Opinion

Tinubu Presidency: Why It is in the Hands of the Yorubas

Published

4 years ago

October 17, 2022

By
Yakubu Ahmed-BK

It is becoming clear by the day, that the 2023 elections, as far as the presidential contest is concerned, is a two horse race. The fight for the coveted office, is, largely between Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Both Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are fringe players whose chances are, in reality, non existent.

Of course, the bulk of the votes, to make or mar any of the two leading contestants is, going by the experiences of the past, domiciled in the North. For either Tinubu or Atiku to become president, how any of them fares in the North becomes critical in the long run.

I give it to Tinubu to coast to victory owing to a number of factors. Atiku is a perennial loser; a desperate one at that. His desperation can be gleaned from his penchant to jump ship each time the result of his many misadventures become evident to him. Yes, Buhari too had tried his hands in the presidency on a number of occasions without success, until in 2015, when, he learnt, the hard way and at the 11th hour, that he alone, and despite his cult-like followership in the North, couldn’t just nick it. The inescapable reality of the Nigerian electoral situation is that no region on its own strength, can make anyone president by fiat. The history of the alliances in the 60’s up to the very last one, had proved those realities. And this reality, is even more evident and instructive now.

One good point in the case of both Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima is that none of them has ever lost any election they have entered into in their respective illustrious political careers, even when the two never held office at the same time. They have been progressive politicians all their life and, despite the differences in time when they both held offices of governors, cultural differences between their states and the nature of the challenges they faced, they shared in the manner they had individually developed their respective states amidst daunting challenges, as well as resource constraints that arose out of man made hiccups and competing demands.
It is still instructive to speak about the achievements of the two men, in relation to what Atiku Abubakar has achieved in terms of provision of infrastructure, mentorship of people who had remained critical to the evolution of tested class of leaders, bridge building capacity across the nation and being there for the people at times of their needs.

Tinubu has been able to build time-tested bridges across the country and the role he played in the emergence of Buhari and the APC in 2015 and the re-election in 2019 was a watershed in political calculations and winning strategy. Tinubu has played his part to the North. Whatever judgement is passed on the Buhari administration holds no water at all in how the capacity of Tinubu is judged. Buhari was prodded all the years back and will ultimately be judged collectively by most Nigerians who, rightly or wrongly believed in his capabilities and his records of service. His track records as a no nonsense, incorruptible and unsmiling general were brought to the fore as evident of his suitability for the job. Tinubu too, combined the cult-followership of Buhari in the North and the block voting pattern in the South West to wrestle power out of the hands of a People’s Democratic Party which has messed up big time and had placed the nation on the path of ruin.

The question is: is Tinubu capable? Does he have a capable running mate in Kashim Shettima? The capacity of Tinubu and Shettima, based on their track records were never in doubt at all. They provide the nation a window to get it right now.

And the North knew that it is indeed a pay back time. In any case, it is in the interest of the North to play by the rules of the game, that is to allow the South to take its own shot in 2023 because, for the country to maintain and sustain this integral unifying anchor, nothing should be done to interrupt this chain, not even for the North to become overtly insensitive to the threat to national integration which billowed out of that feeling of marginalization which nearly tore the fabrics of our survival as a nation with our kind of diversity.

Atiku Abubakar was reckless, dangerously insensitive and selfish. He contested and elbowed his way to the PDP presidential ticket against the grains of his party’s constitution which recognized the need to respect power shift between the North and the South every eight years. Because he had the financial war chest and is consumed by a dangerous and desperate personal ambition to become President, he bought his way through to the ticket.

The good thing about it is that the North will play its part to keep the flag of integration and inclusiveness flying by voting for the APC ticket. But we must recognize the fact that the North has two presidential candidates in Atiku and Kwankwaso and the reality is that the votes in the North win be skewed in that order. Tinubu, Atiku and Kwankwaso would each get their mouthfuls, with Tinubu chewing the chunk. I see Tinubu getting the upper hand even if what he fill his mouth with will not be big enough to say he will be home and dry. This is the juncture where the votes from the South West should come in, in torrents to separate the men from the boys. The South East is likely going Obi’s way, largely, and the South South will be the battle ground to consolidate on the constitutional demand for parity.

The Yorubas should vote like they have never done before. They
must come out in their numbers to vote and to become the swing states to sway victory to Tinubu’s side. The same role Kano, Borno and Katsina have played in producing the votes to shut the mouths of Atiku and his ilk and swayed victory Buhari way, will be the same critical role voters in the South West should play in 2023 to shut the mouths of the bigots who have arrayed against the nation and whose only desire is to corner power again, not because they have anything to offer, but because their marabouts have looked into a crystal ball and have thus given the office to them.

