By Usman Issa

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. For Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that journey to 2023 had begun a long time ago. Shortly after 2019 election, Jagaban of Lagos has prepared his mind to mount the presidential seat. The position he has been guiding jealously and passionately.

Asiwaju is a definition of a man with great political gimmicks and tactics. He knows permutation and calculation and his statistical analysis is indefatigable. The amalgamation of ACN and CPC gave a powerful progressive strength to the APC and led to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu deployed all measures to ensure Buhari emerged in 2015 and repeated the same in 2019. For Tinubu to have agreed to merge with CPC and work for the flag bearer who had lost elections for three consecutive times of running, he has already envisaged taking over from Muhammadu Buhari. For many obvious reasons, Tinubu’s sacrifice in 2015 and 2019 should not be taken for charity.

Emphatically, Tinubu can be regarded as the father of Politics in Nigeria of today. He knows the right steps and right target and he started his lobby work right from there. Tinubu knows his mission can not be accomplished as envisaged without the massive support from the North. He knows the perfect combination required of him to be victorious is a combination of the Southwest and the North. Of course, anyone who wants to be President must first and foremost align and value the North. Tinubu presents himself to the North as the son of the region. He spends heavily and extends more charity to the Northern states.

In March 2021, Jagaban donated N50m as compensation for the losses of the victims of Kastina Central Market fire. In April 2021, he distributed 10,000 bags of rice to Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri, Borno State. In April 2022, he donated 1800 bags of rice to residents of Kano State. In October 2022, he donated 100 million to flood victims in Kano. He held his 12th colloquium in the North and has never uttered derogatory comments against Northerners.

To protect the interest of his presidential ambition, Tinubu maintained perfect silence during the formation of Amotekun and Yoruba’s alliance against the outrageous, rapacious revelation of insecurity in the southwest region. He watches his tongue against utterances capable of undermining his chance in the North.

In my opinion, Tinubu is the most prepared candidate, he has prepared himself against all odds and he has complete machinery to drive himself to the villa. That is why the mixtape of his gaffes are taken for a cruise rather than shaping opinions against his candidacy. In all ramifications, he has more advantage over other candidates.

Truth be told, Tinubu’s strength is of great concern and that is the bitter truth some followers fail to understand. The fact remains that, at some age, one’s strength tends to deteriorate. It happens to all living creatures; not peculiar to Tinubu. Tinubu in defense of his physical strength said Presidency is not about wrestling, I strongly disagree. The presidency is about wrestling. He wants to wrestle the insecurity, failed economy, wobbled health care, unemployment and corruption. For the fact that he will not wrestle in the ring does not mean he is not into wrestling. Presidency requires physical, mental, and psychological strength to be functional. Wishing him sound health is more appropriate than playing a defensive mechanism on the obvious deficiency.

With all sincerity, Tinubu sealed his victory quite a long time, the only gridlock he had was during the primary election and the rest is now a story. Other controversies of result, name, age, origin, health, drug allegations and gaffes surrounding his candidacy are mere media trials that will soon wane out of history. President Buhari survived it. Tinubu will survive too.

Nigeria is already in a big crisis of insecurity, unemployment, economic downturn, poor education, and poor healthcare. Tinubu talks less of this crisis during campaigns but hammers on his giant strides as Lagos State Governor. His Lagos achievements are commendable but the basic needs of the poor masses, food, clothe, shelter, and security are scarce commodities. Talking about Lagos’ experience without mentioning key areas of challenges is a misplaced priority. The great task ahead is security, economy, health, education, and employment. These should be Tinubu’s priority and point of discussion before 2023. May his emergence be fruitful and productive.