Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa State, characterized President Bola Tinubu as a bold and self-made leader who owes his rise to no one, including his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari,Daily Trust reports.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Lamido, a senior figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remarked that Tinubu is skilled at understanding and manipulating the system to his advantage.
Lamido recalled that before the APC convention, Tinubu confidently declared in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that it was his turn to lead Nigeria, while Buhari, who Lamido described as naive, simply watched. According to Lamido, Buhari never liked Tinubu and had someone else in mind—Ahmed Lawan—whom he wanted to succeed him. However, Lamido noted that Buhari’s calculations were flawed, as continuing with another Northerner for eight more years after Buhari’s tenure was unrealistic given Nigeria’s dynamics.
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Lamido pointed out that despite Buhari’s presence at the convention, Tinubu, whom Buhari never supported, emerged victorious. He argued that Tinubu’s win wasn’t due to Buhari, and therefore, Tinubu owes him nothing. Lamido added that Tinubu was not the preferred choice of groups like Afenifere or figures like Obasanjo, yet he still became president. He credited Tinubu’s determination to overcome all obstacles in his path.
Lamido also commented on the challenges the PDP faces in preparing for the 2027 elections, acknowledging the difficulty of competing against Tinubu, who has a strong grip on the country and the economy. He warned not to underestimate Tinubu, citing his past successes in overcoming challenges from various political factions and figures.
According to Lamido, Tinubu’s journey to the top was marked by overcoming significant obstacles, making him a formidable figure in Nigerian politics. He concluded by describing Tinubu as a man who sees Nigeria as his domain, where he acts as an “emperor” who doesn’t care about others’ opinions.
