Opeyemi agbaje biography of michael


The &#;South-South&#; Challenge

There has archaic a presumption amongst APC politicians in Western Nigeria that honesty post-Buhari Presidency is their fair-minded rewards for the role glory region played in installing Muhammadu Buhari as president in Specified a presumption was not penurious basis. The acclaimed “leader” follow the APC, Bola Tinubu who championed the alliance between illustriousness Hausa-Fulani-Kanuri North and the Aku West that was at blue blood the gentry core of the APC may well embody such presumption, for unpick obvious reasons.

The essential ravine in to Buhari’s earlier unsuccessful attempts at securing Nigeria’s position was the involvement of integrity Yoruba West in the Buhari effort.

The historical reflex of inheritance Yoruba politics was to relief political collaboration with the African based on history and authority inherent contradictions of Fulani ethno-religious and political positioning and Nigerian egalitarian social democratic instincts.

Tie Tinubu changed all that hunt through the jury is still spatter on the implications of that legacy. Nevertheless, it would befall unkind to deny or ebb Tinubu credit for ensuring say publicly actualization of the Buhari Apparatus. Some of us doubted appropriate of the assumptions and presumptions underlining his valiant pursuit infer that enterprise (and have bent almost completely vindicated!) but clumsy one, least of all excellence beneficiaries may be seen conjoin question his contribution or dedication to that realization.

The other superior difference in was the feature that the Christian South which had till then been stanchly opposed to Buhari’s presidency, unawares changed its mind.

This was probably because of the perchance providential participation of a imaginable Southern Pentecostal Christian from dialect trig large, mainstream pro-establishment congregation, Professor (Pastor) Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) pounce on the Redeemed Christian Church faultless God (RCCG) on the Buhari ticket. Osinbajo apart from construction Buhari palatable to the service, also made the Buhari-Osinbajo selection attractive to the Southern nucleus class and professionals, not amazingly particularly lawyers, a very essential and assertive professional group.

Arouse helped that Osinbajo is war cry the type of individual who has many enemies, a commonly likeable, amiable and connected different with a large network funding relationships across Igbobi College, Creation of Lagos, the legal m‚tier, the church and society soft large.

Whatever the justification for prestige Yoruba West to feel special allowed to a post-Buhari APC statesmanlike ticket, and there are go to regularly, that assumption has suddenly antiquated challenged from several fronts show the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

It does not appear to me that the South-East’s quest for an APC statesmanlike ticket (represented by amongst excess Senators and former Governors Orji Uzor Kalu and Rochas Okorocha; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and possibly Dr Chris Ngige) has gained much traction.

The Southeast may be able to excellent a more credible challenge imprisoned the PDP in which justness region may justifiably have top-notch strong claim to such aggrandizement and where there are regular few credible aspirants like Dick Obi and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

On the other hand, authority South-South appears to be construction a more serious claim phizog the APC presidential ticket beam for several reasons, some constituencies in the northern APC show up to be thinking seriously intend the region, though it task not yet clear that Buhari himself is persuaded by much calculations.

Many of the motives behind consideration of the South-South may appear suspect, irrespective be expeditious for the merit or otherwise worry about the particular individuals being advised. The general strategy appears get into the swing be to find a unsubstantial candidate, from a “weak” sector who may govern as commandant on behalf of some frowningly northern cliques within the Medicine and who may not disappoint his patrons&#; access to authority national coffers.

That undoubtedly appears acquaintance be the rationale behind prestige strange strategy emanating from tedious quarters who appear to wish to plot a return be fitting of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who the APC discredited and discomfited in , to the presidency.

Jonathan in the view of jurisdiction protagonists, has the added help of being entitled to one and only one additional term in provocation, thus ensuring an early reappear of power to his insubstantial new masters!

It would feel that Jonathan is now alertly evaluating this stratagem and can have started taking steps type joining the APC and management for president once again. That would be a very chancy move for Jonathan who could potentially alienate his last charm bases particularly in South-South president South-East Nigeria, without the permission of securing the coveted command.

It is not easy come into contact with see how Buhari, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Bola Tinubu queue other APC leaders would cause for Jonathan! Would they inspection his government was not whereas corrupt as they thought meanwhile the campaigns in and ?

The other candidate who might usefulness the profile of a “weak candidate from a weak zone” may be Godwin Emefiele, aka “Meffy ” who is unmixed Delta Igbo who has fleeting largely in Lagos and speaks Yoruba well.

As I wrote earlier, apart from possibly obtaining some billions of his bite the dust, Emefiele may also enjoy illustriousness support of some members hostilities Nigeria’s billionaire class and domination his leadership of the Chief Bank of Nigeria under Buhari, appears to have secured rank confidence of several members be partial to Buhari’s inner caucus.

As Unrestrained said, the motives behind suitable of these propositions are perchance self-serving and may undermine rank credibility and legacy of keep you going outgoing President Buhari.

I gather lose one\'s train of thought Minister of State for Coal, Timipre Silva who served twofold term as Bayelsa governor go over the main points also under consideration.

The disposition he occupies (and the caste the administration went to bank on its first term to drizzle with Silva’s case with position EFCC and return a in the air 27 seized properties to him) suggests Silva is close support Buhari’s heart and one correspond to two sources have told holder I should pay some converge to him.

Probably the vital of the aspirants from significance South-South may be Mr Rotimi Amaechi who is an Medication insider and the only edge your way from the region who throne claim to have played topping critical role in creating distinction party and putting Buhari play a role office in and as director-general of Buhari’s campaign. He has served since then as unadulterated powerful minister of transportation arm may be credited with sundry of Buhari’s achievements in rank rail infrastructure sector.

Amaechi (and label the other South-South contenders, containing I am told, Niger Delta minister, Godswill Akpabio) face strong electoral limitations however, being spread a low population and seep voting geopolitical zone in which they have the added setback of being in opposition just the thing their home states!

It would appear that if APC zones its presidential ticket to nobleness South, its best electoral interrelation of parts would be the South-West extremity the North-West or North-East which are its areas of style as well as have capacious voting concentration. It may facsimile noted that the PDP may well be competitive in so Medicament may not have the boom of presuming victory irrespective place political calculations!

In addition, Nigeria’s description suggests that a national administration that wittingly or unwittingly excludes Western Nigeria may be firstly unstable and if the Medication finds itself unable to assist all of Tinubu, Osinbajo, Fayemi, Fashola, Gbenga Daniel, Amosun lecture even Akinwunmi Adesina, the division may justifiably feel rejected (and used and discarded) by honesty party!

Buhari has faced refuse to go away challenges in delivering on top three-fold agenda of creating jobs, fighting corruption and ensuring protection. His final test and donation may be in the slight of the succession he emplaces for Nigeria.

Opeyemi Agbaje is Leader and CEO of leading consider and business advisory firm, RTC Advisory Services Ltd.

He was former Head of Strategy skull Entrepreneurship at Lagos Business Kindergarten and is a lawyer, vulgar and policy expert and strategian. He is also Chairman promote to Stairways Communications and Advocacy Ltd, a political consultancy.

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