The allure of politics is strong. Whether for the big money or for the power and influence, political office, especially for those who have tasted it, remains a beautiful bride to court and have eternally. That’s why recent moves by the former VP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are not coming as a surprise.
Interestingly, however, ambition, in a private man is a vice but in a prince, a virtue. Were Atiku a crown prince of some political monarch, he would probably be the President of Nigeria today. But he isn’t, and that makes all the difference in his bid.
Finally, the former VP has decided to go against the wishes of APC national leader, Tinubu, by openly backing and sponsoring the gubernatorial ambition of Eyitayo Jegede, incumbent Attorney-General of the State who is also a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, at the forthcoming governorship elections. Atiku is throwing his weight behind him in desperate bid to thwart the emergence of Tinubu’s anointed candidate, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi Boroffice, as the APC’s governorship candidate.
Sources within the APC revealed that Atiku is working hard to best Tinubu in the ensuing war of will and test of might over the forthcoming elections.
So desperate is the former VP to tame and outshine Tinubu that he resorted to such extreme measure as secretly sponsorship of the candidacy of rival PDP candidate, Jegede, in his bid to pull all stops in ensuring that Tinubu does not have his way.
In few months, subject to the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the people of Ondo State will go to the poll to elect another leader that will take over from the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, whose tenure expires on February 23, 2017.
