By Emmanuel Uffot
Since Asiwaju Bola Tinubu indicated his interest to contest for Presidency and kicked started his campaign as the flagbearer of All Progressive Congress ( APC), he has habitually been engaging in attacking personalities of his opponents apart from making some mind boggling gaffes at his public outings in furtherance of his aspiration of being the President of Nigeria in the coming election.
So on Monday January 30, 2023 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Tinubu stirred the hornet nest by not only calling Governor Udom Emmanuel, but threatening to drive him away from Lagos, wherein he claims the Akwa Ibom Governor is ‘ living in his backyard’ for the offence of bringing Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’ presidential candidate to Akwa Ibom.
Ever since what many regards as an uncouth remarks which is vintage the former governor of Lagos State, Akwa Ibomites, political and socio- political groups, the state government and even the Governor himself have rose in one accord condemning the APC Presidential candidate for insulting the Akwa Ibom Governor whom they pointed out didn’t deserved such an unprovoked attack after his kind gesture of providing the facilities and security to enable the APC candidate and his party have a hitch- free campaign rally in the state.
The first to react was Governor Emmanuel. At the Inauguration of newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, Chairman of Boards and Commission, Governor in his usual calm disposition took exception to Tinubu’s insult on him which is unbecoming of somebody of his status who is aspiring to lead Nigeria.The Governor noted that it was unfortunate that the APC who was granted state- owned facilities as airport, stadium and conducive atmosphere to sell his manifesto ended up ‘ insulting the integrity of over 7.9 million Akwa Ibom people ‘. The Governor wondered if it was possible for any Akwa Ibom person to go to Lagos that Tinubu stays or the actual state he hails from and make unprintable statements about him and go back free. For Governor Emmanuel, the disposition of Tinubu to resort to attacking personalities instead of telling people what he has to offer, was an indication that he has nothing to offer.The Akwa Ibom State Governor who is the Chairman of PDP Presidential Campaign Council noted that in the course of Atiku’s campaign in states, he has not spoken against any Governor or against Tinubu. ” I also go to other states and if you watch our campaigns, Atiku has never spoken against any Governor, he has never spoken openly about Tinubu before”. He stressed that inspite of the insult, he will not join issues with Tinubu but rather focus on delivering good governance to the people of the state.
Another noticeable reaction came from the PDP Campaign Council ( PCC) in Akwa Ibom. In a signed statement from the Director General of Campaign Council ,Barrister Assam Assam ( SAN)
entitled ” Asiwaju Bola Tinubu insult” noted that the many gaffes of the APC Presidential candidate calls to question his mental capacity to execute the function of the office he is seeking. The PCC noted that by Tinubu calling the symbol and source of authority of Akwa Ibom State a ‘ boy’ denigrated the entire people of the state. Assam who took exception to Tinubu’s uncomplimentary remarks against an elected of a state of 7 million people and also threaten to drive him away from clearly exposed his ineptitude and inability to lead.
The PCC stressed that while it is not in doubt that Tinubu’s ” cognitive decline is at an advanced state having also at the rally referred to the PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as Senate President, a position he never occupied as one of his many gaffes of late” demands immediate apology by Tinubu to the people of Akwa Ibom and immediate repudiation of the statement by the Akwa Ibom State APC chieftains notably Senator Akpabio.
Similarly, the state government also made official reaction through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Ini Ememobong.
He berated Tinubu for his unprovoked, unwarranted and uncharitable insult on Governor Udom Emmanuel and the people of the state.
The state government has therefore vowed to take seriously the threats made by Tinubu to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s Lodge in Lagos and virtually seize the property. The state government demands that the APC candidate tender public apology to the state governor and the people. They state frowned at a situation whereby the government graciously approved the stadium and other state facilities to the APC candidate for his campaign only to turn around to insult the governor. “The Akwa Ibom State Government Approved the use of the Nest of Champions ( Godswill Akpabio International Stadium), a state owned property for their presidential campaign.
