Yorubas from different political divides have been re-strategizing for 2023, when it is hoped that the North through General Muhammadu Buhari, would have completed their quota of eight years as the president and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Already marginalized in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where they played prominent and dominant role since 1999, when one of their own, General Olusegun Obasanjo mounted the saddle, as the President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Yorubas are determined to stage a comeback at the centre of politics come 2019 or exactly twenty (20) years after, their long sought after advent.
Already, the former Governor of Oyo state, Chief Alao-Akao has dumped PDP and joined forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC). His defection is coming on the heels of that of the former Minister of Defense Chief, Obanikoro, who recently announced his defection to APC leaving out his political rivals in Chief Ogunlewe and Chief Agbaje to struggle for what is left of PDP leadership in Lagos state. Also former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection compliments that of the former Governor of Oyo state, Alao-Akao and he has according to reports decamped with hundreds of thousands of their supporters. The Yorubas calculation is that having lost the position of National Chairman of PDP which was earlier zoned to the South West Region in the arrangement, they are left to play second fiddle hence the need for a strategic political arrangement and realignment forces that would “guarantee their succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 either through Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who as Vice President has remained very loyal and supportive of President Buhari or Distingusied Senator Almed Bola Tinubu”, the Jogaban and Asiwaju of Nigeria politics and National leader of APC.
It is believed in several quarters that the former Governor of Lagos state, Ahmed Bola Tinubu had previously played along with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the initial plans to destabilize APC. But realizing that Atiku Abubakar had contrary to his desires, played major roles in the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President which was also against the choice of the National leadership of the party, Bola Tinubu had to withdraw from the proponents of the new party and quickly mended fences with President Buhari thus frustrating Atikus plans to destabilize the APC.
