Before now, the only vocal, bold and audacious aspirant gunning for the Presidency under the All Progressive Congress (APC) platform was Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos state Governor and a National leader of the governing party.
Tinubu had confessed that his quest for power is a life-long ambition and he threw a jibe at those who are familiar with his role in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, saying there is nothing that stops a kingmaker from being a king.
Truly, under the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, Tinubu is ably qualified to run for the post but only one thing can stop the kingmaker from ascending to the throne — Vehement opposition!
Although political juggernauts in the opposing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been scheming to provide a worthy opponent, on whose back they will ride back to power, something noteworthy occurred in the APC last week.
Last week ended with the Presidential declaration of former Rivers State Governor and incumbent minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
“Today, I stand as an aspirant to the position of President because of that same passion for people; that same drive for results. More than ever before, I am burning with the zeal to make a decisive difference in the lives of allNigerians.
No matter the darts and arrows that come my way, I will remain steadfast because the stakes are too high. We cannot afford to fail. We cannot afford to veer off-course,” the two-term Rivers Governor blurted out to whoever cared to listen at the declaration ceremony in his home state.
Meanwhile, to many onlookers’ amazement, some top members of the ruling party in attendance include the immediate past Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole; Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase among others.
As it stands today, political analysts believe Amaechi is another high-profile Presidential aspirant after Tinubu. In fact, It is widely held that whoever will clinch the APC ticket in coming months stands a chance to succeed Buhari in 2023.
Against this backdrop, POLITICS NIGERIA dissects the strengths and weaknesses of Tinubu and Amaechi as APC primaries approaches.
Common Grounds
Based on the zoning arrangements, the party plans to cede the Presidency to the south, the region where both politicians hail from. Since Tinubu is from the Southwest and Amaechi hails from the South South, the two can make legitimate claims to the office.
This has been further been affirmed by the party’s decision to support a Chairmanship candidate from the North Central zone during its national convention held in March. Recall that Abdullahi Adamu, who was a former Nasarawa state Governor, was the preferred candidate that emerged at the convention while other aspirants stepped down in a good faith.
Also, critical checks at the public service profile of the two show that they have not only occupied public offices in the past but they have successfully maintained relevance in the political space since Nigeria’s transition into democracy in 1999.
Tinubu was a two-term Governor of Lagos State and had been instrumental in the emergence of his successors since 2007 when he left office. That summarises the reason for his “Lagos Landlord” appellation.
Amaechi, on the other hand, has been in the political arena for 23 years. He has served at every level of government – local, state, and federal.
“I have served both as a political appointee and an elected official. I have served both as an executive – as Governor of Rivers State and as a legislator – as Speaker of the State House of Assembly,” he boasted last week.
Areas of Strength and Weaknesses
Tinubu has been able to extend his tentacles beyond Lagos and by extension, made himself a force to be reckoned with in the politics of the Southwest zone. For instance, he facilitated the election of Rauf Aregbesola as the Osun State Governor and also played a critical role in the poll that brought in Gboyega Oyetola as Aregbesola’s successor in 2018.
More so, it is believed that the former Lagos Governor had invested so much in a lot of relatively young politicians who are now saddled with the responsibility of flying his kite. But in the midst of these is a revolt from members of his innermost caucus who are hell bent on working against his Presidential bid.
Although yet to make his ambition public, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is not only a former cabinet member under Tinubu’s tenure as Governor but also a close ally, is rumoured to be nursing a presidential ambition and this has pitted him against his former boss.
Another ally of the former Governor is Aregbesola, who also served in his cabinet before venturing into Osun politics. The choice of Oyetola as Aregbesola’s successor, which is the handiwork of Tinubu, has caused a rift between the godfather and godson.
POLITICS NIGERIA had reported how both Osinbajo and Aregbesola did not send Tinubu a birthday wish on social media as they did in previous years. All of these will impact Tinubu’s ambition, analysts believe, noting that politics is a game of numbers and influence.
However, Amaechi, being a minister in Buhari’s cabinet, has a leverage of incumbency. Sources have also informed this newspaper that the Transportation minister is in the good books of the President, particularly with the railway line and maritime institution that he ensured were situated in Buhari’s hometown, Daura.
This contributed to his conferment with the title of “Dan Amana,” (the trusted one) in Daura earlier this year. President Buhari in a statement described the conferment of the title as a clear commitment to the harmonious relationship between the nation’s diverse cultures.
This, analysts, say may count for Amaechi’s ambition, noting that Buhari rewards loyalty.
Meanwhile, Amaechi has a running battle for the soul of APC in Rivers. The endless feud is between Amaechi and his erstwhile political soul mate, Senator Magnus Ngie Abe.
It should also be noted that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared interest to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party.
The division in Rivers State APC and the opposition at home is believed to have a far-reaching effect on Amaechi’s ambition.
