Tinubu’s silence: Defeating

When I was younger I stumbled on a Book written by the highly respected Accountant, Chief J.K. Randle. It was a heroic book of satire written in the 70s, I think. That book captivated me as a young Corper and I voraciously ate up the pages and got hooked on that style of writing. It was called The God Father Never Sleeps. Today, I will steal the headline as I try to ‘wake up’ this particular God father from SLEEP.

My Lord, Chief Bola Tinubu appears to have gone to sleep. I suspected this would be the case for several reasons after the epic electoral victory. One, any other thing after that would just be an anti climax, the push from the electoral process, building and coordinating an alliance between ego and ambition, driving Argonauts leading to the selection of a candidate that would be accepted by all contending forces and then facing a crucial battle with an incumbent with federal might.

Defeated a sitting President in a country like Nigeria was and will continue to be one of the most iconic events in our nations history, so I expected a certain level of ‘tiredness’ for you would never be able to beat that. So today the godfather seems to be in an involuntary retirement sleeping and most likely missing the action on the political space.

The second reason why I had expected this hibernation was the strong will of his chosen candidate. Buhari in all his career had shown that he was no push over. He could not be bent or influenced or used or manipulated by anybody. His staid character was there for all to see and anybody who felt that he would show any level of appreciation for the push given him to achieve his eternal goal of ruling Nigeria again would have been messing with nature.

Buhari in almost all of his actions and inaction since coming into power; From his appointments, to his economic strategy through his statements and even in his body language has built and entrenched on us one of the most lopsided appointment templates ever since we gained independence. He has stubbornly refused to work to open up the economy more, standing very strongly on his position on the exchange rate for example amongst others. And, even from very far, I can see that there is little or no influence that the God father can or has been able to wield since inception.

The appointment of estranged boys of the Godfather would have been a rankling slap on his face leading to that almost shameful intervention during the NLC botched strike during the last deregulation of fuel prices. This was the Godfathers attempt at seeking and maintaining relevance capping up the show with an attack on the petroleum minister Kachikwu which in itself strengthened the Minister instead of diminishing him.

So the question now is should the Godfather be allowed to continue in his sleep and my answer cannot be a straight simple one. I personally abhor godfather ism especially the type played by the late Ibadan strong, and or the Ubah brothers in the east. But with the kind of mischievous talent and clear insight of the complicated fabrics that make up the Nigerian polity and society, I suspect that we as Nigerians would be the greater losers if this particular God father should be left in his warm glover cocoon sleeping the sleep of retirement.

Already his absence is beginning to be felt especially with the way the Government has been handling some issues. I doubt that with Tinubu’s input the corruption battle especially as it affects the clear attempt to muzzle the clown of Ekiti would be fought in such a bland and almost motor Parkish way. The open and brazen attempt to bring him down and any but each way may just turn the man into an undeserved martyr.

The appointments which continue to rankle the polity would have benefited seriously from Tinubu’s legendary consensus building skills. For he it was who built the bridge bringing together very strange bedfellows from as far afield as Atiku and Obasanjo into a wicked alliance which toppled Jonathan. Remember just how Obasanjo almost annihilated him while he was Governor of Lagos state. There was no love lost between them but when the issue of bringing down a Jonathan came up, he swallowed his pride and headed towards the hills of Abeokuta to consult and recruit the foxy General.

The Government can work with him as a soar away adviser especially in its many battles with these funny militants. Since the government has decided to go the way of dialogue, I think he should be immediately conscripted. He understands the issue, he is not bigoted, he loves Nigeria and is respected on both sides. I am very sure he will be of tremendous value to the process.

So there it is. The Godfather must wake up and start playing his self appointed but nationally accepted role. He should rise above partisan politics and play a statesman role. If he is the one behind the travails of the senate President, like it is being alleged, then he should be advised to immediately desist from it.

The government needs him, the nation needs him. We should all seek to engage him in an advisory capacity, taking advantage of his network, steely resolve, bridge building capacity as we strive to build a virile and true nationhood.

 

Ripples Nigeria…without borders, without fears

This Godfather must wake up.

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