By Comrade Abdul-Rahoof Bello
Nigerians should understand the current gang-up against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for what it is, a well-rehearsed and coordinated attempt by the notable Northern cabal with entitlement mentality, to reset our democracy with a view to refreshing the old wounds of pre-independence primordial politics. The coalition was patently the Biblical hand of Ishau but the voice of Jacob!
With the enlistment of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbedola – a man Friday to President Bola Tinubu – as the coalition Interim Secretary, the statement was a replay of the scripts that destabilized Western Region government and saw Chief Obafemi Awolowo to prison in 1963, with the “coalition” of the New Nigeria Alliance (NNA) between Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola’s faction of Action Group (AG) and the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC).
Nigerians should read the handwriting of the Northern cabal clearly on the wall of history with the use of Gen. David Bonaventure Mark, as the coalition Chairman. He certainly was the least qualified Nigerian to lead any Democratic group.
Given his antecedents in the military as unrepentant anti-democracy element and haters of the poor masses of Nigeria. Gen. David Mark was a fly in democracy ointment! The ignoble roles he played as Minister of Communication under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993), when he openly insulted Nigerian low-income earners that “Telephone was not for the poor”!
Gen. David Mark lacks any modicum of Democratic credentials to enjoy Democratic dividend, let alone associate with political parties in Nigeria. Therefore, in the hallowed Chamber of a democracy, the ex-Senate President (2007-2015), was a metaphor of an evangelist preaching atheism from the pulpit of a Cathedral!
He was actively involved in the annulment of June 12, 1993 election that denied Chief MKO Abiola, not only his mandate, but also his life and lives of many Nigerians. This was confirm in a Book, “The Tale of June 12: The Betrayal of the Democratic Rights of Nigerian, 1993”, by Prof. Omo Omoruyi, (1999).
Nigerians should not mistaken ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s motive of ruling Nigeria as one of National interest. Far from it! He was acting the Northern scripts as “Plan B”, to retain/return power in the North, to the exclusion of other sections of the country.
A pertinent question begging for answer from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was: What other tricks left in his book to do things differently at the twilight of his life that he had forgotten to try while in the government for eight years (1999-2007)?
Perhaps the 78yrs old politician was coming back to complete his conquest on the Nigeria’s economy that was squandered under the notorious Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE). Can posterity ever forgive the former Vice President Atiku and his accomplice, Mall. Nasir El-Rufai for auctioning Nigerian assets/patrimony to friends and relations at ridiculous prices? Ex-Vice President Atiku’s rapacity was confirmed in a Book, “My Watch (2014)”, published by his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The foundation of our current deepening economic crisis was laid by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida military rule, but got worsened by the annihilation of our national assets by Vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
The policies under the 16yrs PDP administration, has turned Nigerians to consumer of what we don’t produce, and producers of what we don’t consume. The last 6yrs of the PDP administration (2009-2015) was a rule by political locusts, which left the Nigerian economy in a comatose and the rickety ship was pass on to President Mohammadu Buhari.
The gang-up against President Bola Tinubu in 2023, even by the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, was a ploy by the Northern cabal to install a puppet in succession to President Buhari, never to be an independent-minded, shrewd and tested political wizard like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
*Tinubu’s Offence?*
The rates at which the Tinubu’s administration’s economic and political decisions are achieving the target goals was a source of serious trouble to the cabal who have been living large on Nigeria’s Commonwealth without labour. Notable amongst such policies are:
a). Subsidy withdrawal
b). Tax Reforms
c). Gradual decentralisation of powers
d). Local Government Autonomy
e). Control of Foreign Exchange Market (Bureau du Change), etc.
These are the core issues that torched the nerves of the Northern hegemonist who have been enjoying more than their fair share from the Lord Lugard’s “Mistake of the 1914” (courtesy, Sir Ahmadu Bello).
Looking at the history of political alliance/coalition of the parties in Nigeria since 1959, it wouldn’t be difficult to conclude that the current attempt under the ADC, was bound to fail. As recent as 2018, a coalition under the same ADC was led by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo against ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, it didn’t fly. Judging by the political chemistry of the current coalition in ADC, it was dead on arrival because it was an assemblage of incompatible elements.
In conclusion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nothing to fear about the ranting of a few “political generals” without troops. He should remain focus on issues of governance that will not only put the Nigerian economy on the path to greatness but also improve the welfare and living standards of the Nigerian masses.
*©Comrade Abdul-Rahoof Bello, a Political Scientist, writes from Ilorin, Monday, July 7, 2025*