On the scheduled date, the candidate of APC landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, a state owned and managed airport without any hitch or hindrance and proceeded to the venue of his campaign without any negative reaction from the citizens as witnessed in other states where Presidential candidates are stoned by youths in states not controlled by their party. At the venue, he Tinubu without any provocation went on to hurl insults and threats at the government and people of the state”.
In same vein, Prince Chris Abasieyo the spokesperson for Pastor Umo Eno campaign council condemned in strong terms the verbal assault on Governor Emmanuel and alluded to the fact that ‘ one who goes to the marker place with a basket of reproaches seeks reprobation’. He further opined that arrogance exhibited by Tinubu in Akwa Ibom soil does not work barefoot without getting its feet burnt’. Abasieyo ” For bearing his fangs to vent vituperations on our soil against a man that who gave him access to use our prestigious public square, BAT ( Bola Ahmed Tinubu will get the deserved result for those who take pride in biting against the fingers that fed them. On the threat by Tinubu that he could have evicted Governor Emmanuel from Lagos pooh – pooh that as absurd for a man that worknin Mobil here in Akwa Ibom ” Come to think of it ExxonMobil produces all of its hydrocarbon wholly in Akwa Ibom State soil. Tinubu worked here upon his escape from prosecution over a drug case in America. Akwa Ibom people did not asked for his head. Lagos was made a home for all Nigerians including BAT who originally migrated from Osun”.
Also joining in the condemnation of Tinubu for his outburst against the Governor, were some socio- cultural groups like Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio and Afi Iwad Ekid and they did not have kind words for the APC candidate either.
In his reaction, the International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Akparawa James Edet in a memo co- signed by Secretary Elder Bassey Bassey titled ‘ Bola Tinubu’s unpresidential outburst in Akwa Ibom stated that in spite of of being a non- partisan group, but as an apex socio- cultural group of the Ibibio nation will not fail to share the disappointment of many on the condemnation act of Tinubu. The group noted with shock that rather than tell Akwa Ibom people what his blueprint is for the nation, he resorted to the use of gutter language to demean the exalted office of the governor, an office he once occupied and cites ‘ profusely as his qualification to ran for the Presidency “.
For Afi- Iwad Ekid, apex socio- cultural group of Eket people and Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance have also lend their voice condemning Tinubu for insulting Governor Emmanuel.The President of the former Etiene Bob on behalf of the Eket socio- cultural group said that Tinubu does not deserve the votes of Akwa Ibom as his attack on the governor whom he described as the father of the state was an indication of ” his unstable mental state”. He chastised the APC candidate for failing to speak on his manifesto and rather resort to verbal attacks on personality and advised other candidates not to emulate the bad example of the APC candidate.
In case of Akwa Ibom Integrity, its Chairman Stephen Abia has urged Tinubu to retract his statement with apology to the governor or face legal action by the group.Another group, an Abuja based Concern Citizens of Akwa Ibom State described Tinubu’s statement as instigating and life threatening. The convener Isikong Isang frowned at a situation whereby one who is regarded as an Elder Stateman could be making such inflammatory statement and equally demand an apology from the former governor of Lagos State.” We as concerned Nigerians condemned the unpatriotic, unconscionable, offensive and abusive act on the sitting governor and in solidarity with millions and peace loving indigenes of Akwa Ibom in particular demand an apology from Bola Tinubu and the withdrawal of that unprintable comment for the sake of peace and unity of our country “.
He said Tinubu should have reciprocated the kind gesture the man who made necessary logistics available for his campaign.
It is not only Akwa Ibomites that have condemned the remarks of Tinubu on Governor Emmanuel, the Atiku/ Okowa Campaign Organisation also reacted by taking a swipe at APC Presidential candidate. Kola Olagbondiyan, who also doubles as National Publicity Secretary of PDP said it was pathetic that Tinubu finding it difficult to come to terms with his impending defeat could vent his frustration to a governor who did not provoke him.
He said Nigerians could now imagine how autocratic a Tibubu’s Presidency could turn as vicious, disrespectful, harassing,intimidating and subdividing.
