There was fireworks in Yorubaland over the presumed ambition of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 presidential race.
Two prominent figures from the zone, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Henry Dele Ajomale, who spoke with Saturday Sun, disagreed on the propriety or otherwise of the former Lagos State Governor standing for the election.
Adebanjo, a notable Yoruba leader, said the basis for seeking such office by Tinubu, popularly known by his traditional title from Borgu Emirate in Bauchi State, Jagaban, was not there, Ajomale, a former Chairman of the APC in Lagos State, said no one and nothing can stop the move.
Adebanjo told Saturday Sun when asked of his position on zoning, which has become controversial, especially with the recent pronouncement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cousin, Mamman Daura: “I’m talking about the foundation; there must be a constitution before you talk about system of government, that is the root problem.
“When they say, zoning, some people will say it is not in the constitution; it is better we go back to the constitution and make all these things clear, then we know what law we are being ruled.
“They promised Jagaban that they will make him president; I’m not against that, but let us change the constitution first.
“If you want to make my son the president under this constitution, I will oppose it; I will oppose any Southerner who wants to run under this constitution.
change the constitution and let us agree on the terms to live.
“You cannot impose a constitution that is loaded against the South on us.
“I have said this before and let him make a statement to say that Ayo Adebanjo is talking nonsense.”
Ajomale told Saturday Sun: “I’m not surprised by Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s outbursts.
“That is his usual position on any issue relating to Tinubu.
Adebanjo is entitled to his own personal opinion, the view of majority of Nigerians especially APC members across the country is that Tinubu still remains a strong force to reckon with in the party, and not only in APC but in Nigerian politics.
“I’m not surprised by Adebanjo’s comments.
“For reasons known to him, he has never seen anything good about Tinubu.
“To me, the setting up of the Caretaker Committee is not targeted at Tinubu or aimed at whittling down his political influence within the party.
