Bisi Akande’s revelation that General Buhari would have made Bola Tinubu his running mate in 2015, but changed his mind because of pressure from some Governors is public knowledge. He acknowledged that these Governors based their arguments on their opposition to a Muslim/Muslim ticket. Given Nigeria’s religious sensitivity a Muslim/Muslim ticket is highly controversial and explosive. So the fears of the Governors are understandable....CONTINUE READING
Many Nigerians will sympathize with the then-presidential candidate General Buhari. Choosing a running mate is a tricky business. It’s like walking a tight rope. Pleasing all competing interests within a political party is not so easy. In the southwest, however, religion doesn’t play a significant role in their choice of leaders. They place a higher premium on competence and electability. That is why the southwest is referred to as the most politically sophisticated people in the country.
But the choice of a presidential running mate is a different ball game altogether. Of course, the Governors against Tinubu could have other motivations beyond opposition to a Muslim/Muslim ticket. But the arguments against Muslim/Muslim tickets are so compelling to ignore. No politician in our recent history can repeat Abiola’s feat of 1993. He was the only presidential candidate who won the election on a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
What had worked in 1993 without resistance couldn’t have succeeded in 2015. In the first place, politicians cannot find the politician formidable enough to step into Abiola’s shoes. It’s debatable if Tinubu could have repeated Abiola’s feat of 1993 by overcoming the risks of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
The choice of running mate is a complex decision, regardless of General Buhari’s personal pledge to Tinubu. Governors play a significant role in the emergence of a running mate. Buhari was dealing with circumstances beyond his control; his loyalty to Tinubu is not in doubt. Don’t forget that Buhari was already facing the perception of a religious bigot. His choice of Tinubu as running would have given his critics the needed excuse to validate that perception.
Tinubu is eminently qualified for that role, but the opposition to the Muslim/Muslim ticket was the main obstacle that scuttled his ambition to become General Buhari’s running mate in 2015. You can’t find any other better argument to explain Buhari’s decision to pick Osinbajo rather than Tinubu as running mate.
It’s wrong to describe Buhari’s inability to choose Tinubu as an act of betrayal. Akande didn’t use the word betrayal; he only said Buhari reneged on his words to make Tinubu his running mate. Why did Buhari succumb to pressure from the Govs on the issue of Muslim/Muslim tickets? Maybe because they had superior arguments.