It could be recalled that during the APC Presidential Campaign in Uyo, infrastructural of other APC governors, and party chieftains from the state, like Senator Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, former Managing Director of NDDC, Obong Umana Okon Umana, minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and the party’s governorship candidate Mr Akanimo Udofia had made an uncomplimentary remarks on Governor Emmanuel which reverberated chains of reactions from some concerned citizens and group. The statement that stirred the hornet nest read ” Akwa Ibom, that boy wey bring Atiku here, wey deh call himself Governor, tell him enough is enough.
He lives in my backyard in Lagos. If no be say we be one, I would have driven him home.
You see that mansion he is living, I would just use lizards, pigeons and scorpions and put inside”
Although, the APC Presidential candidate is not known to be an eloquent speaker even during his day’s as a governor, but ever since he indicated interest to contest for the office of the president, won the Party’s Presidential and began his campaign he has committed a lot of gaffes in comments and speeches which has been a concern to.many Nigerians including his party supporters, making some questioning the state of health and mental capacity.
A peep into some of the noticeable mind boggling gaffes of Tinubu in recent times is worrisome.
For instance, at the Uyo rally which he referred to the governor as a boy, he made mention of them making Atiku senate President. Atiku was Vice- President for eight years during former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so has never been a Senator or senate President as Tinubu said.
Again at a campaign rally at Rawan Pam Township Stadium Jos, Plateau state, he goofed again by saying God bless PD/ APC whereas he wanted to say God bless APC, so ended up saying PD/ APC. President Muhammadu Buhari was at the event.
Still at that rally, he referred to the governor of Plateau as Solomon Dalong, instead of Solomon Lalong.
Another notable one was in Lagos when he asked his supporters if they love him before urging them to get their APV…APC to vote for him when he meant PVC.
Still in Lagos shortly before the commencement of continuous voter registration while addressing market women who visited him, he told them that the permanent voters card they kept with them had expired do they should go and get another one. This serious gaffe prompted a swift rebuttal by INEC Chairman that voters card do not expired.
He exhibited another of his trademark gaffe in Delta State during his campaign Oporoza Gbaramatu Kingdom, when he said the APC governorship candidate in Delta State, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo Agege would be the next president of Niger Delta State. What he meant was Delta state.
At the Tunde Rahman symposium he shocked participants when he said he will recruit 50 million youths into the army to solve unemployment problem when he meant 50,000.
In October last year, while in Kaduna in am event that had Governor Nasir El- Rufai in attendance, he talked about the governor as one who has a vision of turning a ‘ rotten situation to a bad one’. The event was the 7th edition of Kadinvest organised by Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency.
Tinubu referring to Governor El- Rufai said ” We are not going to let you run away. Your vision, creativity and resilience in turning a rotten situation to a bad one is necessary at this critical time. That is why we are here”.
In November last year at a town hall meeting in Owerri, Imo state, he was quotes murmuring some words that sounded like ‘ Bala Blu, Blu, Bulaba. Observers believed he wanted to say ‘ hullabaloo’.
At a function on climate this year, Tinubu was quoted comparing Nigeria’s adherence to global climate change to a rat eating a poisoned holy communion.
Just last month in Osogbo, Osun State, he shocked Nigerians when he said he will double a 4- year period of a course in the University to 8 years.
Again recently in his meeting with women groups in Lagos he told them to tell people that say this government is not doing well to shut up.
Infact his many uncouth statements at publing outing is said to be a major concern of even the president and party hierarchy. President Buhari and his government has not been spared either. He said recently that he put Buhari there in that seat and that the fuel Scarcity and Naira Redesign approved by the President is targeted at him.
What has really fuel the suspicion that Tinubu has a health challenge which he would not have the capacity to hold the office of the president of Nigeria, is not only his in eloquent and incoherent speeches and gaffe but the fact that his hands are always shaking. This has fueled the fear that he may have Parkinson, a decease associated with that symptoms.
For Tinubu and his ardent supporters, he is hale and hearty and is confident of winning the coming election. But for opposition and some observers, Tinubu now is not Tinubu of 15 years ago to shoulder such position of Nigeria president seeing his political outing in recent time which many Nigerians at as being bereft of issues rather than attacking of personalities of political opponents.
