Chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, says President Muhammadu Buhari and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are engaged in a game of mutual deception over who becomes Nigeria’s next president in 2023.
Nonagenarian Adebanjo said that both Buhari and Tinubu were only scheming to use each for achieving some political gains.
He described the ruling APC as a gathering of strange bedfellows, adding that there was no ideology binding the members together as everything was all about sharing offices and power.
Although the Presidency denied any rift between Buhari and Tinubu, insinuations are rife that Thursday’s decision of the National Executive Committee of the APC to dissolve its National Working Committee was targeted at Tinubu, who is believed to be pro-Adams Oshiomhole, the sacked chairman.
Tinubu is believed to be eyeing the presidency in 2023, but there have been speculations that recent developments in the party were part of plans to truncate his ambition.
According to Adebanjo, “I have worry for him (Tinubu). He knew all these things but he relied on Buhari and worked to make him the President. I said it before publicly that Buhari is deceiving Asiwaju and Asiwaju is deceiving Buhari. Everybody is trying to use the other. Why can’t Tinubu hammer on restructuring knowing that this was what brought Buhari to office?
“I have been in this game for 70 years. So, many of those who are talking now were not born then. That is the truth – even Buhari was a toddler. He is now 74. Each time I tell you, why should Tinubu, the Vice-President (Yemi Osinbajo) and all those who were in Alliance for Democracy run to the APC? Why are they hesitating now to stand for restructuring? They can’t talk.
“All the things I am telling you now – it is not the first time. I said both Jagaban (Tinubu) and Osinbajo should get out of the APC. I said it openly. It is a disgrace and disservice to the Yorubaland. So, what is happening now shows there is nothing to bind them together.”