On Thursday night, Malam Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, issued a statement in reaction to social media buzz on the perceived rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

During an exclusive interview with ARISE TV, Buhari reacted to a wide range of issues which expectedly generated different reactions but his remarks on zoning and the APC set tongues wagging.

“You cannot sit there in Lagos, for instance, and decide on the fate of APC on zoning,” Buhari had said while responding to a question during the interview.

There are indications that Tinubu is interested in succeeding Buhari. Although the former Lagos governor has not stated this publicly, his foot soldiers have been going round the country to solicit support for him. The Tinubu camp has also been at the forefront of groups clamouring for power shift to the south.

THE HAMMER FROM BUHARI

During the interview he granted ARISE TV, Buhari had said, “The hope of this administration is to see APC last beyond it. Therefore we should allow the party to decide. The restructuring of the party has begun from the bottom to the top with the membership card registration. Every member of the party must be involved. We will soon conduct our convention. No single member of the party will be allowed to go against the wish of the party. So, members of the party will feel they are involved in decision making. Nobody is just sitting in Lagos and asking them what to do.”

Tinubu conspicuously absent

The specific reference to Lagos apparently caused a stir. Even those who are politically naïve know that the number one APC figure in the state is not Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu but the kingmaker, Jagban Borgu. Tinubu’s words are laws, at least in the state. In Nigeria, he is unarguably the most influential in the class of those who governed between 1999 and 2007. Tinubu has played a critical role in bringing key politicians into limelight. After leaving the number one seat in Nigeria’s commercial capital, he has to a large extent determined the political fate of all those who occupied the exalted seat.

So, it was natural for people to have factored in Tinubu when Buhari made reference to Lagos while speaking on a critical issue in the ruling party. Let’s assume the president’s spokesman is right that Buhari had no political undertone when he made reference to someone in Lagos, Tinubu’s conspicuous absence during Buhari’s one-day working visit tells a lot; it breeds worm of suspicion.

A NO-SHOW FOR TINUBU

Buhari inaugurated some projects executed by both federal and state governments. Among these were the 157 kilometres Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway for commercial operations at the Mobolaji Johnson Station in Ebute Metta; the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure in Nigeria (also called the Deep Blue Project) at the ENL Terminal, Apapa Port; the president also handed over the newly-acquired security equipment and assets to the State Police command.

Tinubu and some of his allies discussing with Buhari during their last Aso Rock visit.

These were major events which attracted key personalities such as Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives; South-West Governors, cabinet Ministers, traditional rulers, among others.

It was the president’s first visit to the state since Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assumed office but Tinubu was nowhere near any of the venues where the president participated in those programmes.

Tinubu and Buhari had stayed away from each other for a very long time. Both men nevertheless met at Aso Villa after the deaths of General Ibrahim Attahiru and some military personnel in an air crash. This was after the media highlighted the gulf between both men who teamed up to end the 16-year dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), setting a record of the first defeat of an incumbent president in an election.

During Tinubu’s last visit to the seat of power, the duo posed for the cameras and exchanged pleasantries but is that enough to conclude that all is well between them? No matter what the situation is, one thing is clear, the race for the 2023 election has commenced in earnest and surely, there are interesting times ahead.

The Message doesn't Concern IGBO

The @op isnt even IGBO

But You must Involve IGBO in your useless submission to have an erection ...even while the "Mannequin" you voted for is actually raping you ...without apologies!!

What is fundamentally wrong with you people...cant you look Fulani in the eye and counter dem....is slavish foolishness a genetically modified strain of Afonja your useless ancestor??

Wetin dey sup sef...

Monogamy:


Had Buhari made the statement of someone can not sit here in Lagos in Abakaliki, may be we would have made some meaning with it.. Buhari was in Lagos and he made reference to Lagos without referring to Tinubu nor anyone from Lagos state.

Buhari have not been talking... Yhen Yhen Yhen

Now that he has said something, some people are still busy twisting his words...

The ESN,UGM that are hell bent in causing unrest in SE, are they not a tiny dot compared to SE population?

esnbrutality:
The Message doesn't Concern IGBO

The @op isnt even IGBO

But You must Involve IGBO in your useless submission to have an erection ...even while the "Mannequin" you voted for is actually raping you ...without apologies!!

What is fundamentally wrong with you people...cant you look Fulani in the eye and counter dem....is slavish foolishness a genetically modified strain of Afonja your useless ancestor??

Wetin dey sup sef...

Leave IGBO ALONE...5%'ers Never Voted Buhari and they will not forever...but you sophisticated Moraans voted and supported a man who is virtually RAPING your druggie saviour!!

What is erroneously wrong with you @helinus....are you sure you are mentally stable??

IGBO PEOPLE THE LIGHT OF THE SOUTH EAST ...I HAIL UNA!!

dre11:






https://dailytrust.com/analysis-is-all-really-well-between-buhari-and-tinubu


Lalasticlala

Monogamy:


This one is still haulicinating.

festacman:
At the beginning of APC, Tinubu smartly made some moves that put APC structure in key states of the federation under the control of his loyalists. For example, recall that in build up to 2015 election, one of Tinubu's political offices in Lagos was raided by DSS under Jonathan and APC membership materials were seized. So, in effect, Tinubu controlled the master membership register. Now, some interests spearheaded by Atiku Bagudu, Malami, Mai Bala Buni, Amaechi etc who are determined to challenge Tinubu for presidential ticket in APC knew that the first step to be level with Tinubu the master strategist is to scatter his pre-2015 advantage. Naturally, President Buhari bought into it.

The truth is that Tinubu is aware of this and I am sure he has developed counter strategies.

It's all politics, folks!

NaijaElba:


Trust Tinubu on this, nobody in APC and PDP can match his political strategy skill. Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how he will counter all the plans against him.