Demola Olarewaju, former aide to Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi towards what he described as an “imaginary regional candidacy plan” forward of the 2027 presidential election.
Olarewaju stated Amaechi is just too achieved and visionary to push a political technique anchored on ethnicity or regional sentiment.
“With all respect, H.E. Rotimi Amaechi is just too achieved and visionary to be seen pushing himself ahead with an imaginary regional candidacy plan,” he wrote on X.
Olarewaju stated Amaechi’s political report gives stronger credentials than any enchantment to a southern presidency narrative.
“Amaechi’s capability as speaker, minister, DG of Buhari’s campaigns, two-term governor and chairman of the governors’ discussion board, highly effective sufficient to go towards Jonathan throughout the PDP in 2015, provides him too many speaking factors to be seduced by the concept of ‘southern president’,” he stated.
Olarewaju stated the ethnic argument solely reinforces the speaking factors of the incumbent.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s authorities is unhealthy for all Nigerians no matter ethnicity, and their solely speaking level presently is ‘energy should keep within the south’,” he stated.
He added that the opposition ought to deal with governance and competence moderately than id politics.
“An opposition get together that works for Nigerians ought to set the agenda away from ethnic politics moderately than assist him propagate it,” Olarewaju stated.
He stated competence, not regional sentiment, ought to outline the 2027 contest.
“Competence is what should be bought for 2027 — the regional agenda is just too imaginary, as a result of the south is just too numerous,” he stated.
Olarewaju argued {that a} southern candidate wouldn’t routinely mobilise votes throughout the area.
“An Ikwerre man on the ticket won’t essentially transfer votes from the Ijaws, to not discuss of the Igbos and the Yorubas,” he stated.
He urged the opposition to problem Tinubu on governance failures and what he described as ethnocentrism.
“Defeat Tinubu on the idea of all-round incompetence and the obtrusive ethnocentrism, and make Nigerians joyful.
“Tinubu’s try to cobble an all-southern voting bloc from the south-west is nothing to be reactive about — it has by no means labored since 1951,” he stated.
He cited historic examples, noting that even previous efforts fell brief exterior their core areas.
“The closest was Awolowo’s try to run with Phillip Umeadi in 1979, however he nonetheless misplaced the south-south to Shagari and the south-east to Zik,” Olarewaju stated.
Olarewaju stated the one profitable southern consolidation occurred beneath Obasanjo because of inside power-sharing preparations throughout the ruling get together.
“The one time it labored was for Obasanjo, and solely as a result of the south-east and south-south have been firmly within the power-sharing association of the ruling get together,” he stated.
He added that Tinubu’s technique would falter if it required altering the present vice-presidential association.
“Tinubu’s try will fail on the Niger-Benue confluence when he’s unable to sacrifice Shettima for a Christian vice-president because the north-central desires,” Olarewaju stated.
Olarewaju concluded by saying Amaechi’s political depth goes past the remarks attributed to him.
“H.E. Rotimi Amaechi is a revered politician with huge competencies, and I’m sure this clip doesn’t seize the complete vary of his political ideas, methods and visionary concepts,” he stated.