Call it the many nights of long knives, it still may not sufficiently capture the intrigues, betrayals, sellouts and drama that typified the various meetings which ultimately culminated in the choice of a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy to the presidential standard-bearer of the party, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

With barely 24 hours to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for the submission of names of candidates by political parties, the name Osinbajo, which had been making the rounds as the alternative choice, finally got the official stamp of approval of the general to run with him on the party’s ticket.

Practically all but the last meeting convened for the choice of a running mate for Buhari had failed for one reason: the reported interest of a former governor of Lagos State and one of the national leaders of the party, Bola Tinubu, who made a poor show of concealing his desire for the job.

At each of those meetings, Tinubu, who yesterday said he turned down Buhari’s offer to be his running mate, was said to have made the emergence of a generally acceptable choice that excluded him impossible.

For Tinubu, party sources alleged that he saw his probable ascension to the vice-presidency as an opportunity to be “compensated” for his incontrovertible role in the establishment of a strong and viable APC, a move other members of the party, including the governors, had opposed on the grounds that he would be a hard sell to the Nigerian public.

To exemplify his all-consuming desire for the job, Tinubu was said to have attended one of the meetings with the South-west leaders of the party last weekend and told his audience a story of how Buhari had agreed to field him as his running mate.
According to him, all he needed was the consent of those at the meeting in writing, in order to convince the retired general that he (Tinubu) also had the support of the South-west caucus to emerge as his running mate.

Ostensibly, however, he was purported to have conjured the story following the honour accorded him by Buhari to choose the running mate and put himself forward for the position. But this, a majority of those at the meeting saw through, compelling one of governors to say if his statement was true, “Buhari has picked you,then you don’t need our signatures to get our support”.

Unfortunately for him, some of those at the meeting were uncomfortable with the fact that he wanted to get them to sign a communiqué, which he would have taken to Buhari, informing him that his people in the South-west, majority of whom are governors, had asked that he be fielded as the vice-presidential candidate. In Tinubu's estimation, the story would have been difficult to refute in order not to embarrass him nor put the party in a fix.

When it became clear to Tinubu that his people had effectively opposed his emergence as Buhari’s deputy, he reportedly broke down in tears, moaning that their stance would render him insignificant in the scheme of things if he was neither allowed the opportunity to field himself nor present a candidate of his choice.“We told him frankly: ‘Look, we love you as our oga but Nigerians don’t.' We told him we could not sell him because one, he is a Muslim and two, other issues might emerge from the woodworks that could be embarrass him and the party.“When it suddenly dawned on him that his goal was slipping from his grasp, he broke down in tears,” alleged a source, who also claimed that it was at that point everyone gave in to his demands that the post of Buhari’s running mate be zoned to the South-west and he should be allowed to pick someone else in his stead.

His despondency was further compounded after Monday’s nocturnal meeting where the parameters were clearly defined for the selection of a running mate. At this juncture, Tinubu may have thought that he had been completely schemed out and again sought the understanding of the South-west caucus of the APC to give him a soft landing by allowing him to decide who deputises for Buhari, regardless of his political baggage. With their backing, he dug deep.

[b]So while other vice-presidential hopefuls were being bandied as possible running mates, Tinubu ensured that the post of vice president never left the South-west, and made a last ditch effort to secure the position for himself.

In this regard, on Tuesday, he was said to have met with Buhari, who was at this point at his wits end with the pressure that had been brought to bear on the selection of his running mate.

Buhari, during the meeting, was said to have told Tunubu in clear terms that he would neither run with him nor accept a Muslim-Muslim pairing, adding that if he pushed it too hard, he (Buhari) might be compelled to stand down even as the party’s candidate.When Tinubu tried to make Buhari see things his way, a shouting match ensued, compelling the general to walk out on Tinubu so that the situation would not degenerate. It was against this backdrop that the former Lagos governor allegedly rushed back to his people to push for the emergence of Osinbajo.Seeing that Buhari was unyielding, Tinubu and the South-west caucus was left with no option than to unanimously back Osinbajo as the alternative option who was presented to Buhariand subsequently approved by him in order to meet today’s deadline for the submission of candidates’ names.[/b]

