South West leaders unite over Tinubu

Olusesan Laoye

President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu seems to be worming his way into the hearts of most South west leaders to accept him as bonafide president. Last week, his team met with prominent opposition party leader in the region, Chief Bode George, signaling a major shift in attitude toward his emergence in the February 25, polls.

Before the presidential election, the Southwest leaders were divided over the candidates to back. The division cut across many groups, individuals and organizations. For instance, the pan Yoruba Organisation, the Afenifere, was the most affected and its leaders were so divided that both Pa Rubean Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo could not come together and the group fell into two factions.

Although, it was insinuated that the first crisis, which the group had in 2003 or so, was caused by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, however, the body had come together and resolved their differences. But the last presidential election, which Tinubu contested and won, although it is still a subject of litigations, seemed to have ignited a fresh one, and this has been the situation since 2022, when the battle for who rules Nigeria got under way.

With just few days to the inauguration of Tinubu as the president of Nigeria, some South West leaders met both in Ibadan and Lagos to put things in order and to appease those, who have been aggrieved and against Tinubu.

Although, when those against the candidature of Tinubu insisted that nothing would make them change their minds, some South West leaders called for peace, which was not fully achieved but now the tension appears to have somehow calmed down, due to the efforts of some them, especially those in the Yoruba Elders Council and other groups, who have been mediating.

It will be recalled that at the peak of the crisis, the Yoruba Elders Council said that at the appropriate time, the matter would be settled and as the General Secretary of the body, Dr. Kunle Olajide, said, time has now come for all the warring groups in the South West to come together so that the desired peace needed in Nigeria at this point in time would be achieved adding, that Tinubu now needs the support of all Nigerians, especially those in the South West for him to focused on the great assignments and for him to succeed.

It was part of the various peace meetings, which took place that led to some of them contacting one of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, who is also a Lagosian, like Tinubu, that he should give peace a chance.

Chief George, though not in the same political party with Tinubu, is a very much regarded and respected Yoruba leader, who has always been involved in many activities concerning the people of the region. He had vowed to go into exile if Tinubu became president.

It is not Chief George alone that the Yoruba leaders on the peace mission met. They met other groups and persons and it was learnt that they had contacted Chief Ayo Adebanjo, as well but nothing has so far been heard about the response to the requests.

It was gathered that while the political group that were on the mediation mission was led by Chief Tajuddeen Olusi, the traditional rulers’ peace movement was led by the Oni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja III.These two groups, Business Hallmark also learnt, have been going round and it was said that the traditional rulers were the ones that discussed with Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

Both the Pa Olusi and the traditional rulers groups believed that Yoruba leaders should bury their differences and work together to enable Tinubu concentrate on the mandate giving to him by Nigerians.

They noted that it is now that Tinubu needs them and their support more than any other time and as such, nothing should be done at their end to distract him from governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians, irrespective of their religion and ethnic backgrounds.

Other groups, who are now in support of the success of Tinubu in the South West, Include, the Yoruba Commitment leaders (YCL).

The convener of the group, Mr. Tayo Onayemi, said it is paramount for the leaders in the South West to close rank and ensure that Tinubu should not go back on the promises to Nigerians, especially on the issue of restructuring.

This, they said, should be the collective responsibility of everybody in the South West, as anything against him from the region, could derail the collective interests of the people and could negatively affect both the region and Nigeria as a country, saying that it is when “we in the Southwest are united and with one voice that would guarantee our common desire for the restructuring of Nigeria, which would help the growth of the Southwest, as we had in the first Republic, under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when the Western Region was adjudged the first in everything in Nigeria.”

Also the Afenifere renewal group Secretary, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, was of the opinion that it is now the time that Tinubu has been chosen through the collective will of the Nigerian people, that people in the Southwest should display uncommon unity to complement the efforts of the President-elect, jettison primordial sentiments and divisive comments. “We must ensure that Tinubu must not fail”

Although both factions of Afenifere and other groups not disposed to Tinubu’s presidency, have been very cautious of their actions and utterances, a concerned Yoruba leader in Osun State, who is the coordinator of the Oganla Unity forum, Chief Jide Adeyemi, warned that all Yoruba leaders either in Afenifere or other groups should not do anything that would derail the on-going democratic process, which the Southwest is now going to benefit from with the presidency of Tinubu.

He said “We must all close ranks as any division among the Yoruba people at this juncture, could deny the ethnic group lots of the benefits in the socio-political advancement of Nigeria”.

Meanwhile, confirming the moves by the Yoruba leaders on how to close rank for Tinubu one of leaders, who has always been at loggerheads with Tinubu, Chief Bode George, said that some Yoruba Leader have come to him pleading that he should forgive Tinubu. According to him, “Our Yoruba Elders visited me and apologized to me on behalf of Tinubu for me to forgive him”.

According to chief Bode George, “Tinubu and I are not adversaries despite belonging to different political parties and pursuing different objectives.” He said that he received his apology from a group of senior citizens, who personally brought it to him.

“On Tinubu’s behalf, our Yoruba elder, Papa Olusi, begged me to forgive him for all the wrongs he had done against me. To be clear, Tinubu and I do not disagree, I reassured him. No enmity or friction exists between us at the moment.

“Many individuals, including Papa Olusi, had apologised to me and requested my forgiveness for Tinubu. I assured them that despite being a Christian, I had nothing against Tinubu. God, not I, is the one, who executes justice.”

“I have nothing against Tinubu personally, despite the fact that we have divergent interests and view points.”

While commenting on the interests now being shown by Yoruba leaders and elders to ensure that Tinubu succeeds in office, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he was happy with the latest developments in the South West and called on all Yoruba leaders to bury their differences and work together to enable Tinubu concentrate on the mandate accorded him by Nigerians.

“It is now that Tinubu needs your support and this must be given to him as he must not fail as anything that would ensure his success is what we all have to collectively work together to achieve.”

In the same vein, the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has not relent in his support for Tinubu, despite the fact that they are from different political parties. The former governor was said to still maintain his stand in favour of Tinubu, which he did not shy away from, even before the presidential election. Even recently, Fayose was quoted to have referred to Tinubu as a political pillar and leader not only in Yoruba land but in Nigeria as a whole.

According to him “Asiwaju is a case study when you talk of resilience and doggedness and that is why he ranks amongst the leaders of this great country”.

Tinubu himself, it was learnt, has been reaching out to those that matter in Yoruba land and across Nigeria, for a smooth take off, as the president of Nigeria. According to Tinubu, in his recent statement on closing ranks with Nigerians.

“I kept pushing on despite the differences I have with some people across the country because I represent the unity and togetherness the Nigerian people have been yearning for.”