.

He can be reached via: @kelvinadegbenga.

The cold war between the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the embattled national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun played out at the national secretariat of the ruling party on last week Wednesday, February 21, when the former visited the national working committee led by the latter.

It will be recalled that the former Lagos state governor was last recently announced as chairman of APC reconciliation committee by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The gradual ridicule of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu started when Chief Oyegun feigned ignorance of the assignment Asiwaju Tinubu has been saddled with as he pleaded to be informed of the terms of reference of reconciliation committee while equally assuring the former Lagos state governor of his leadership support!

In his response, Tinubu said: "It is a great honour to be before you as one of the leaders of this party. I am here to consult since you are already aware of the directive and announcement of the president who is the leader of our party and the president of this country.

There is a saying in the southern west part of Nigeria that: “If you don't want your money to lose, give it to the main thief of the house to keep it for you”, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the known ‘chairman’ of the angry people of APC.

The beginning of the Buhari administration saw him being ridiculed when he wanted to be addressed as the national leader of the party. He was ridiculed by the Presidency with many articles to force him back to his local politics; his cries were not listened to.

As today, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is like a used plate; used to eat Amala and Ewedu and tossed under the bed. The plate will be brought out, wash, rinse and use before dumping under the bed again.

This was the same strategies used by the north to win the positions they desired since Nigeria’s independence. From political calculation, the middle belt is shaking with the herdsmen killings, the APC is using their political calculator; 2/3 majority votes is the aim.

The south-south is gone, the southeast is gone, northeast is in the bag, northwest too is in their pocket while the middle belt is 50/50. The southwest is the only zone that will do anything if promised presidency; thanks to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Awolowo was promised the same way Tinubu was promised; to side the federal government during the civil war; he got nothing till he died. Late M.K.O Abiola was promised Presidency by the north, he never got it even though he has assisted all the former military heads of state to get to position. He also died in the hands of the 'Hausa'.

To finally ridicule Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Lagos APC chairman, Henry Ajomale who once said this about Tinubu and I quote: “The man that started the whole revolution (Tinubu) is now being rubbished because of the inordinate ambition of very few members of the party. They want to destroy the party and that is why we are concerned about what is going on.

"If we allow a few people to truncate what we fought for, then the promise made to Nigerians would not be fulfilled. Those trying to undermine the leadership of Tinubu in APC are not helping this country. My advice to them is to leave Asiwaju alone and let him do what God has asked him to come and do for this country”.

The same Henry Ajomale is now the first person to declare vote of confidence in the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, despite his cold war with the APC leader, Bola Tinubu who hails from Lagos state!

Tinubu is being courted again, he is to lead his people to the hands of his Fulani lords. I don’t believe he is doing this with a clear mind; he must have been threatened.

He is cowed to do their bidding; how he comes out a winner in this will tell a lot if he now a master chess player or like always the Lagos Island ludo champion cry If I am Jagaban of Borgu, I will keep my cards close to my chest and wait for President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabal on the eve of the general elections in 2019.

They will certainly come begging again like they did on the eve of the 2015 presidential election. And once they show up, he spread his cards on the table; this time as deftly as possible. And once he has done that, he should reach for his ace.

The southwest will always remain the beautiful bride in Nigeria’s power equation and at the moment, Tinubu plays the political game in the region better than most warts and all.

He will have the other regions of the country by the balls yet again in 2019; and that’s only if he keeps playing smart and quiet.

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In conclusion, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu only needs to play it smart henceforth like he is done up to this point; and the APC cabal who will love nothing else but to cut him to size, will have nothing on him. And Jagaban, more than anyone else, should know this.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress has approved a one year tenure extension for the party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and all other elected and appointed party officials.

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