In spite of efforts to douse tension through various statements churned out in recent times, Huhuonline.com can report that the cold war between President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) persists.
The rift, according to multiple sources in the party, has to do with the recent governorship election in Kogi and the APC’s choice of Yahaya Bello to inherit the already amassed number of votes by Abubakar Audu, the original candidate of the party, who died shortly after casting his votes in the election which he contested against then sitting Governor, Idris Wada.
Since Bello emerged the preferred choice to inherit the votes of the APC in the election first held at the tail-end of 2015, all efforts, according to members of the party in the Buhari camp, to pacify Tinubu had proven abortive.
Some of the sources told Huhuonline.com that Bello was Buhari’s choice for the election. But Bello was beaten in APC’s primary election by Audu who relied on the political sagacity of Tinubu.
Tinubu had nominated James Faleke, a former council chairman in Lagos and representative of Ikeja Constituency at the House of Representatives, as Audu’s running mate.
The main goal for this choice was the calculation that having served one term before, Audu would not be returning and thus the four years that Faleke would have spent as Deputy Governor would afford him the opportunity to understand the politics of the state so he could easily succeed his boss.
“Since Audu emerged, Tinubu was given the slot as a mark of the usual respect he earns in the party to nominate the running mate.
One of such sources who played a major role in the victory of Buhari in the 2015 general election, said: “unfortunately, Audu died leaving the position of the governorship candidate vacant. Mind you, I said the position of governorship candidate, not the deputy governorship candidate.
“The unfortunate thing with the election was that Faleke could not have assumed the position after Audu’s death because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to declare the final result.
“That was where the party’s constitution came to play a major role and the party, trying to respect President Buhari, decided on Bello.
“If you have been following developments within the party, you would understand that Buhari had often pacified Tinubu with some of the various appointments he had made so far. I don’t need to start listing. This (Bello) was supposed to be a choice by President Buhari. So why not allow this?”
The election was declared inconclusive by INEC which rescheduled the exercise in some parts of the state.
Bello was sworn-in to office days ago after he was declared winner of the election following a collation of his inherited votes and the number of votes he won during the re-scheduled election.
A source in the party, said the party wanted Faleke to remain the Deputy Governor which had been planned for him, but that his refusal to accept the slot could be a clog in the wheel of progress in the state. Currently, the issue has taken a legal position with Faleke urging the tribunal to declare him winner of the election, since he technically had a part in all the aspects of the election.
While some in the party think Faleke’s stand against being Deputy Governor is because he would not have the chance to take over from the governor who would be seeking re-election, others think he is being trudged on by Tinubu, who is his benefactor.
“We all know that this is where his backing comes from. If not, Faleke would not want to go against the wish of the President to have Bello govern the state. If we are not careful, this singular development could result in a major and unfortunate situation for our party.
“Remember we only hurriedly came together to take over power. We are people from different political background and inclinations. We must learn to tolerate ourselves,” a chieftain of the party in Lagos, who pleaded to remain anonymous, said adding that the party is doing all within its powers to manage the situation.
When contacted, a close associate of Faleke in Lagos, who refused to speak officially, said Faleke has a good case.
“Whether he is being encouraged by someone or not, which is not even the case, the truth is that he has a good case and must pursue it to the end.
“This is a clear case of political robbery; if you were in his shoes, you will also demand for justice, but let’s see how things go,” he said.
According to him, those loyal to Faleke suspect a serving Senator of being behind the refusal of INEC to declare the full result during the election in 2015 as they believe INEC acted after learning of the death of Audu and that the news was leaked out by the Senator, whose name he refused to mention.
Meanwhile, groups within the APC in Lagos are currently calling for the recall of Faleke saying with his movement to Kogi, he had left the seat in Ikeja vacant. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos has also called for his removal since it is now known that he has transferred himself to Kogi.
