What President Bola Tinubu is doing now to the Niger Delta people, he will not fantasize to do such in his region, the South-West. He is organising a hostile and violent political takeover of the region, not minding the consequences or the possibilities for violence in the area. And the politicians who hope to benefit from this travesty and abuse of power in their region are urging him on.
President Bola Tinubu hopes to make up with the Southern votes, which he stands to lose in the North. So he is planning a violent political takeover of the South-South region, and the politicians of the area are left helpless or forced to join him.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan recently warned in a lecture (held in honour of the late Niger Delta Elder statesman Edwin Clark, where he stated that) creating a one-party state in Nigeria through “the backdoor by political manipulations” or invitation will lead to crisis. Such a move, according to him, would be dangerous and destabilising for the country’s fragile democracy.
In saner climes, like in the US, states change party colour from Democrats to Republicans through elections and not defections. As mirrored in the 2024 elections were President Donald Trump flipped some red states blue, as decided by the electorates in those states who were tired of Joe Biden’s failed policies and the overall discontent with the Democratic Party.
President Bola Tinubu is showing the region disrespect, encouraged by Adams Oshiomhole, Godswill Akpabio, Nyesom Wike and even the newly defected governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
President Bola Tinubu will not dare to do elsewhere, particularly in Yoruba land or the North, what he’s doing today in the deep south, sacking the Rivers governor illegally and forcing others to come to him or else. He cannot implement the same smash-and-grab election unleashed on Edo State anywhere in the West. He could not forcefully take Osun state even as the sitting President.
He would not dare lest he have a political crisis far worse than “Operation Wetie” in his hands to consume him. Even in his coveted Lagos state, there is a groundswell of forces rising to counter his hegemony in 2027 by the indigenous peoples of Lagos.
President Bola Tinubu lost his respect for Niger Delta from the Emergency Rule imposed in Rivers state. Ironically, he once criticised Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who declared a state of emergency back in 2013 in three states, even though the former President did not sack any governor, thus maintaining democratic structures in those affected states.
We will keenly await the activation of Tinubu’s master plan against the Niger Delta people and region as he blackmails and railroads the governors into APC and make the entire region his footstool.
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