Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC lacks the knowledge and wisdom to win the presidential election.
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the opposition PDP and spokesman of the party who spoke on Channels Television on Tuesday, said it took the former Premier of the Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the late business mogul, Moshood Abiola great wisdom to gain popularity as national figures.
For instance, Momodu said Tinubu does not have the cult followership of Awolowo and Abiola, and cannot win the election to become president in a few weeks.
He said in spite of their popularity the two politicians failed to be president, adding that Tinubu is a regional politician, and does not have the political reach of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate.
The former Lagos governor is believed to be in a three-horse race with Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Labour Party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The APC candidate has the backing of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari who has been campaigning for him across the country, even though many watching what is going on in the party said top APC chieftains and some presidency officials are working against Tinubu’s interest to succeed Buhari.
Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state had last week accused some elements in Buahri’s presidency of working against the party and Tinubu.
Other analysts also posit that the fact that some APC chieftains such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, and others are not campaigning for the APC candidate is a pointer to a serious crack in the ruling party ahead of the make or mar election.
The National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu has also been conspicuously missing in many campaigns organized by the party, a signal, many say further proves that the party is divided at the moment.
The presidency however said last week that Buhari is solidly behind Tinubu, and there is no crack in the party.
Two days ago, during the APC presidential campaign, President Buhari declared Tinubu as the president in waiting.
Buhari said, “I am happy to be part of the campaign today for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria and Governor Sule for his second and final term.
“We will win through and through. I trust Tinubu’s dedication and service. I have known Bola Tinubu for more than 20 years. I will continue to campaign for him. He is a committed Nigerian and I believe he will give everything to make Nigeria better.
“He loves this country. He is a believer in Nigeria and I am sure he will do everything possible to advance the well-being of all of us as citizens. He will hold this country with trust. You should cherish him.
“Those of you who are here I urge you to go back to your friends and family to tell them to vote for him. We will all vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president.”
The Presidential election is scheduled for February 25 by the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Awolowo, a respected Yoruba leader did not become president in his time. The last election he contested was in 1983 when he lost to Shehu Shagari.
On his part, Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential election did not become president either because the election was canceled by the former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He later died allegedly poisoned.
