Over the past few years, Nigerian politics has
witnessed different forms of transformations, especially with aggrieved
gubernatorial contestants winning their cases at the tribunal.
Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Adams Oshiomhole, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), showed how much credibility the courts possess if there are realistic evidences to show ‘innocence'; all these were reportedly being masterminded by the highly revered national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The
peak of his achievements with the party was the eventual ouster of
former president, Goodluck Jonathan and indeed, the major opposition,
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the seat of power from the centre
after 16 years of non-stop administration.
Consequently, observers said the former governor of Lagos state had become virtually the greatest man in the history of yorubas, perhaps after Obafemi Awolowo, and had become a reference point for party leadership in Africa’s most populous country.
However, that status was dealt a massive blow when on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, senator Bukola Saraki ignored the supposed meeting with president Muhammadu Buhari, went with some of his supporters and those of the PDP to the national assembly, and emerged as senate president unopposed, against the ‘plan’ of the master strategist.
Sources had disclosed that the mock elections conducted within the ranks of the APC, that presented Ahmed Lawan as the senate president-elect of the party, was a clear indication of Tinubu’s singular intention of remaining ahead of others in the hierarchy of the party and the yorubas at large.
His candidate for the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who won the mock conducted by the party, also lost to Yakubu Dogara, another indication that the national leader of the APC was no longer as influential as he had been motioned to be; thus effectively ending his stronghold on the party.
After the national assembly elections, Tinubu publicly declared that he would not acknowledge Saraki as the senate president, another confirmation of initial speculations that he really wants to stay ahead of his peers as the most relevant figure in the party.
Saraki’s position as the senate president will make the man fondly called Jagaban, almost irrelevant in decision making processes in the party, especially since the party leader will not be able to impose anything on the former Kwara state governor.
This is yet the biggest challenge for Tinubu since his radical moves to ensure power at the top falls to his party and remains within his grasp for foreseeable future, after also being touted to be nearing the end of his political dominance in the country.
With this recent developments, it is not clear how much influence the ex-governor will now wield since those he had allegedly touted to win the various seats at the national assembly were ousted by supposed ‘insiders’ from the party.
Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Adams Oshiomhole, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), showed how much credibility the courts possess if there are realistic evidences to show ‘innocence'; all these were reportedly being masterminded by the highly revered national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bola Tinubu
Consequently, observers said the former governor of Lagos state had become virtually the greatest man in the history of yorubas, perhaps after Obafemi Awolowo, and had become a reference point for party leadership in Africa’s most populous country.
However, that status was dealt a massive blow when on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, senator Bukola Saraki ignored the supposed meeting with president Muhammadu Buhari, went with some of his supporters and those of the PDP to the national assembly, and emerged as senate president unopposed, against the ‘plan’ of the master strategist.
Sources had disclosed that the mock elections conducted within the ranks of the APC, that presented Ahmed Lawan as the senate president-elect of the party, was a clear indication of Tinubu’s singular intention of remaining ahead of others in the hierarchy of the party and the yorubas at large.
His candidate for the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who won the mock conducted by the party, also lost to Yakubu Dogara, another indication that the national leader of the APC was no longer as influential as he had been motioned to be; thus effectively ending his stronghold on the party.
After the national assembly elections, Tinubu publicly declared that he would not acknowledge Saraki as the senate president, another confirmation of initial speculations that he really wants to stay ahead of his peers as the most relevant figure in the party.
Saraki’s position as the senate president will make the man fondly called Jagaban, almost irrelevant in decision making processes in the party, especially since the party leader will not be able to impose anything on the former Kwara state governor.
This is yet the biggest challenge for Tinubu since his radical moves to ensure power at the top falls to his party and remains within his grasp for foreseeable future, after also being touted to be nearing the end of his political dominance in the country.
With this recent developments, it is not clear how much influence the ex-governor will now wield since those he had allegedly touted to win the various seats at the national assembly were ousted by supposed ‘insiders’ from the party.
