On the occasion of this year's 62nd independence day celebration, President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his last independence day address to Nigerians.
"Today’s address would be my last on an Independence Day as your President," Buhari said in what appeared as an emotional moment for him.
His statement also put to rest past speculations that a possible third term bid is in the cards.
Taking the President's second line of his address into account, It is now clear that the man to address Nigerians on its 63rd independence day celebration, won't be President Muhammadu Buhari, but either of the man behind a massive and energetic Obidient movement, a man whose party is crumbling due to unresolved differences, or the man believed to be nothing more than a placeholder for his Vice.
Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi's Obidient movement has continued to gain ground. This is evident as could be seen on the day of the nation’s 62 independent anniversary where massive rallies where held across the country and even abroad.
Despite its own internal crisis, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, still manages to draw crowds of supporters as is evident during his visit to Gombe State.
However, the one man who has been the subject of public discourse since helping Buhari fulfill his dream of ruling the country for 8 years, is not only dealing with crisis within his party, disaffection among Nigerians who still nurse the pains of Buhari's 8 years in power, questions over his health, and anger over his choice of another Muslim as running mate; this same man is also reportedly nowhere to be found within the shores of the country.
Tinubu's absence in some very important events in the country in the past few weeks, such as the Nigerian Bar Association Conference, signing of 2023 election peace pact, and even in his party's official commencement of the 2023 presidential election campaigns among others, has done further harm to his ambition as Nigerians felt justified over concern Tinubu is bound to become another Buhari, hence must be avoided.
The excuse given for his absence by the Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, that contrary to claims of illness, Tinubu is in fact, healthy and working hard in London, as he does in Nigeria, was described as 'lame'.
The "who are we really voting for" question soon began to resonate even among Tinubu's supporters. And rumors that the actual Presidential candidate of the APC, is Senator Kashim Shettima, and not Tinubu himself, also began to make rounds in the social media.
Although the likes of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, have been working really hard to market Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election, it appears that even Kayode himself is not so sure about Tinubu's chances as he openly and repeatedly admits that Labour Party's Peter Obi is poised to take over from Buhari come May 29th, 2023.