As political aspirants emerge and their structures go to work, moves are being made to take the message of those who desire to govern the rest of us to the grassroots.
In Rivers State on Sunday, Tinubu’s supporters gathered at Elele in the Ikwerre Local Government Area to launch BATS-V. BATS-V is an acronym for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Vanguard.
Tony Okocha, former Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi is the State Coordinator of the group.
The Telegraph sought his views Monday night. This is how the chat went:
Telegraph: As the countdown to 2023 begins, you and compatriots of yours have become arrowheads of the Tinubu campaign in Rivers State. How would you access the reaction of the Rivers people towards project Tinubu?
Okocha: Project Tinubu is a good commodity that sells before the close of market.
Tinubu and his ilk, in GMB (as he then was) and Chief Bisi Akande, provided Rivers Politicians then led by HE, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON, Governor of Rivers State, a shoulder to lean amidst a crystal case of hopelessness, having lost the structure of PDP from the State down to the 319 wards of the State. We yielded to the wooing of Tinubu, et al and joined the APC
We thought that it was reasonable to reciprocate his good gesture by supporting him.
Telegraph: Incidentally, a Rivers personae is seeking the presidential ticket of the APC. Why are members of the Abe camp backing Tinubu instead of Rotimi Amaechi?
Okocha: We are not aware of the Presidential Ambition of anyone from RIVERS STATE.
What is on the street, is mere rumour which are not founded with facts.
Rotimi Amaechi is still a serving Minister of the Federal Republic. We aren’t aware that he has formally or informally conveyed his interest in the Presidency. To some, their conclusion stem from what they say, is his body language.
This is allien to Politics and Politicking vis~a~vis, expression of Ambition.
Telegraph: The other day, Chief Emeka Beke was sworn in as State APC Chairman.
Does this mean that the members of the Abe group accept his leadership of the party?
Okocha: There was no swearing in of any APC Chairman in any State in Nigeria.
Emeka Bekee and those who parade themselves as Elected Chairmen of many States, were handed over certificate of return which is consistent with the processes of Election.
There was no official Inauguration.
The Party couldn’t afford to take the risk of inaugurating Emeka Bekee when a case challenging his emergence, is subsisting in a high court of Rivers State.
Telegraph: There is the argument that the Southwest has tasted power. Those who are recalling this moment in history say power should swing to other parts of the South, including the South South and the South East.
Are you worried that the Southeast led by Ohanaeze is inching closer to the presidential aspirant from Rivers State?
Okocha: Power rotation is unconstitutional. However, Political Parties by convention, agree to power shift/rotation between the North and the South.
The North has Three Geo~Political zones same as the South.
It has never been micro~zoned.
Yes!, With Power being domiciled in the North for 8 years, the clamour among some Politicians and groups, is that it should shift to the South.
Granted that the South~West had a shot with Obj as President. After Obj’s 8 years, power shifted back to the North with President Umaru Yardua who later passed. His vice completed the tenure via the Doctrine of Necessity. The rest is known.
With Power on its way to the South, it will a reductionist Argument to shut out the South West because Obj had taken.
Remember that Late President Yardua, hailed from Katsina. When it returned back to the North, PMB also from Katsina emerged. No such parochial argument.
What is important to note is that no Political Party will deliberately zone an office to be contested with other Parties, to her weakest link in the name of equity or something like that.
The South~South zone and the South~East, are APC’s weakest links.
It will be inauspicious to contemplate zoning the Presidential slot to either of these two zones.
On the issue of Ohaneze and agitations for a Presidential slot, I make haste to say that they lack both moral and Political imperatives to do so.
They hate APC as a Party. Until Governor Umahi ported to the APC, All States in the South~East, were won by the PDP except Anambra.
Recently they displayed their disdain for APC when in Anambra Governorship Election, APC boded a distant third.
So, whose vote will an Igbo Candidate expect to win with?.I am a bit reluctant to talk about the separatist tendencies of a sizeable number of Igbos.
The rumoured preference for Amaechi by an infinitesimal few Igbo Political merchants, is a farce.
Assuming the position is zoned to the Igbos, it will be difficult for a non~Igbo individual, to take the first shot.
At that point, Amaechi will know who the typical Igbos are. He is way far from the radar.
Telegraph: What are the chances of Tinubu in the presidential race? Why do you think that the Nigerian people would back Tinubu instead of someone else?
Okocha: Tinubu has all the trappings of a seasoned administrator. His prodigies in the saddle as Governor of Lagos State, still stand tall and speak volumes.
He is a detribalised talent Hunter with tentacles across the country.
He is averse to Religious bigotry, reason why as a Moslem, he tolerates a wife who is not only Christian but a Pastor.
Of all naysayers say, none has argued to the contrary about his capacity, capability, prowess, acumen and carriage. The least they have said is that he is Old.
This is defeatist to say the least.