Rochas Okorocha |
Tinubu’s
political career began subtly in the days of the National Democratic Coalition
(NADECO), and by the time democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999, he became a
top member of the then Alliance for Democracy from where he became the governor
of Lagos State and ruled from 1999 to 2007.
In
the days of ACN, no one could become governorship candidate, senatorial
candidate or a candidate of the Federal House of Reps, senate or get to a leadership
position in the party without Tinubu’s endorsement and he became a godfather to
several politicians and a National Leader of the party even, when APC was
formed.
But,
it seems the powers wielded by Asiwaju Tinubu have been eroded as he is being
challenged by some members of the party, especially APC Governors, who have
been financing the party after its formation.
Sources
informed us that the man they usually call Jagaban Borgu got the shock of his
life recently, when leaders of the party were meeting to decide on their
forthcoming convention.
According
to what we heard, while Asiwaju Tinubu was planning to impose his men on the
party to handle the convention, APC Governors, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha
of Imo State were stoutly against Tinubu’s candidates and they made it clear to
him. They wanted a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba as
Chairman of the convention, while Senator Chris Ngige would serve as Secretary.
“Okorocha
said it outright that they would not allow Tinubu to impose the Chairman of the
convention committee on them and that henceforth, all positions would be
determined by the senior members of the party. They even told him point blank
that they were preparing to support Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State
as the presidential candidate of the APC against the wish of Asiwaju Tinubu”
our source said.
This
open confrontation was said to have been too much for Tinubu to bear as he
reportedly left the meeting in annoyance before it ended as he would not want
people, who he felt did not know what he has invested in the party, insult him
and take over his authority.
Sources
within the party hinted us that the whole scenario is strange to the leaders of
the party and that some of them are happy that Asiwaju is being made to
understand that he could not continue to control the party the way he used to
do, when it was mostly South West affairs.
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