Hottestgistnaija.com
BETWEEN TINUBU AND AKPABIO
By Osondu Ahirika
They have a lot in common. Swag. Charisma. Native intelligence. Foresight. Political sagacity. Extensive networking. Enjoy tremendous goodwill. Wield political soundbites and oration. Courage, conviction and will power. One is called the Lion of Bourdilon, the other, The Emerging Tiger. After serving full terms as Governors of Lagos and Akwa Ibom respectively, they are Senators, one past and one serving.
Your guess is right. I’ve been talking about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Dr Godswill Obot Akpabio. The former Lagos Governor is no doubt an enigma. He combines the tact, patience and reach of Obafemi Awolowo with the assertiveness and wiles of Olusegun Obasanjo. Having a keen eye for talent, Tinubu has forged the most dominant and enduring leadership recruitment strategem into his political family. He now prevails in South West politics like a colossus. Where others have failed, Tinubu defied the odds to succeed. From his reclusive control of Lagos State, Tinubu has spawned his web to capture the rest of the South West, with his political machine.
That same superior political engineering, has seen him fashion a mega party that sent the humongous PDP capitulating in Nigeria. From a one state party after the 2007 election, Tinubu, is now a pan Nigerian figure behind the octopus called All Progressives Congress, APC. The party now runs Nigeria.
The other subject is Senator Dr. Akpabio. He is fast becoming a myth in Akwa Ibom politics. Akpabio, like Tinubu, has won every major and minor political battle waged against him. From his emergence against the wish of his erstwhile boss, former Governor Victor Attah, Akpabio went ahead to fight for his survival and longevity, every inch of the way. He crushed every opponent. Overcame formidable challenges and made it to a second term.
Litigations and petitions against him were several and really complex. Somehow, he paddled his way through them all, to finish his course. One great advantage he has over his contemporaries is that, like Tinubu, he can figure out tomorrow. From the day he was inaugurated for a first term on May 29, 2007, Akpabio had his eyes on making the Senate after eight years in office. His deft political ‘chess board’ moves and calculations, from that minute, in the Akwa Ibom North West(Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District says it all.
By the time he ended his reign in 2015, he simply strolled to the Senate.
The most amazing political stride of Akpabio, is his success in facilitating his preferred successor in office.
Asked of the legacy he wants to be remembered by, Akpabio said, “I want to be remembered as the Governor who produced the best Governor.” Not many gave him a chance, he will pull that vision through. In the face of the most virulent opposition ever concocted in Akwa Ibom’s political evolution, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel won the April 11, 2015 Governorship polls. The Elections petition was no less intriguing and fierce. Governor Emmanuel dusted his opponents in the Supreme court.
His victory was heralded by Akpabio’s arrival at the Court, about 30 minutes to the ruling. The atmosphere was agog as he entered.
He has set a record, never before seen in the state. In the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, Akpabio has installed men, who are making waves and may well continue to do so, in the foreseeable future. A feat, Tinubu has excelled in. Creating leaders from his political family that have gone ahead to govern states and are now on the National stage.
During the Thanksgiving for the supreme court victory, Governor Emmanuel, the celebrator, declared Akpabio in all humility, his Political Leader. Only Tinubu has enjoyed such acknowledgment from a sitting governor. Of course, that does not detract anything from the power, status and personality of Governor Emmanuel. He was simply announcing to the disappointment of opponents, that, a Political family is in the works in Akwa ibom and his predecessor is its arrowhead.
Any good student of Politics knows, that’s the strongest foot forward in this game. Cohesion, Unity and real alignment of forces is the power to stand and thrive.
Not one to let such significant moment slip by, Senator Akpabio stated to all that cared to listen, that, they are already planning ahead for 2019 General Elections.
Hear his remark at another event. “Akwa Ibom Will Remain PDP’s Stronghold”, Akpabio audaciously declared.
The Senate Minority Leader, said his Party will produce the governor in 2019. Speaking at the recent rally held to honour him and his successor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, by the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Akpabio said: “When I came to you in 2006, I told you Godswill should be done and you the people of Akwa Ibom agreed with me and Godswill was done. In 2011, I said Godswill should be done again, you agreed with me and it was done. In 2015 I pleaded with you to allow Godswill to be done again and again, you all made it happen. I will come back to you in 2019 and demand that Godswill should be done again, and again and again and I know it will happen”
Such optimism should not be miscarried or misplaced. From all I have come to know about Akpabio, and the God that seems to crack his kernel for him, he has it all worked out. Defiant as ever of naysayers, you can only ignore his political catechism at your own peril.
Have you taken note that, every associate of Senator Akpabio who jumped ship and rejected to get on board his ark has fallen by the way side? Is it apparent to you that, like Tinubu, Akpabio’s many opponents have been technically retired from active politics, while he marches on?
If by 2019, Senator Akpabio makes good his pledge, then, I will be safe to say, we have another Tinubu budding in the South South. Some people are beginning to address him as the True Lion of the Niger Delta, a title, his Rivers State counterpart in their Class of governors, Rotimi Amaechi was initially addressed with. Can Akpabio who has tremendous national presence as former Pioneer Chairman, PDP Governor’s Forum, commence the real politicking in the region? Will the multi ethnic and lingual diversities in the region allow the Tinubu-like exploits for this rare political strategist? More importantly, who knows if in the next political realignment of forces, the duo of Tinubu and Akpabio will not play from the same dug out in the same camp. Just wondering ooooo! Time will tell. For now, the 2019 race in Akwa ibom state is game on.
