The Southwest Consensus Group, SCG, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the alleged expansionist agenda of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
SCG noted that Tinubu had remained keen on influencing those who get to positions just to maintain his control of the party and stake in government ahead of “his 2023 ambition”.
“We want Mr President to be careful of the expansionist agenda of a man who wants to take the nation within his grip by installing Speaker and Senate President”, it said.
According to the group, cry of marginalization by a section of the Southwest was part of “arm twisting tactics” from Tinubu.
A statement issued on Wednesday by its Chairman, Adekunle Adedoyin, Enietan-Matthews, lamented that since the inception of the APC administration, Tinubu has “cornered and empowered Lagos politicians and positioned them for takeover in the nearest future”.
“The Yoruba agitation is loud but unheard because the seeming marginalisation of the region is man or self inflicted.
“The Lagos landlord can’t be said to be fighting for the Yoruba people as his antecedent during the NASS leadership struggle in 2011, when he abandoned two yoruba candidates to support Aminu Tambuwal.
“Asiwaju Tinubu also showed his love for Lagos and disdain for other states in 2015, when he vehemently opposed an illustrious Yoruba son from Osun, Rt. Hon Lasun Yusuf.
“The singular sin of Hon. Yusuf is that he is from Osun, a supposed colony of Lagos, where they can only be surrogates to Lagos and her lord.
“It is also worthy to recall that the expansionist moves of the APC national leader was responsible for sending Rauf Aregbesola to Osun, Femi Lanlehin to Oyo, Opeyemi Bamidele to Ekiti and several others to seek elective posts.”
Citing instances, SCG noted that besides Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Babatunde Fashola, both members of the Tinubu cabinet as governor of Lagos State, some of the most admired boards have been ceded to Lagos.
It said’ “The chairman of SMEDAN is Mr Femi Pedro, the erstwhile Deputy Governor to Bola Tinubu, while Fashola’s Deputy, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire is the SSA on SDGs to Mr. President.
“Lagos also boasts of the chairmanship of AMCON in the person of Muiz Banire, a former commissioner from Lagos while the former revenue boss in Lagos, Tunde Fowler, is the head of the FIRS.
“SSA on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri Erewa to the Presidenct now Diaspora Commission chairman; Osinbajo’s the deputy chief of staff, Ade Ipaye; Babafemi Ojodu, SA political to Mr President are all from the Lagos school of thought”.
“Another Tinubu’s aide, Wale Edun is the chairman of the Ogoni clean-up, a multi-billion dollar project in the Niger Delta.
“Two powerful women who worked with the APC national leader are also holding very sensitive offices in the administration. Kemi Nelson is ED NISTF while her counterpart in Tinubu’ cabinet, Teju Phillips, heads the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan.
“The Lagos magic also clinched the all important position of Economic Adviser in the person of Adeolu Dipeolu.
“The Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, has octogenarian friend of Tinubu, Otunba Olabiyi Durojaye as chairman while Tinubu’s ex spokesman, Sunday Dare is Executive Commissioner.
“The Director General of the National Lottery Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila is from Lagos. The Executive Director in charge of micro credit at the Bank of Industry is Toyin Adeniji, another Lagos product, among several others”, the group lamented.
The statement added that “Tinubu’s 2023 is real” and advised Northerners working to retain power in the region to get ready for a political battle.
