Kareem Iyanda PhD
Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reputation as a political kingmaker is well established in the country no controversy on this. He was instrumental in building the coalition that brought Muhammed Buhari to power in 2015 after Buhari many attempt that was met with failure. This happened after previously supporting Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambitions, though Atiku was unsuccessful in his bid.
Tinubu’s strategic prowess and influence culminated in his own victory in the 2023 presidential election, where he secured the presidency with 8.79million votes, outpacing both Atiku and Peter Obi though the two are yet to accept the defeat.
Inspite of being a seasoned politician and former vice president, Atiku has repeatedly failed to clinch the presidency. His most recent attempt in 2023 saw him finish second to Tinubu with 6.98million votes. Tinubu’s journey from kingmaker to president is seen by many as a masterclass in political strategy, leveraging alliance and regional loyalties, particularly in the Southwest, to secure his position.
The big question is- now with Tinubu as president, the narrative shifts:If Tinubu, the master strategist, could not deliver victory for Atiku, and has since used his political machinery to secure his own presidency, who else can “sell” Atiku to Nigerians?
This question highlights the limits of political sponsorship and the reality that repeated failures may signal the end of Atiku’s presidential ambitions.
Despite his loses, Atiku remains active, recently mobilizing opposition groups to challenge Tinubu in the next election cycles, aiming to build a broad coalition for 2027. Yet, there is growing sentiment that Atiku should accept his fate and step back from the presidential race, as his continued bids risk being seen as political wandering without direction or fresh appeal.
Atiku should accept his fate and stop his political wandering, reflects a common view among observers, suggesting that Nigeria’s political landscape may be ready for new faces and ideas.
