As the newly appointed ministers under President Tinubu's administration settle into their offices, delivering the long-awaited dividends of democracy to the people, a pressing issue continues to resonate among the progressive family, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
This issue centers around the nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, and the Senate's failure to approve the nomination, citing security concerns that some perceive as a feeble excuse to deny this talented individual a rightful role in the federal executive council.
Rumors have been circulating in Northern quarters about the Senate's refusal to approve El-rufai's nomination, with some suggesting that the President faced pressure from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and General T.Y Danjuma to withdraw the nomination.
I, as a reporter, have made relentless efforts to substantiate these claims without success. Nevertheless, these accusations have gained momentum across the political class and ordinary people in the North.
Such accusations have not been well received by Northerners from all walks of life who feel betrayed by a President whose majority support comes from the predominantly Muslim North. They believe that he is sidelining the Muslim North in favor of the minority Christian North. The veracity of these accusations may be debatable, but their political significance and implications cannot be ignored by the APC. Failure to address them properly could result in dire consequences.
President Tinubu has been steadfast in diminishing the power of the opposition through his appointments of key opposition figures. However, it is worth noting that most, if not all, of the opposition members appointed into his cabinet hail from the southern part of the country. This suggests that the President might falsely believe that the opposition from the Northern part of the country is inconsequential.
Let us not forget that the former Governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the NNPP, garnered over a million votes in Kano in the just concluded Presidential election, won by APC with a slim margin, same NNPP won the governorship and a majority in the state house of assembly, effectively cementing their control over the state. Regardless of the outcome of their case in the tribunal, the Kwankwasiyya movement will remain a formidable force in the North, playing a vital role in Nigeria's political landscape.
Another factor to consider is the relationship between El-rufai and the former Emir of Kano, HRH. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is also a close ally of Kwankwaso. It is not hard to imagine the possibility of an El-rufai-Kwankwaso alliance if this issue is not properly addressed and managed.
The APC faces another significant challenge in the North West, which is a major determinant of election results. Former Governor and current Senator Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State contested for the Senate Presidency against the APC's directive to support another former Governor, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State. Despite the might of the federal government, Yari came in second place with nearly 40% of the total votes.
What is concerning about these three figures is their unmatched popularity in Northern Nigeria, coupled with their control over considerable resources and political experience. Moreover, they played integral roles in President Tinubu's emergence and now enjoy the people's sympathy, similar to how the people sympathized with Tinubu due to his contributions to President Buhari's rise to power, only to view Buhari as betraying Tinubu. With their combined experience and resources, a handshake across the Niger could pose a serious challenge to the APC in the forthcoming elections, which will be upon us sooner than we think.
Therefore, I advise President Tinubu to recognize this challenge and take appropriate action before it becomes too late. The need for introspection and strategic maneuvering cannot be understated if the APC intends to maintain its political dominance in Nigeria. The time for action is now.
Mohammed Bello Doka is the Founder and the National Coordinator Tinubu Media Team.
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