Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has issued a call to action, urging political and traditional leaders across Southern Nigeria to safeguard President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027 against what he describes as a cabal of northern elites determined to thwart it. Oyintiloye contends that despite Tinubu’s longstanding alliance with the North and consistent support for its political agendas, a recurring pattern emerges wherein a small faction within the northern elite seeks to undermine Southern presidencies, employing tactics like blackmail to destabilize the government. He emphasizes the need to break this historical cycle and ensure that Tinubu receives the backing he deserves for a second term.
Oyintiloye’s argument hinges on the premise that Tinubu has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the North, earning him the right to reciprocal support. He highlights the recurring nature of opposition from a select group within the northern elite against Southern presidents seeking re-election. This group, he argues, acts independently of broader northern interests and uses underhanded tactics to undermine the government. He stresses that these individuals are self-proclaimed leaders, not representative of the North as a whole, and that recognized political and traditional leaders should actively counter their machinations to protect Tinubu’s presidency.
The call for Southern leaders to rally behind Tinubu stems from Oyintiloye’s concern that this recurring historical pattern of opposition will repeat itself. He emphasizes the necessity of Southern unity to shield the President from what he characterizes as unwarranted attacks from a small contingent of northern politicians. He urges Southern leaders to refuse to be manipulated by these “rejected politicians” and to actively work to ensure that Tinubu’s second term bid does not suffer the same fate as previous Southern presidents. This, he posits, requires building a strong support base that neutralizes the influence of the dissenting faction.
To achieve this, Oyintiloye specifically calls upon influential figures within the Southern traditional leadership, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent members of the Council of Southern Traditional Rulers, to actively champion support for Tinubu within their region. He further urges them to collaborate with their northern counterparts to secure Tinubu’s victory in 2027. This call for inter-regional collaboration among traditional leaders underscores the importance of building a broad-based coalition of support that transcends regional and political divides.
Beyond traditional leaders, Oyintiloye also appeals to respected elder statesmen and prominent figures within Southern Nigeria, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and former Senate President Ken Nnamani, to actively intervene and prevent a recurrence of what he sees as a negative historical precedent. He frames their involvement as crucial in defending the South against the alleged power grabs of a few northern politicians. This call for engagement from elder statesmen highlights the perceived gravity of the situation and the need for collective action to safeguard Southern political interests.
Ultimately, Oyintiloye’s argument rests on the belief that Tinubu’s re-election is vital for Nigeria’s stability and continued development. He contends that a second term for Tinubu would ensure fairness and equitable distribution of resources across all regions of the country. By framing Tinubu’s re-election as essential for national stability, he seeks to broaden the appeal for support beyond regional and partisan lines, presenting it as a matter of national interest. This appeal to national unity and stability serves as the underlying rationale for his call for a concerted effort to protect Tinubu’s presidency from perceived threats.