To political observers, Tinubu, with his overt desire, covert antics and brinksmanship, may have secured a diminished victory. But of greater significance, he has had a taste of what it means to manage and square up against the contending interests and forces at play in a truly large national party.In the days of yore, he could dictate the pace and rhythm of his more malleable, regional Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). With APC, he was shown that he can no longer pull the strings like a puppet master behind the scenes as he deems fit.With Osinbajo’s selection for the number two slot, it remains to be seen if Tinubu’s latest gamble will do his party and Buhari’s chances in the contest against the Jonathan/Sambo ticket any good. In the final analysis, the answer to this lies with the Nigerian electorate.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/-Osinbajo-s-emergence-the-drama-the-intrigues/197056/

Interesting read

If Tinubu in his anger stays true to type and sells out Buhari again

Dem dey use una play politricks and una dey fall for their game plan:::: Naija don dey form mungun since 1902

TheImp:
If Tinubu in his anger stays true to type and sells out Buhari again

He got Osinbajo so he might not be inclined to do so

SenseiX:

He got Osinbajo so he might not be inclined to do so

I guess you are right

muslim muslim pairing lolz.
tinubu seems to be selfish while buhari seems to be smart.

If Buhari doesn't see Tinubu as a good market,I wonder how the APC folks in the south-west can't see same.

Tinubu is not a happy man. He would have become candidate if not for Amaechi and his crew.

Tinubu is a very wise man who understands politics. What he has done by presenting Osibanjo(an literally unknown person with zero political clout), is to position himself for a sellout to GEJ in order to safeguard Lagos as well as prepare for 2019 where his chances would be much higher as there would be no incumbent to deal with.

BUHARI will always stand for what he believes is right. No compromise against the truth.

Poor Tinubu!
I wish he had clinched the VP ticket as a reward for all his efforts.

He'd have been a thorn in Buhari's flesh. Also, he would have enjoyed immunity from a possible Buhari probe.
Buhari sensed this and quickly made a u-turn on having him.

Now the stage is set for a sellout. I doubt he'll be successful this time.

PapaBrowne:
Tinubu is not a happy man. He would have become candidate if not for Amaechi and his crew.
Tinubu is a wise man who understands politics. What he has done by presenting Osibanjo(an unknown person with zero political clout), is to position himself for a sellout to GEJ in order to safeguard Lagos as well as prepare for 2019 where his chances would be much higher as there would be no incumbent to deal with.

Bros, I kept wondering what will make APC present Osibanjo with zero political clout is to sell APC out to PDP.
Tinubu doing his thing since 1914.
Kaka ki eku ma je sese a ooo fi se awada nu nii.

Hehehehehehe...laughing in swahili. There's no smoke without fire. I smell conspiracy in all these intrigues.

So can we now move past the "Buhari is going to be someone's puppet" talking point?

He cried. Imagine how those eyes would have looked.

The backroom calculations of Nigerian politics. There are never winners, you must learn to give and take.

Nice news

If it truly happened the way the narrative went, then i'm glad. very happy that Buhari once again showed he's a man who stands by his beliefs even at the risk of hurting his friends. How can Tinubu be thinking of such?

very good for APC

Tinubu I know is a professional chess master who knows that every move on a political chess board counts

Time to sellout as usual and reposition his puppet for 2019

Cogito ergo sum


Wisdom is a function of Humility and indeed the Principle thing

When it became clear to Tinubu that his people had effectively opposed his emergence as Buhari’s deputy, he reportedly broke down in tears, moaning that their stance would render him insignificant in the scheme of things if he was neither allowed the opportunity to field himself nor present a candidate of his choice.

I must confess I laughed so hard when I saw this.
Damn this post made my day

I knew it from the tone of his press release ystaday, he was definitely bittered.. Buhari has again proved that he's not a pushover..
The Voice of the people is the voice of God.. Let Tinubu sell out if he wants to...

This just proove Buhari can't win. Tinubu is probably at Aso rock now making deals with PDP. He did the same thing with another anti corruption crusader Ribadu. Am beginning to see 2011 all over again.
And to make it very 2011, GMB picked a pastor, fellow countrymen, 2015 is going to be 2011 part2.

Descartes:
Tinubu I know is a professional chess master who knows that every move on a political chess board counts

Time to sellout as usual and reposition his puppet for 2019

He might b a professional chess master but i must tell u that APC has grown more than he ever Envisaged, its not a lagos thing where he decide who and who be the governor or chairmen in his bedroom...
Change is all we want

alakara:


Bros, I kept wondering what will make APC present Osibanjo with zero political clout is to sell APC out to PDP.
Tinubu doing his thing since 1914.
Kaka ki eku ma je sese a ooo fi se awada nu nii.

