Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, a chieftain of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, former Commissioner for Education in the defunct Western Region, a foremost lawyer has said the embattled national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be the face of Yoruba nation due to some grievous political mistake he has made in the past
Pa Olanihun who died on Friday, but 48 hours to his death revealed to Nigerian Tribune in a no hold barred interview why Tinubu cannot be the face of Yoruba Nation, among other burning issues of national interest
"I don’t see him as such. It’s a bit intricate, in the sense that if Tinubu had behaved in the way expected by Yoruba people, the politics of Nigeria wouldn’t be as it is now."
"What I mean is this. Alliance for Democracy (AD) came in and through the party, Tinubu became governor. However, when he was well seated comfortably as governor, he rubbished the leaders of the party and in any case, brought the AD into problem, until the party more or less, collapsed. Then, he was looking for alliances from various parties until they formed the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). From that, they jumped to APC."
"Tinubu was, more or less, promoting self-interest as opposed to the interest of the Yoruba people. If he had been consistent in promoting the interest of the Yoruba people, what is happening to him today would not happen because AD would have become a very formidable, strong political party. Of course, he was not alone. With the other governors elected in 1999, they all connived and brought AD to an end. So, that is it."
"But Tinubu could not say that he was not warned about allying with the Fulani. He was warned. Those who were, at that time, sounding notes of warning about Fulani coming into power."
On the perceived poor treatment meted on Tinubu in the APC, Pa Olahun said:
'Really and truly, Tinubu should not be rubbished because he, Buhari and others worked for the success of APC. So, for him to be sidelined and ignored in the affairs of government and administration is unfair."
"What ought to be done is that Tinubu should be treated decently because he was more or less the champion of the politicians who brought Buhari to power. He shouldn’t be ignored or maltreated or rubbished. That is not to say Tinubu is a holy man. He has his own weaknesses, no doubt about that. At the same time, he has worked for the party and should benefit from what goes on in the party. But for him to be neglected or relegated to the background, I think it is improper."
Excerpts From Nigerian Tribune
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