The political clock of Nigeria has gone full cycle, the time to elect new set of leaders has come and the political landscape is agog with electioneering activities.

 

Many political actors have thrown their hats in the ring and the task of wooing the electorate with mouth watering promises has started in earnest.

 

Given the pluralistic nature of our political construct, political actors at different levels will begin to appeal to primordial interests and sentiments that they feel could give them an edge over other contenders and win them the electoral victory.

 

Over the years many have won and lost elections, not on the basis of capacity, strength of character or competence, but simply because they either belong to a particular ethnic stock or to a religion.

 

This appeal to primordial sentiments has done so much harm to the psyche and fortune of Nigeria as a nation. By virtue of this practice, our best hands are left to waste away, while pretenders to the thrones are crowned as kings.

 

I was ruminating over the myriads of problems that has held Nigeria down by the jugular, from achieving greatness or fulfilling it’s rightful prime of place as the leader of the black race and the giant of Africa.

 

I began to wonder and ponder why our people could be so gullible to be falling into the same trap over and over again?

 

I began to ask myself, why do our people continue to do something the same way, but expecting a different result or outcome? Why do they continue to trust those who will turn around to betray that trust?

Every four years, some sets of people will come to you, telling you that they are the poster face of your religion or ethnic group, get your votes, gets into office and it’s bye bye until another four years.

 

When will Nigerian voters get wise to know and eternalise the fact that competence and capacity should never be sacrificed at the altar of tongue, tribe or religion.

 

We are gradually coming to the end of a political term and our politicians are back in the game in which they are masters.

 

The politicians are here appealing and canvassing for our votes as usual, it is left for us as voters not to fall for the gambit trap that the contenders are wont to set for us.

 

This is the time for us as voters, to ask the right questions. When candidates come before you, ask pertinent questions like what makes them believe they should be our best representatives in government for the next four years? How well have they defended the interests of we, the electorates? What projects have they executed since they were sworn into power?

What have they done with the last mandate they were given?

 

We as people should be concerned with substance and not mere optics. We should be bothered with fundamentals rather than tokenism and unnecessary theatrics.

 

We are duty bound to dig into the past of candidates and look into their antecedents for us to be able to know, wether they have delivered to the people in the past or not. To see wether they have been consistent or trying to give we the people a Greek gift.

 

It is from this lens, that I as a Yoruba man that is very proud of his heritage, will like to look at candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s quest to become the President of Nigeria.

 

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been telling everyone that cares to listen that he is a Yoruba leader of note and that at every opportunity, he has been fighting for and defending the interests of the Yoruba race.

 

Many of his followers and admirers will be quick to regale us with tales of how he is the architect of modern Lagos, whatever that means. They will be quick to tell you that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the best thing to have happened to Lagos and that he has the knack for discovering talents in people and developing them.

 

While all these assertions will be good subjects for discourse another day, the focus of this article is how well has Bola Ahmed Tinubu defended and protected the interests of Yorubas on the political turf? How well has he identified with the aspirations of his people.

 

A Yoruba aphorism says: eni to ba ma daso funi, t’orun e la ko wo. This means, if someone is promising to cloth you, you must first check out how well that same person is able to cloth himself . So charity must always begin from home. So, how well has Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood as a defender of the interests of his Yoruba people? How vociferous has he been on important issues that affect Yorubas within the political space called Nigeria?

 

When Ile-Ife, which is the cradle of all Yorubas, was invaded by herdsmen and there were violent clashes with the local farmers, the man who dons the title of Asiwaju was no where to be found. The powers that be even exhibited raw power by arresting and moving those poor Yoruba farmers to detention facilities in Abuja, yet, mum was the word from Tinubu.

 

These same violent clashes between indigenous farmers and rampaging herdsmen,
were replicated across different parts of Yoruba land. Many Yoruba farmers and their families not only lost their means of livelihood, they equally lost husbands, wives, and children, that were precious to them. The man Bola Ahmed Tinubu was nowhere to be found, to either defend his people or speak up by condemning those acts.

 

With his enormous influence over whoever occupies the position of Governor in Lagos, one will expect that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will prevail upon HE Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos, to be at the forefront of birthing Amotekun. Amotekun’s birth was a bold response by other Yoruba leaders and Governors to secure Yoruba land, when the Buhari’s government failed in its primary responsibility of securing the people. Till date, Amotekun is functioning in all Yoruba States, with Lagos state as the only exception.

 

When Chief Olu Falae, a frontline Yoruba leader was abducted back then, in his farm by some marauders, Bola Ahmed Tinubu never rose to be counted amongst those who spoke against this ignoble act.

 

Pa Fasoranti’s daughter was ambushed and killed on her way to Ondo town and there were hues and cries that the killers should be fished out to pay for this heinous crime. Accusing fingers were pointed towards a murderous Fulani gang. Rather than condemn the act and add his voice to those seeking justice, Tinubu was quick to rise to the defence of Buhari and his incompetent government by asking “where are the cows, if you say she was killed by herdsmen?”

 

Even in Tinubu’s backyard in Ketu Lagos, when the Hausa yams and onions sellers went on rampage, killing and maiming their Yoruba landlords, Asiwaju turned a blind eye and behaved as if nothing happened.

 

With these facts and more that are not mentioned because of restriction of space, it is evident that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never been seen to advance the interests of the Yorubas.

 

He was always quick to defend this clueless and rudderless government at every turn and opportunity. It is understandable, since he brought the government, he is under pressure to defend the indefensible. The government that he midwifed has brought pains, tears and blood in place of better life and hope that they promised the people.

 

So, when Bola Tinubu is talking, he should talk for himself and not even go close to saying that he is fighting for or defending the interests of the Yorubas.

 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown himself to be a good student and follower of the Machiavellian philosophy. To him, anything, everything and anyone is expendable provided his own objectives and ambition is met or on course.

 

Yorubas are cosmopolitan, educated, and politically sophisticated to dissect issues and take quality decisions. I am very sure, they will do the needful when it’s time to choose those who will best defend and advance their interests.

 

Another Yoruba aphorism says, “a kii gbin alubosa, ka he efo. Oun a ba gbin ni o hu bo’dola” this simply means whatsoever you sow today, is what you will reap tomorrow. What goes around, comes around is what believers of karma espouse. There’s always a day of reckoning for every action and inaction of man.

 

🔘 Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa