Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa State, has commended President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a courageous and self-made leader. Lamido emphasized that Tinubu’s ascent to power is a testament to his own hard work and not reliant on any external factors, including the influence of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Lamido characterized Tinubu as exceptionally adept at navigating and manipulating the political landscape. He remarked that Tinubu has effectively mastered the political system to his advantage.
Lamido, a key figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recalled Tinubu’s political journey, highlighting a moment when Tinubu boldly proclaimed in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that it was his time to take the helm of Nigeria.
Lamido pointed out that during this time, President Buhari, who had hesitations about Tinubu and favored another candidate, appeared to adopt a more passive stance.
He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. You have done eight years for the North and you wanted another Northerner for another eight years?! No. Maybe later but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today.
The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice. He was there at the convention and Tinubu that he never liked, he never believed in emerged. Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing.
He wasn’t the choice of Afenifere, Obasanjo never liked him, but he became president. All the other groups, including the governors, were there but he won. He was determined to demolish all obstacles and he crushed them.”
He mentioned that the PDP is dedicated to achieving success in the 2027 elections, despite the obstacles the party is currently facing.
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We are working hard, but it is a huge task. It is going to be difficult with Tinubu, with his hold on the country, on the economy, and his audacity to say this is where I stand against Nigeria’s interest. It is something else. Tinubu is very daring; he is his own creation, he is a self-made man, right from Chicago, what he went through on the streets.
“Look at how he was able to fight the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere and then Obasanjo. At the APC convention, Buhari was against him but he defeated Buhari. What are you talking about? Don’t underestimate a man like that. Look at how he made it in life. He confronted all obstacles to get to where he is today, at the apex.
“There is no Nigerian like Tinubu who has been there on his own. Every established political arrangement, every institution, he demolished them. Now that he is in charge, he is not going to be easy to deal with. With Tinubu, Nigeria is a fiefdom, Tinubu is the emperor. And if you watch him closely, he doesn’t care.”