The Muslim/Muslim ticket brouhaha is just a smokescreen deployed by the slavetakers to steal their way to power to finish the anti-Nigeria agenda which they spent 16 years unfolding, but which Nigerians put a stop to in 2015.

Opinion

OF GOVERNANCE AND THE ZULUMFICATION OF GOVERNANCE IN BORNO: RANDOM MUSSINGS ON GOV. ZULUM’S 3RD YEAR 2ND STANZA.

Published

2 months ago

May 30, 2026

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By: Inuwa Bwala. inuwabwala3@gmail.com

By the time I put down my pen, the media space would have been awash with narratives about the achievements of Mr President and governors, as a mark of celeberation of their third year in office.
I will not bother chronicling what will be told of their achievements, rather I want to look into the curious magic wand that made my own governor to stand differently tall.
One will not find the definition of title coinage for this piece in any conventional English lexicon, but no Nigerian will claim ignorance of what it signifies in our present governance discourse.
Many words have today been personified after certain people, who popularize an idiosyncritic mannerism.
And so, in Borno’s 15-year war against insurgency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum seem to have chosen an unconventional playbook: governance style, reminisceint of an emergency doctor, not a distant administrator, which led to above coinage.
Three idiosyncrasies define his second term in particular, and the gains are showing on the ground to the effect that, these idiosyncracies gave rise to the coinage: Zulumfication.

Zulum’s trademark has been his unannounced visits; 2am checks on General Hospitals, surprise trips to IDP camps in Monguno, Baga, Damboa and others. Sudden stops on bad roads in Gwoza and unsheduled night overs in dangerous localities, as his routine.
He inspects projects with torchlight and asks hard questions: sometimes sacking absentee staff on the spot.
And the gains have added speed and discipline to government Contracts and civil servants.
They promptly deliver, knowing Zulum could appear any day any time.
This obviously explains how, 238 projects got completed in year one of his second term and 1,195 projects in five years. That urgency earned Governor Babagana Umara Zulum the Nigeria Union of Journalist’s Good Governance Award on Education in 2023.
And while Borno spent about N100bn on security in 2025, Zulum kept prioritizing people, with N727m going to 28,801 tertiary students. N1.5bn covered nursing students’ fees, besides the cash support reacheming 343,293 women.
His logic, has been that, “Education is the real antidote for insurgency. The payoff is human recovery.
Records indicate that, over 1,000 teachers were recruited, 150+ schools rebuilt, and the 104 Mega School Initiative launched. And so, when President Tinubu commissioned three mega schools in Maiduguri in 2026, he called them “tangible evidence of effective governance.” Kids who once hawked on Maiduguri streets are back in class because opportunity replaced despair.

Again, Zulum is known to have zero tolerance for waste. He has queried commissioners live on TV, sacked ghost workers, and confronted contractors who abandoned sites. It nay be uncomfortable in politics, but it works. Borno scored 89.7/100 on the 2025 Governance Accountability & Transparency Index, up from 86.3 in 2024, ranking among Nigeria’s top 10. Ministries now expect scrutiny, and leakages have shrunk.

Zulum blends this with reconstruction plus reconciliation. While 20,000+ resettlement homes house over 1 million returned IDPs, his “Borno Model” has convinced 200,000+ fighters and families to surrender and got reintegrated. Markets in Bama, Dikwa and Gwoza are reopening. Roads are being rebuilt, though insecurity still stalls some projects in southern Borno.

He remains low-profiled but with very high-output, avoiding political noise and letting the work speak. The Muslim News Nigeria honored him with its 2025 Transformational Leadership Award for “courage, accountability, compassion.”

Perfection is not claimed. Pockets of violence persist, and security costs strain finances, but Zulum’s style proves a point
In a crisis situation, presence builds trust, empathy rebuilds people, and accountability restores institutions. Borno is moving from “state of emergency” to “state of reconstruction” — one unannounced visit produces uncommon results.
Thiese in my opinion are amingst the exceptional things governor Babagana Umara has done, which have given rise to his national acclaim as an outstanding performer.

Opinion

Aondoakaa, a Leader Who Opens Doors: My Personal Story of Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN

Published

2 months ago

May 22, 2026

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By Iorwuese Tyopev, PhD

Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, is, in my experience, a transformational leader, and I can personally testify to this from years of direct engagement with him.

