The popular phrase is, When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. The ambition of the phrase is that when there are problems, strong people work hard to solve them, or, when the situation gets critical, those who aren’t weak in will, work harder and never give up. The proverb is attributed to Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of former US President, John F. Kennedy.
Someone somewhere wrote something similar and supportive, but with a sarcastic intention, thus, when the going goes good, the goodies get going. The advanced interpretation of the phrase could carry a cynical query, that would ask, what was being done when the going was going good, and the goodies were going round?
This article intends to juxtapose the position of both phrases with the political situation of the APC, with respect to the issue of return on political investment, as they stand on the fate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaba of Borgu.
To say that Tinubu had contributed in the political development of Nigeria, especially in entrenching and ensuring the distribution of good democratic dividends is an understatement. But is there a price, if yes, has it been paid?
Perhaps the answer would come when we know what was done when the going was going good.
Political scientists say political risk assessment helps political investors understand the political environment of the country, in order for them to know the kind of return or returns they would reap from their investments.
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Has Tinubu made that risk assessment before his investment, and is there, or was there any goodies he got when the going was good?
Yes, as things stand, the going may not be too good for Tinubu, as far as his life long political ambition is concerned, because feelers from everywhere, are suggesting he may not get the presidential ticket of the APC, a thing that has made him to start the outburst of anger.
Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta, while addressing the APC delegates ahead of the party’s primaries, Tinubu said, “If not me that led the war front, Buhari wouldn’t have emerged. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again. But I went to his home in Katsina. I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yoruba. Since he has emerged, I have not been appointed minister. I didn’t get contract. This time, it’s Yoruba turn and in Yorubaland, it’s my tenure.”
Tinubu also categorically said he nominated Prof Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate.
Things must be bad now, but were there any goodies, when the going was going good?
On the same occasion, with the anger that portrayed the emotion of a man feeling betrayed, Tinubu again lashed at the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, for openly endorsing the presidential aspiration of Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.
He said Dapo Abiodun is an ingrate, and that without God and him, Abiodun would not have emerged in 2019 election as Ogun Governor.
So when the good was good, Tinubu was given the powers to single-handedly select who becomes the Vice President, the Governor, and perhaps other undisclosed lucrative positions.
In what seems like a response to the Jagaba, my friend and colleague, Sham Faliya Sharon, wrote and I quote:
“IN ANY CASE, DIDN’T BUHARI OVER-COMPENSATE YOU? Kano, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Adamawa, Yobe, Niger and Kaduna states that brought the lion votes are yet to have any completed railway project or any major infrastructure by President Muhammadu Buhari. But your Southwest region that brought a total vote less than what Bauchi State alone brought now has several railway projects, roads and other infrastructure completed! How about key appointments? You have the VP, Minister of Works and Housing, SDGs, Speaker of the House of Reps, and many other top jobs that determine key projects. Are they a loss to you? If all those who worked for the emergence of Buhari as President in 2015 are to have this overrated sense of entitle-mentalism, and are to also demand special attention and preference over others, then shouldn’t we be on our knees begging people like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to come back to the fold? Actually, I can also personally make my own boast, because I know what I did on newspaper pages for several months, to sway a lot of minds and opinions in favour of Buhari. And I know many others who did the same. So? Only God Almighty gives power. Let’s not sink the APC because of some overrated ego or some over-expectations”.
I don’t know if Tinubu has gotten the desired returns he wanted, but I know politics is like the game of Ludo, if you don’t get the throw you want, you must make use of the throw you get, to win the game.
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I know because of Tinubu, a new nomenclature was introduced in the organogram of the APC hierarchy, with the title of, the National Party Leader. This title couldn’t be like the inconsequential title given to me from the University, of Mr. President. Unlike my unimportant title of Mr. President, which doesn’t accord me any privilege even at a Bukka, the Jagaba’s National Leader title opens every door on the corridor of power.
I read somewhere that, Buhari, through the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, awarded a contract to a private firm, REMITA, which is the acronym for Remi Tinubu and Ahmed, as consultants for the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), at 1% commission. REMITTA has collected over N2.5 trillion last year alone, through E-Collections, and on the average, it smiles to the bank with an average of N25 million daily.
N25 million daily? With that kind of goodies, some people can change their religion.
I am an ardent supporter of Tinubu, but I think he needs to borrow a leaf from the saying of Lionel Messi, that, “Sometimes you have to accept you can’t win all the time.
Ibrahim, a media advisor writes from Abuja
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