Caught in the web of two important principles; the principle of reciprocity and principle of loyalty, president Buhari seems set to make his preferred successor known to the party’s faithfuls and members.
Billed for May 2023, the ruling party is preparing to conduct the presidential primary election based on the time frame handed down by the electoral body. Preparatory to the general election, the participating parties in the election are under obligation to present their candidates for the election. This is in tandem with the electoral laws.
Worried by the numbers of heavy weights showing interest to occupy Aso Rock, the president seems to be in a dilemma over where he pitches his tent. By virtue of his position as the leader, Mr President has become a bride whose interest matters most in the eventual choice of the party’s Flagbearer.
This singular honour is causing insomnia and migraine for the aging president because all the aspirants within his party are either his benefactor or beneficiary.Apparently, his body language lacks proper posture. It is defective with reference to kyphosis and scoliosis in human kinetics and sports.
The dilemma of the president is premised on the two principles mention in paragraph one of the piece.
According to anthropology, there’s a natural law in every society called the Law of Reciprocity. The Law of Reciprocity states that; ” when people receive something, they feel compelled to return the favor in kind.” The driving motivation behind reciprocation might be to dispel our debt or to not be seen as a moocher or parasite. Much of the time, the law of reciprocity inspires us to give even more than the value of what was received. We navigate this law every day. However, we seldom realize what a powerful effect it has, even subconsciously.
Loyalty; in general use, is simply devotion and faithfulness.The definition of loyalty in law and political cycle is the fidelity of an individual to a nation.The encyclopaedia britannica defines loyalty as “allegiance to the sovereign or established government.This could be referred to as fidelity in service, in love, or to an oath that one has made. Interestingly, both principles have biblical references.
In the Gospel of Matthew 6:24, Jesus states, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. Reciprocation also has its biblical reverence in the bible.
Of all the numerous potential aspirants within the ruling party, two political juggernauts have thrown the president off balance. Their pedigrees and quality is having an adverse effect on the aerodynamic movements of the president. Both Asiwaju Tinubu and professor Osibajo are two dear to the outgoing president to the extent that the president has found it uneasy to anoint one at the expense of other. The duo have supported the president as exemplified in the two principles of the introductory part of this article.
Every Nigerian who is vast with Nigeria polity can witness to the fact that Asiwaju made Buhari. Through his political dexterity and astuteness, Asiwaju single handedly rebranded and removed the veil of serial contestant over the fave of the president. The contribution of Asiwaju to Buhari’s presidency was also confirmed when the president mentioned the name Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his speech at his first inauguration in 2009. However, president famous statement of ” I am for everybody, I belong to nobody” was a slip of tongue.
Arguably, the most loyal Vice president in the anal history of Nigeria democracy is Professor Osibajo. Reliable, trustworthy and dependable. It is rare for a president to transfer power to his deputy while traveling abroad. At the transferring of power as enshrined in the constitution, the vice president becomes the supremo. Power is intoxicating. A power monger could sit anything to prevent the return of his Principal. That is more the reason why some president are skeptical to delegate the president to act by proxy.
In the case of the law professor, president Buhari has never had any course to think twice over his deputy’s loyalty.
Now that both Asiwaju and Osibajo have thrown their hats to the ring, it remains to be seen who gets the blessings of the president.
Instructively, Asiwaju made Osibajo.That Osibajo could now tango Tinubu is a million naira moral question.
Buhari’s penchant for being reticent on issues has been keeping everyone guessing on who he will likely settle for as his preferred choice, a subject the president has evaded on a number of occasions.
Recall that he had expressed fears his favourite presidential candidate might be ‘eliminated’ if he revealed his identity.
One cannot outrightly doubt the tactical approach of the president on issues like this going by the way he handled the issue of the national chairman of the party. Every outgoing president would show interest in who his political party will present as his likely successor.
The APC, according to a letter addressed to the INEC, will conduct its presidential primary election on May 30 and 31
Comrade Lekan Badmus is a columnist with Oduduwa News.