Although I initially knew him only casually as an elder brother from Ushongo, our relationship deepened when I approached him to patronise the business I managed as a hotel manager in Abuja. From that point, Siman Suites in Garki became his preferred accommodation whenever he was in the Federal Capital Territory.

Each time he was travelling to Abuja, his usual call would come: “Tyopev, my brother, please keep a room for me, I’m on my way.”

A defining moment in 2006

One of the most memorable moments in our relationship came in 2006 when he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). For his swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court, he booked almost the entire hotel for family, friends, and well-wishers who travelled from far and near to celebrate with him.

Beyond the business value, his consistent patronage strengthened my professional standing at the time and positively influenced my performance evaluation at work.

Continued relationship in public service

Our relationship continued after his appointment as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in July 2007 under the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Coincidentally, around the same period, my late boss, Senator J.I. Akaagerger, was elected into office and invited me to serve as his Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly. Chief Aondoakaa also expressed interest in bringing me into the Ministry of Justice as an aide. Although I chose to remain with my principal at the National Assembly, he respected my decision and maintained a cordial, brotherly relationship with me.

Prison decongestion intervention

Shortly after assuming office as Minister, he launched a prison decongestion initiative. In September 2007, I submitted an application requesting allocation of prison decongestion cases. He immediately asked whether I had legal representation, and upon confirmation, he promptly assigned several cases to me.

That support continued throughout his tenure until 2010.

Career support and mentorship

By mid-2008, I expressed dissatisfaction with my role at the National Assembly. He advised patience and assured me of better opportunities.

True to his word, in January 2009, he informed me of an opportunity with Dr Paul Orhii, then Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who agreed to engage me as Special Assistant.

Although I resumed duty, I was later informed—within 30 days—that my services were no longer required due to a change in preference. Chief Aondoakaa was abroad at the time, but upon his return, he reassured me, saying: “Don’t worry, another opportunity will come.”

New opportunity at NAPTIP

Shortly after, I was invited to his residence in Apo, where I met Barr. Simon Chuzi Egede, MON, who had just been appointed Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

There, I was informed that I would serve as Special Assistant to the new Executive Secretary.

In a remarkable turn of events, I received my appointment letter the next day as Special Assistant at Grade Level 16 Step 5, along with an official vehicle and chauffeur. I was also integrated into top management committees and exposed to both national and international engagements.

End of an era and lasting gratitude

Following the death of President Yar’Adua in 2010 and subsequent political changes, Chief Aondoakaa left office as Minister, which also affected my position at NAPTIP due to its political nature.

Looking back, I remain deeply grateful to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, for his loyalty, mentorship, and willingness to uplift others.

Some leaders inspire with words; others transform lives through action. Chief Aondoakaa, in my experience, belongs firmly to the latter category.

NB: This is Part 1 of a series of reflections on my personal experience with MKA, highlighting his mentorship and support to those around him, shared in anticipation of his birthday on June 12.

Opinion

Odua People’s Assembly defends NSA Ribadu, criticizes Ishola Williams’ call for removal

Published

4 months ago

March 18, 2026

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The Odua People’s Assembly (OPA) has come out in defense of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, condemning recent remarks by retired Nigerian Army General Ishola Williams calling for Ribadu’s removal.

In a statement issued by OPA Chairman Richard Olatunji Kayode, the group described Williams’ comments, made during a Channels Television interview on March 15, 2026, as “irresponsible and counterproductive,” arguing that they lacked factual basis and risked undermining efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

“His assertions lack factual support and are driven more by emotional manipulation than by evidence-based reasoning,” Kayode said. “Such rhetoric contributes to a culture of ‘permanent pessimism’ that undermines the morale of our security forces and the integrity of our national institutions.”

Kayode emphasized that irresponsible criticism, unlike constructive feedback, damages reputations, fosters mistrust, and distracts from meaningful solutions.

He urged that public discourse focus on actionable measures rather than unsubstantiated accusations.

The OPA highlighted Ribadu’s proactive initiatives, including the National Forest Guard programme, as well as his record as former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he gained recognition for anti-corruption efforts.

“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ribadu has been recognized for his effectiveness in combating banditry and terrorism. His ability to coordinate security forces and solve criminal cases demonstrates his competence and dedication to public safety,” Kayode said.

The group called on influential Nigerians to engage in responsible and constructive dialogue on national security issues, urging Williams to reconsider his position and contribute to solutions rather than criticism.

“Our collective responsibility is to foster an environment of trust, collaboration, and constructive criticism, ensuring that our security forces are equipped and supported to protect our great nation,” Kayode concluded.