What clout does Sambo have even in Kaduna state? What clout does Amaechi have beyond Rivers? Not to talk of the deficit he will bring to the ticket as a result of the political damage awaiting him from PDP when he is announced as VP. What Buhari has done is create the balance he needs to be able to win come 2015.

VirginFinder:
Poor Tinubu!
I wish he had clinched the VP ticket as a reward for all his efforts.

He'd have been a thorn in Buhari's flesh. Also, he would have enjoyed immunity from a possible Buhari probe.
Buhari sensed this and quickly made a u-turn on having him.

Now the stage is set for a sellout. I doubt he'll be successful this time.

It's easy to see. What happened in 2011 will repeat itself in 2015. Now that he lost out the vice presidential position, his next plan of action will be focused on retaining his influence in SW. Tinubu will never like the idea of losing more SW states to PDP especially Lagos State, which by the way is becoming very likely in view of the myriads of problems rocking APC in some select states.

Nairaland, there is God O! All this lie that you are sharing about your server being overwhelmed and not allowing to post topics. Meanwhile, you are opening your server to others. Continue!

olatunji21:

He might b a professional chess master but i must tell u that APC has grown more than he ever Envisaged, its not a lagos thing where he decide who and who be the governor or chairmen in his bedroom...
Change is all we want

Do you know Tinubu has the largest political structures in the present day Nigeria especially in the Southwest region?

He knows Buhari and his antecedents right from the Military era. And Buhari might attempt to tame him if he eventually climbs the Aso Rock stool.

Let's see how it goes cos this game is meant for the political wizards who are certified propagandists, blackmailers, backstabbers, grassroot mobilizers and lobbyists which Buhari and GEJ lack.

Cogito ergo sum


Wisdom is a function of Humility and indeed the Principle thing

Descartes:


Do you know Tinubu has the largest political structures in the present day Nigeria especially in the Southwest region?

He knows Buhari and his antecedents right from the Military era. And Buhari might attempt to tame him if he eventually climbs the Aso Rock stool.

Let's see how it goes cos this game is meant for the political wizards who are certified propagandists, blackmailers, backstabbers, grassroot mobilizers and lobbyists which Buhari and GEJ lack.

Cogito ergo sum


Wisdom is a function of Humility and indeed the Principle thing

Tinubu's influence have been extremely reduced with the surge in Buhari's popularity..He has little or no power to decide where the pendulum swings this time around.. It's not a lagos governorship election where he decides who and whogoes to this or that post...
N.B
it was glaring that GEJ was going to win the 2011 election, pple voted for him base on Pity and with an absolute trust in him, it was not because of Tinubu's sellout.. That i believe...

olatunji21:

Tinubu's influence have been extremely reduced with the surge in Buhari's popularity..He has little or no power to decide where the pendulum swings this time around.. It's not a lagos governorship election where he decides who and who goes to this or that post...
N.B
it was glaring that GEJ was going to win the 2011 election, pple voted for him base on Pity and with an absolute trust in him, it was not because of Tinubu's sellout.. That i believe...

Are you kidding me?

Descartes:


Are you kidding me?

Definitely not.. Now lets look this on a state by state basis.. (South West only)
OSun state voted for Ribadu irrespective of Tinubu's directive for all agent to back down in 2011..Am most certain Buhari would also nick it this time around. No Tinubu Factor
Oyo state, the Governor is still battling for his Soul here, i school in I.B, the body language of the people over here is surely in favour of Buhari..and also the incumbent has little say on this, he himself is not safe yet... No Tinubu Factor
Lagos state, surely here Tinubu call the shot but i stil believe that irrespective of Tinubu's Sellout, the general should be able to get a respectable amount of vote..Possible Tinubu Factor
Ondo State-Here Mimiko has successfully brandish tinubu as An "Ajele" who wants to impose his stooge on the state because of their oil.. No Tinubu Factor here too
Ekiti-I believe the people of Ekiti voted fayose not because fayemi has not done well but because he refused to share the money.They wanted a Man of the people which sadly Tinubu does not represent.

Osinbajo choice as a VP is another political masterstroke coming from APC. I don't know why I'm so comfortable with it.