2023 and the Horse Race to Aso Rock -By John Kokome

Ahead of the 2023 Presidential election, political actors have started scheming and hobnobbing with perceived power brokers in the country to improve their chances of clinching the number one seat. Politicians from the southern part of the country are already clamouring for power to return to the south after the expiration of the second term in office of the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari who is from the northern part of the country. Many have argued that the rotation of power between the north and south would guarantee equity, justice and fairness.

As we move gradually closer to the much anticipated election, one man who by proxy and going by the actions and inactions of his political associates has indicated interest in taking a shot at the presidency, though he is yet to officially declare his intention to run but events around him and that of his political associates is a pointer to the fact that he is likely to be running for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.

Just like every other Nigerian, he is eminently qualified with the requisite skills and knowledge, haven built a career for himself in the private sector before delving into public sector. He has served as a one-time Senator in the botched third republic, before serving as a two time governor of Lagos State the commercial hub of the country with remarkable achievements to his credit and currently, he is the national leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC).

He is different things to many people, to some he is a mentor, to others he is a leader, to others he is a strategist and to others he is a kingmaker. Whichever name you wish to associate with him depends on how you perceive him, this man has simply become a phenomenon in Nigeria politics.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu kingdom is one man whether you like him or hate him has left indelible marks on the political soil of Nigeria. He is a master political strategist with many success story to support this claim. Jagaban as he is popularly referred to, has successfully built for himself a very solid political empire that will take a very long time to dismantle with many political god-sons and god-daughters scattered all over the place occupying sensitive and powerful positions in the country as foot soldiers.

The Lion of Bourdillion as he is sometimes referred to has endeared himself to many both at the national and international space for his political sagacity and astuteness. It is on record that he was instrumental to the defeat of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2015, who became the first incumbent President to lose an election in the history of the country, and the subsequent installation of the current ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) led by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, there are insinuations from different quarters that the king maker wants to become a king himself, which in itself is not a bad idea but only time will tell how far he can go with his ambition to occupy Aso Rock come 2023.

Given the peculiar nature of politics in Nigeria, history has shown that often time the man with the best credentials to lead the country is usually ditched at the last minute for a lesser competent and qualified candidate. There are intrigues currently going on within the ruling party APC to scheme the national leader out of the 2023 race, how far the men behind this political antics can go only time will definitely tell.

It is indeed a big task before Asiwaju, if he eventually declares his intention to run come 2023, that notwithstanding it is an achievable dream but he should watch it a third force could emerge to alter the political permutation on ground. Before now, the odds seems to favour him, if there will not be any last minute surprises, but events in the past few weeks in the country are likely to alter the permutation on ground with the odds against him rising on a daily basis.

All eyes on 2023, may the best man emerge!

John Kokome
A Public Relations Practitioner & Public Affairs Analyst
Lagos State
kokomejohn@yahoo.com