New Issues In Southwest APC As Fayemi, Akeredolu Visit Tinubu In London

Nigerians have been watching with awe the picture of the visit of Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London, United Kingdom.

The visit of Fayemi and Akeredolu who are regarded as two of the most formidable poltiical rivals of Tinubu in the Southwest section of the APC followed visits by other prominent Nigerians including President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former APC national legal adviser, Muiz Banire  and others to the APC leader in London.

No public reason has been given for the visits to Tinubu. It has, however, been severally reported that the APC leader is in London for some form of medical treatment.

However, the claim that Tinubu is seriously ill has been repeatedly debunked by his media aide, Tunde Rahman.

The visit by Buhari early in August while he was in London for his medical appointment, nevertheless tended to cloud the message that all was well with Tinubu.

The picture of the visit by Buhari showed Tinubu holding on to a walking stick which was indicative of the claim that Tinubu was not well. Remarkably, the picture was taken by Bashir Ahmad, special assistant to the president on social media. Bashir is believed to belong to the camp in the presidency that is averse to Tinubu succeeding Buhari in 2023.

It was then immediately suggested that the Buhari visit was a double-edged sword for Tinubu. While it was claimed that the visit showed the influence of the APC leader, another school of thought believed that the visit and picture were meant to portray the claim that Tinubu was not fit, health-wise for the presidency.

It was thus a welcome development for the Tinubu camp when Banire visited and the APC leader was pictured without a walking stick and as such numbing the suggestion that Tinubu could not stand alone without a walking stick.

It was even remarkable for many that Banire was thought to be a rebel who had been fighting Tinubu in the last few years after serving as a commissioner in Lagos for three terms.

The visit of Fayemi and Akeredolu on Wednesday is also in the same light. Both governors were one time associates of Tinubu who had over the years becoming rivals. Indeed, the two men are presently seen as the most formidable rivals to Tinubu within the Southwest section of the APC.

After supporting Akeredolu for the governorship of Ondo State in 2012, Tinubu was reported to have turned against him in 2016 to no avail and against the narrative for Fayemi who as a serving minister was said to have backed Akeredolu in every way.

Again, Fayemi is believed to have a presidential ambition as against the narrative from the southwest that the cap fits Tinubu and Tinubu alone.

Akeredolu is also believed to be a firm backer of Fayemi for the presidency on the platform of the APC.

So when the two political enemies visited Tinubu in London the picture spoke louder than words.

It was remarkable that like Banire that Tinubu was not with a walking stick. However, some Nigerians with a dose of mischief pointed out that Fayemi and Akeredolu who were on either side of the APC leader were so close to Tinubu in the picture as if they were using their bodies to hold him up!

Some others have also on social media asked, where is the walking stick?

Whatever, the visit and the picture is indicative of some movements within the Southwest section of the APC. But how it would go is what no one can say for now.

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