By Centus Nweze
Former Senators, House of Representatives members and other political bigwigs from the south west Geo-political zone on Monday visited the Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, and his Oyo counterpart, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, to solicit support for the candidature of the former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2023 presidency.
The move is believed to have been engineered by the APC leader ahead of 2023 general election.
There has also been talks by those in the know that there are counter lobby directly made to Tinubu to stem his ambition for younger elements by traditional rulers from other zones in the country.
The recent move by the group on Monday is to push traditional rulers of South West to act as buffer against pressure being exerted on Tinubu.
Tinubu is the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those who are part of the delegation to the traditional rulers of the South West are former Minister, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Hon. Bosun Oladele and Hon. Rotimi Makinde.
Others are Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Hon. Toba Oke, Hon. Deji Jakande, Hon. Gboyega Okegbemi, immediate past Secretary to Ondo State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, Hon Mutiu Okunola and others.
Adeyeye who is the leader of the delegation while speaking both in Ibadan and Oyo respectively, noted that the group, christened ‘The South West Agenda’ (SWAGA ’23) is a group of rainbow coalition of like minded politicians of South West extraction.
He maintained that there is an agreement in both APC and PDP that the Presidency should be a rotational between the North and the South.
Adeyeye stressed that now after the eight years of President Buhari, it is the turn of South, which also has south west, south south and south east.
The former minister said in all these three components of South, Asiwaju Tinubu from the south west is the most qualified, who has paid his political dues before and during this political dispensation.
According to Adeyeye, “The tour is not a political campaign but a sensitization drive. The agenda of the group is to call out all well meaning South-Westerners to encourage, market and support the candidature of their principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (the Jagaban Borgu) for the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.
“Their goal is driven by desire for a common front to push the Yoruba Agenda for leadership of Nigeria. Yoruba race and Nigerians in general stand to benefit much from Tinubu’s Presidency.
“We are here to pay homage to the Olubadan Palace. What we are here for is for Yoruba to succeed Buhari is 2023. We can not do this without visitation to the palace.
“I have the privilege to tell you that we are representing Yoruba race. We are more than this. We are clamouring for Yoruba race to succeed President Muhamadu Buhari in 2023. And Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the man we are clamouring for.”
The Olubadan in his remarks said that the palace is open for all Yoruba politicans who wishes to contest elections to seek support of the monarch.
“I appreciate you all. I am proud of you. In Nigeria, if you do not demand for your right, they many not give you. You will prosper with this group. Let me tell you that the doors of the palace is widely opened to all Yoruba politicans who wishes to seek votes.”
Speaking at his Palace, Alaafin said the mission of delegation is thought of, noted that covenant is very important, which must be fulfilled either written or not.
The monarch maintained that anyone who renege on agreement should be ready to face the consequences.
According to Alaafin, “Covenant is very important and must be fulfilled, anyone who breach the agreement should be ready to face the consequences.
“There is no sincerity in Nigeria politics, lack of fate in the political arrangement of Nigeria is one of the major set back facing the country. Your mission is thought of, be strong, hopeful and your aspiration shall be met”.
Tinubu is on a mission to scatter Nigeria. He cannot be aspiring to be Nigerian president when it is the turn of Ndigbo. The North pushed for power shift because it was their turn, and that was a legitimate demand. Now Tinubu is pushing for an illegitimate demand and this will hit rock. He is a selfish man.