2023: North fears Tinubu may be green snake in green grass

Tinubu is accused of being desperate to succeed Buhari by the north.

If you agree that money never sleeps, then the same can probably be said of politics.

We are barely six months into the 'next level' and from the last presidential election whose outcome is still being challenged in court. As things currently stand in the Tribunal battle between Atiku, Buhari and INEC, it seem the PDP's candidate in the last presidential election is on course to reclaiming what he calls a "stolen mandate". But that can only happen if Buhari intends to become the first Nigerian president to be sacked by a court.



Tribunal aside, political parties now have their eyes set on 2023 general elections irrespective of the outcome of the Tribunal case against Buhari's re-election.

While the PDP seem focused on its tribunal case against Buhari's re-election, the APC is already struggling to cope with interested parties jostling for the ticket to succeed the president come 2023.


The loudest noise of the bunch is the ambition of APC’s National Chairman and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While he is yet to officially declare his intention, there's the general belief that Tinubu will be one of many favorites from the Southwest, to succeed the president.

But Tinubu is one personality the north appears to be wary of. The fear that he could end up being a green snake in green grass, has seen him being monitored by Northern groups who accuse him of playing smart and misleading the president.


The polarize state of the Southwest and negative perception of the Buhari administration by the Yorubas in addition to rejection of the proposed Ruga Settlement, is another evidence of Tinubu’s waning influence in the Southwest.




Recent allegations against Tinubu by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), accused Tinubu of double speaking on issues of the unity of the country. The group suggested that Tinubu’s desperation for power has seen him denigrate the Southeast by giving misleading counsel to the president against the region in a bid to further his cause.

Speaking through the group's spokesman, Abdulazeez Suleiman, the group said comments by Tinubu on “Let’s work for growth, not separation” published in one of the dailies on Monday, August 11, 2019, is hypocritical and a move aimed to "push his ambition for the presidency at all cost."



However, in Tinubu’s defense, Mr. Fouad Oki of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, said those accusing Tinubu of being desperate and using vicious strategies to further his presidential ambition are either ignorant, or chose to play blind to Tinubu’s contributions toward a united and peaceful Nigeria.

 Oki said Tinubu is yet to declare his presidential ambition, so it's strange that the North is raising unfounded allegations against a man from whom many Nigerians benefited including the president himself.



He said, “If they (CNG) want to attack Tinubu, their allegations must be verifiable. In the first place, the group should ask northern leaders in APC or if possible, the presidency, how Lawal was appointed as SGF. They should also find out which of the northern elites does not have business or other relationship with Tinubu.

“All the stories about Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition are based on assumption, and unfortunately they are indirectly promoting him.


Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of pan Yoruba group, Afenifere has recently warned Tinubu to not allow himself be fooled into thinking his support for the North will win him the trust of the North.

There's also the claim that the North is scheming to keep Buhari in power beyond 2023, as such, raises unfounded allegations aimed at causing rift between the West and Eastern parts of the country. How this would all play out is only a matter of time.