By: Mohammed Bello Doka.
It is yet another occasion to show force by the ruling APC and it's presidential candidate as the party continue its show of dominance in the nook and crannies of Nigeria.
Today Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the Presidential candidate of the party who undoubtedly doubles as the leading candidate in the country's upcoming general elections took his campaign rally to Minna Niger state in the North central region of the country.
People from all part of the region troop in numbers to welcome their candidates in both presidential, governorship and legislative elections amidst fanfare and celebrations bringing the city to a standstill.
Asiwaju is by no way a stranger in Niger state, he hold the traditional tittle of the Jagaban of Borgu kindom in the state and has been a benefactor to so many prominent names in the state's political cycle.
As the campaign progresses observers were awed by the continued support the Asiwaju enjoys in the Northern part of the country despite initial fears that the North might abandon him for a Northern candidate a former vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but as the campaign progresses Northerners have proven that those fears were nothing but phobia and the North is ready to stand for competence, equity, justice and fairness.
This is a further indication that both the political class and the masses of Northern extraction are ready to respect the gentleman agreement between the Northern and the southern parts of the country which hinges on power sharing between the two regions in oder to give every region a sense of belonging thus keeping the country united and peaceful.
It can be recalled that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu became the candidate of the party some months ago in June this year, all thanks to the insistence of the Northern governors forum that power must shift to the south after Buhari's a Northerner's eight years in office ending on the 29th of may 2023.
The decision of the ruling class in the main opposition PDP to negate this agreement and bring in Atiku Abubakar as it's Presidential candidate in a very controversial primary elections sometimes in may this year continue to generate reactions from various quarters of the country, most prominently the southern parts of the country where the party's main sponsor and Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike is leading a group of five state governors from both the North and south who believe in equity, justice and fairness to rebel against the party for that decision accusing the party of selfishness,regionalism and marginalisation of the southern parts of the country in favor of the North which might polarise the country within regional lines.
Although the ruling APC continue to garner support but it's own primaries which saw a southern Muslim becoming the party's presidential candidate is not absent controversy due to the fact that political exigencies have forced the candidate to chose a Muslim running mate from the Northern part of the country. This has also being a subject of discussion, but with the current support enjoyed by the duo observers are led to believe that Nigerians are gradually shifting focus from ethno religious politics to one of competence, track records and ability to deliver on campaign promises thus pitching their tents with Asiwaju and his party as exemplified by the current support from various quarters to the candidate.