Imo Gov., Rochas Okorocha Leads Battle To Revolt Against Tinubu Leadership In APC
Prior to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), one man, who used to dominate the political scene of the South West, is a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu’s political career began subtly in the days of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), and by the time democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999, he became a top member of the then Alliance for Democracy from where he became the governor of Lagos State and ruled from 1999 to 2007.
Since then, Tinubu had been having controlling powers as he moved his people to form Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged with the APC in 2013.
In the days of ACN, no one could become governorship candidate, senatorial candidate or a candidate of the Federal House of Reps or get to leadership position in the party without Tinubu’s endorsement and he became a godfather to several politicians and a National Leader of the party even, when APC was formed.
But, it seems the powers wielded by Asiwaju Tinubu are being eroded as he is being challenged by some members of the party, especially APC Governors, who have been financing the party after its formation.
Sources informed us that the man they usually call Jagaban Borgu had the shock of his life recently, when leaders of the party were meeting to decide on their forthcoming convention.
According to what we heard, while Asiwaju Tinubu was planning to impose his men on the party to handle the convention, APC Governors, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State were stoutly against Tinubu’s candidates and they made it clear to him.
“Okorocha said it outright that they would not allow Tinubu to impose the Chairman of the convention committee on them and that henceforth, all positions would be determined by the senior members of the party. They even told him point blank that they were preparing to support Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State as the presidential candidate of the APC against the wish of Asiwaju Tinubu” our source said.
This open confrontation was said to have been too much for Tinubu to bear as he reportedly left the meeting in annoyance before it ended as he would not want people, who he felt did not know what he has invested in the party insult him and take over his authority.
Sources within the party hinted us that the whole scenario is strange to the leaders of the party and that some of them are happy that Asiwaju is being made to understand that he could not continue to control the party the way he used to do, when it was mostly South West affairs.
