By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“Moreso, if any country loans another country money, let’s assume the loan is not paid, will the country that defaults be lifted and carried away to the country that gave the loan? Talk less of saying there is no loan taken by Buhari that has chances of being a bad loan. We see the loans and we see what they are used for. So, there is no cause for alarm,” Bosun Oladele said.
As Nigeria wakes into the new year that is the beginning of 14 months left to enter another transitional electoral process to pick President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor, a call has gone to other gladiators in the South West bloc to sheath their swords, forget about the past and allow Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu do it to do it well.
Hon. Bosun Oladele
This appeal has, again, come from no other than Honourable Bosun Oladele, an unapologetic Lamist, former Youth Leader of the progressives (AD, AC, and ACN) in Oyo State politics, whose resilience in patriotic and loyalist politicism saw him rise, first, to becoming the first Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation of Abiola Ajimobi Administration (2011-2015) and Honourable Member, House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015-2019).
Oladele, currently the Secretary General of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju ‘2023, believes that, as a politician like every other, Asiwaju Tinubu would have had his inadequacies just like he also has the weighty part hat can be pointed to as his huge contributions to nation’s good and human capital development.
“In the over all interest of a united front of Yoruba Land of South West Nigeria, since no one can walk without his head shaking – else he becomes a zombie, I want to once again appeal to our fellow political gladiators of the region to forget the past and don’t allow fractionalization cost us the Presidency.
“This they should do by backing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Presidency come 2023 starting from the process for climbing to that, early this new year 2022 because, no doubt, Tinubu remains the only Yoruba person in politics for now who can withstand others from other regions,” the Oyo State APC chieftain and constitutional lawyer said.
*FILE: President Muhammadu Buhari, in handshakes with Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, while Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Ondo State counterpart look on beaming with smiles.
Oladele’s plea, which was contained in what he called his last media engagement in 2021 and coming as an exclusive media interview with The DEFENDER, said over 350 Yoruba traditional rulers had been met, not only to appeal to fellow sons and daughters of the land, who have grouse with Tinubu to forget it but also, to help prevail on the former Governor of Lagos State to consider contesting for President in the 2023 general elections.
During the interview, which held in his Lagos office on Friday, the Otunba of Idera Land, Kwara State, dismissed insinuation of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd) putting Tinubu (and Atiku) out of the race for whatever reason as unnecessary.
“It is part of the activities of those who are scheming that they went to IBB, to make a point. With due respect, IBB has been out of office for too long and I can assure you that the opinion he expressed is not in tune with reality. IB can talk bit the decision lues with the people and Asiwaju has popular support with strong political networking system that works.
“If I may ask, did General Babangida support President Muhammadu Buhari when he won in 2015 and 2019? If no, then, does he need to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before he wins come 2023? That is the point. If your support would always mean that one loses like Jonathan did, what then does it matter when you don’t support a political giant like Asiwaju?” He asked.
On the IBB’s endorsement of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for the job, Hon. Bosun Oladele said not even any deceptive push of anyone would make Osinbajo, who he described as man of integrity and one of the brilliant brands discovered by Tinubu and who made Lagos overcome all its judicial exploits against persecutions by Peoples Democratic Party’s Federal Government, as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, would want to contest if Asiwaju, his mentor, contests.
*Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Nigeria’s Vice President, speaking at the 60th anniversary ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun State, on December 11, 2021. Tolani Alli/State House.
“It will be difficult for an Osinbajo to convince an Ooni, Alaafin, Olu of Ilaro, Alake, Oba of Lagos and all the over 350 Yoruba Obas, who have given their words and promises saying it is time for South West and the best candidate to face the troubled waters for now is Asiwaju Tinubu, on why they should doublespeak and say they no longer mean what they already publicly said.
“Osinbajo would not even want to allow himself to be set against his own former boss and mentor. That is a sure one that you can take away from this interview,” he said.
Oladele, however, noted that there are scheming by some members from the South West, who are conniving with some elements at the national secretariat of the party but advised them to rather stop and do the needful – work for the Yoruba interest by joining hands to put all efforts behind Asiwaju to achieve a brilliant successor plan to continue from where President Buhari will stop in 2023.
On the insecurity, he said “what you see is a political gimmick to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari to make his government look like incompetent, despite that he has performed excellently well.”
Buhari.
Bosun Oladele said, “They talk about loans. And what about that? United States of America has the biggest indebtedness as a result of loans in the world and it still takes loans. The question to those who scream is this, why are they failing to tell their listeners and readers, while they scream on radio, television or newspapers, what the loans President Buhari takes are used for?
“You cannot justifiably entertain any fear over loans taken and invested in infrastructures because, on the long run, infrastructure pays back. Moreso, if any country loans another country money, let’s assume the loan is not paid, will the country that defaults be lifted and carried away to the country that gave the loan? Talk less of saying there is no loan taken by Buhari that has chances of being a bad loan. We see the loans and we see what they are used for. So, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
