WHY SEN. BOLA AHMED TINUBU AND ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR WILL FALL AT THE RISE OF MR. PETER OBI IN 2023. Written by KEMKA S. IBEJI

I said it earlier that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is here in 2023 to learn national politics. Nigeria is definitely not Lagos State. He doesn't have the national spread and exposure. Appointing people from different tribes or states in Nigeria is not having the requisite knowledge and exposure.

Boom! He chose Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate. This man has heavy baggage on his back and will complicate issues for Tinubu. He was on the national TV talking like a teddy bear before the presidential primary election where he was busy insulting the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. While those who don't understand sanity were clapping, some of knew it was already a bad omen for whoever he is drumming support for. And to worsen all, the arrogance he shares with Tinubu made them to take Nigerians for granted by fielding Muslim-Muslim ticket. Same faith ticket is not acceptable to Nigerians and especially at the moment. Maybe at some other time when religion is not at spotlight, it can fly but not now. It's against the peace, unity, brotherliness, bonding, sensitivity and sensibility of Nigeria and Nigerians at this time.

I won't even talk about Adams Oshiomhole and the disaster he will bring to the Tinubu campaign.

As if it was not enough, Vaam! He appointed Festus Keyamo as his campaign spokesperson and I laughed knowing is the first step to his failure. The man Keyamo has no character, he is so immature and so temperamental. Keyamo acts by instinct and can be easily manipulated in mind's game. I can easily tell you what Keyamo will do if I take certain action. That's who he is; he is clearly and easily predictable. He can't be a good campaign spokesperson. He would have been better without any public position which will allow him latitude to insult, abuse and use his unguarded words. This would have been useful because those would have been easily denied or disowned as not the position of the campaign team. He shares same personality with untamed and inexperienced young activists.

Since Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu doesn't have the national exposure and spread, he will once again usher in another regime of heightened tension in the land through tribalism, sectionalism, plebendalism, favouritism, lopsidedness, insensitivity, cultural arrogance, foolhardiness, and every bad introduction possible by his lack.

Unfortunately, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be the President of Nigeria in 2023 and not again in his lifetime. This is not because he never had the qualities that could make him lead Nigeria one day, but because he came to the centre stage too late. He is old enough to be a professor while he's about getting into the class for GSS or GST courses. Sadly, timing is against him and chance has brought him down. These define his arrogance, insensitivity and diehard disposition; he has no more time.

He former Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar suffers same fate with Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu but for some other reasons. The one they share in common is age. Atiku Abubakar is old and this is his last chance but unfortunately he will never be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his life. I think this has a lot to do with one's destiny and not either his choice or ours.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar rose into prominence especially in the 1999 presidential election. He ran with President Obasanjo as a running mate even while he had already won as the Governor of Adamawa State. Of course, he is a political maestro. If you permit me, I will call him both a political tactician and talisman. He has had his good days and I can tell you that destiny has been so fair to him. He rose from the ashes of orphanage into a worldwide celebrated political leaders.

But there is something about values, morality and character with leadership. Those came so hard at Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He has an image of an unreliable fellow, a corrupt leader and a bad company. He is also imbued with a heightened greed at a degree that blinds. He has had his truest bite and peak in 2019 when even his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo dropped all his anger about Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and supported him wholeheartedly. Indeed, it was also the turn of the northland he got all the support necessary for his victory. I can, without fear of mistakes, say that heaven, earth and the subliminal gave support to him in 2019 but his destiny cast a spell on all and dashed that tremendous charm of time.

2023 is the turn of the South-East and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar knows it more than anyone else within the PDP. He also got the 2019 PDP presidential ticket upon a promise of one tenure run. That one tenure was adequately given to him but fate hit it flat. Coming to clinch the PDP presidential ticket again in 2023 is against the forces and spirit of goodness and it is bound to fail. Atiku and his team are liars to say that Gov. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his forceful ambition not to allow the micro-zoning to the South-East made him to contest for the ticket. They are deceitful in such statements. Nothing on earth will stop a truthful and decent man from standing on the truth and to rebuke the wrong doers by affirming the micro-zoning to the South-East which has the support of the spirit of the PDP as a political party. Atiku Abubakar can deceive humans, he cannot deceive God. But God is the ultimate ruler of Nigeria and him alone will choose the next President of Nigeria in 2023. He definitely has passed the seat of both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the presidential anointing in 2023.

One thing that will marvel all is the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi from almost nowhere. He did not make noise while coming out. In fact, before he declared to run, I had written copiously against him calling him a cunning man who was waiting for the rest Igbos to fight and get worn out before he will come out still neat, strong and fresh to snatch it from the tired hands. I was bitter at his silence. I wrote that he was waiting to run again as the Vice Presidential Candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. This same line was used by Mr. Nyesom Wike against him during the build up of the PDP presidential primaries. I wrote angrily knowing that it was a ripe time for Mr. Peter Obi to lead Nigeria. I saw his age, his experience, his expertise, his courage, his exposure, his competence, credibility and capacity (in his parlance). I was sure that if he misses it this time, he would have missed it forever because next would have been too late. Again, that miss was not going to be for him alone, he would have denied the entire Nigeria and Nigerians a worthy leadership deserving of this time and age of the country. But before I could drop my pen, behold, Mr. Peter Obi wore his raiment of service and trudged to the paths lending himself to the service of fatherland. What a time to be a Nigerian!

Mr. Peter Obi is an astute business man, an entrepreneur par excellence, and a manager of men and materials. He is a saver, a keeper, a tenderer, a trader, a grower and a noble man. He has human sympathy and confident in justice. He is a remarkable personality and a believer of the Nigerian project. No wonder he is now presented as the figure of the NIGERIAN PROJECT in 2023. All hail the point man of the OBIdient Movement!

Lastly, let us pray for Mr. Peter Obi, his followers, the leaders and our country. Let God hear the prayer of the poor, rejected, frustrated and dehumanised Nigerians. We no longer have a safe place in our land. Terrorism and all manner of insecurities have taken over our land. The manager of our resources have been on journey of waste and allowing other countries of the world to take away the blessings of Nigerians from God. We export crude oil (black gold) at almost valueless price and import its parts at very excruciating prices. We export our crude oil with the clinging employments, jobs and wealth but import poverty, want and lack. Those are the types of curses that Nigerians have suffered from bad leadership. We need a Nigerian President with human feelings. We need a Nigerian President with a creative mind. We need a Nigerian President who will be fearless and intelligent to stand before other presidents to defend his or her people. We need a Nigerian President that will discuss Nigeria, settle all problems, bring everyone together in forgiveness to one another and uniting the entire country. We need a new Nigeria come 2023 and it is just Possible with Mr. Peter Obi.

God bless Nigeria!