By Issa Abdulganiyu Omotosho
As 2021 winded up, a lot of interest groups sprung up on social media with political conspiracies. Speculations on who would run and who wouldn’t ran like wildfire. Self-acclaimed insiders privy to nothing promoted conspiracies on prospects. But like the thief in the night, Jagaban Borgu has finally let the cat out of the bag.
“I have informed the president of my ambition”, the APC chieftain yesterday in his aura of confidence relayed this to reporters in the same villa he hopes to occupy sometimes next year.
As much as I would love to avoid profiling a candidate vis-a-vis the dilemma of choice making, I think it is important that we understand the significance of Tinubu’s declaration. For the next one month until something novel -Atiku’s declaration, Osinbajo’s turnaround to challenge his benefactor in the race to the seat of power, or an imaginary powerful third force throwing his or her hat into the ring- Jagaban has given us what to talk about.
It was however apparent yesterday from his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that the President also made a decision even though he isn’t vocal about it. The body language of the former Lagos State governor tells us what we already know of the President’s choice of who he wants as his successor when he packs his bags in 2023.
A significant lesson from BAT’s declaration yesterday is Structure. The father of modern southwest politics understands the significance of structure and has used his years in politics predating 1999- present to assiduously build this structure. Its no wonder, he is being referred to as the kingmaker. And “who says a Kingmaker can’t become the king himself?” After all, we have seen in some Korean drama with a traditional setting that the lifelong ambition of most kingmakers is to become a king someday.
For students of politics and anyone following the political trajectory of this country, it is my hope that we learn that structure begets confidence even if it does not translate to victory. The speculation of a strong third force remain on social media where majority of users don’t vote, but we can never say never in Nigeria.
But beyond all of that, Jagaban’s name is a household name regardless of the morality and political question his declaration brings up, which I will be writing on in subsequent political drops. But until then, I think it’s safe to say that 2022 just got interesting.
_Omotosho, a social commentator & a consumate communicator is a Post-Graduate Student of Unilag. He writes via: [email protected]_
