MONDAY COLUMN — Daniel Bwala’s Appointment: Is Tinubu Robbing Paul to Settle Peter?
As someone who has always admired the Yoruba people for their hospitality and open-arm relationship with other tribes, I find myself conflicted today as it stands, when you look at some of the questionable actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
My admiration for the Yoruba race runs deep, so much so that my love for their culture has endeared me speak their language fluently, even more than my native Ebira dialect. This deep respect and admiration for Yoruba hospitality has always shaped my view of them as a people who are accommodating, inclusive, and generous.
But today, I find myself questioning whether this deeply held belief in their goodwill is being tested by the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu toward two APC stalwarts, former governors of Kogi and Kaduna states, Yahaya Bello and Nasir El-Rufai, especially discerning from some people’s stereotypical beliefs that Yorubas are naturally betrayers and traitors. I just hope and pray President Tinubu doesn’t reinforce this stereotype.
It’s no secret that the road to Tinubu’s presidency in 2023 was fraught with conspiracies, political sabotage, and betrayals. However, it was the steadfast support of leaders like Bello and El-Rufai that helped turn the tide in his favor. These men fought tooth and nail to ensure that Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria was not drowned in the political quagmire that was conspiring against him.
They went to war against powerful forces within the political establishment, and they prevailed.
As Tinubu’s main rivals—Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—seemed set to contest the presidency on a strong footing, both Bello and El-Rufai stood firmly behind the APC’s cause.
They fought for Tinubu when the odds seemed impossible. One of the most notable battles during this period was the artificial scarcity of naira, a politically motivated move to thwart Tinubu’s chances. Yet, it was these same governors—Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara—who stood at the forefront, protesting the naira policy and even taking the federal government to the Supreme Court in a bid to protect Tinubu’s chances.
What’s more, these two men—Bello and El-Rufai—were at the heart of a critical moment in the APC’s presidential race in 2022. The party had initially planned to endorse a consensus candidate, with former Senate President Ahmed Lawan seemingly poised to take the ticket. But it was Yahaya Bello, as an aspiring APC presidential candidate himself, who insisted that the party hold a primary election.
This move paved the way for Tinubu to win the presidential ticket, a victory that ultimately led to his election as president. Without Bello’s determination, it’s possible that Lawan would have walked away with the ticket, and the 2023 election would have unfolded very differently.
After Tinubu won the party’s presidential nomination, Yahaya Bello didn’t hesitate to throw his full weight behind the president. He collapsed his political structure to support Tinubu, ensured that the APC triumphed in Kogi State, and promised to work tirelessly for Tinubu’s success.
The same can be said for El-Rufai, who, threw his full support behind Tinubu, contributing significantly to the president’s electoral success in the North.
But what did they get in return?
Instead of being rewarded for their loyalty and sacrifices, these two men are now being subjected to a campaign of harassment and humiliation. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been unleashed on both Yahaya Bello and Nasir El-Rufai, with allegations of mismanagement of state funds during their tenure as governors.
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Yes, one may cut the president the slack that he submitted El-rufai’s name for ministerial nomination that was rejected by the Senate during screening. But, President Tinubu, as the leader of the executive arm wields significant and enormous influence and power over the political machinery of Nigeria.
While the Senate is an independent body, its actions are often swayed by political pressure, especially when the president takes a keen interest in a particular issue or nominee. This is where Tinubu’s political clout should have been more apparent. If the president was genuinely determined to have El-Rufai in his Cabinet, he could have used his extensive network of allies, both within and outside the Senate to influence the outcome of the confirmation process, just as it was done in the case of Festus Keyamo, the Minister for Aviation.
Tinubu could have engaged key Senate leaders, especially the Senate President and committee heads, offering incentives or leveraging political alliances to ensure that El-Rufai’s confirmation went through smoothly. After all, the APC controls the majority of the Senate, and it would not have been unprecedented for the president to sway key senators into supporting his nominee, especially if El-Rufai’s inclusion was seen as vital for the success of the administration. Seeing only El-rufai’s name being screened out by the Senate is curious, and politically suspicious to say the least.
The very men who risked their political careers and lives to secure Tinubu’s presidency are now being dragged through the mud, while those who once worked against him have been handsomely rewarded.
Take, for instance, the case of Daniel Bwala. Bwala was a vocal critic of Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign, serving as the spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s PDP presidential campaign. He denounced Tinubu relentlessly, even referring to him using derogatory terms. Yet, today, Daniel Bwala has been appointed as Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media.
How is it possible for a man who once attacked you so viciously to be rewarded with a prominent position in your government, while those who fought for your victory are left to rot?
This is where the question arises: Is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu robbing Paul to pay Peter by rewarding those who worked against him and sidelining those who gave their all for his success? Tinubu is perpetuating a dangerous narrative that undermines the values of loyalty, sacrifice, and fairness.
It’s one thing to seek to maintain political alliances and favor those who have helped you in the past. But it’s another thing entirely to betray those who bled for your cause. Yahaya Bello and Nasir El-Rufai are not just politicians—they were key players in ensuring that Tinubu emerged victorious in the face of fierce opposition.
They didn’t just support him from the sidelines—they put their reputations and political futures on the line.
The treatment they are receiving now, being dragged through the EFCC mud while others are elevated, creates the impression of betrayal. And unfortunately, this situation is likely to reinforce a stereotype that has long been ascribed to the Yoruba people, that they are betrayers. A stereotype I have long refused to believe, but now, I find myself questioning.
Tinubu must ask himself: what message is he sending to his political allies? How can he claim to be a champion of fairness and loyalty if he treats those who helped him achieve his dreams with such disdain and deprecation? It’s not too late for him to correct this course. He owes it to Yahaya Bello and Nasir El-Rufai, and to the Nigerian people who supported him to treat them with the respect and recognition they deserve.
In the end, as a lover of Yoruba culture and a firm believer in the importance of loyalty, fairness, and justice, I hope that President Tinubu will not let this moment pass without offering a fair and just recognition to those who helped him rise to power. They deserve nothing less.
Ozumi Abdul is a journalist, columnist, writer and PR consultant. He can be reached via [email protected]
