The health status of Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been questioned.
Segun Showunmi, a former aide of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar questioned Tinubu, asking if he is physically fit to carry out the herculean task of being the Nigerian president.
He said he was concerned about Tinubu’s wellbeing, especially when he recalled that the nation lost former President Umar Yar’adua while in office and bearing in mind the manner in which the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari has been travelling out for medicals.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, in his 70th birthday message to Tinubu on Tuesday, said it is only Tinubu who can answer questions about his physical health.
While alluding to the fact that it is the inalienable right of Tinubu to aspire to be president, Showunmi maintained that he was somewhat wondering about his wellness and the fact that other southern states aside from the southwest deserve to be president too.
“Can your physical well-being and wellness carry the arduous task, in the light of walls that have broken down and bridges that have to be built in building trust in governance again by the populace?” He queried.
The Ogun governorship aspirant confirmed knowing that the former Lagos State Governor has mental capacities for the job; he was, however, concerned about his wellbeing.
“I know you have the mental capacities for the job, I am concerned about your wellbeing, this question can only be answered by yourself alone, for one can only be true to himself/herself on the state of one’s wellness.
“Our immediate history with us losing President Yar’adua and the toil on the nation as a result of President Buhari’s health makes compatriots ask this question,” he posited.
Bearing in mind that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi zonal nation, Showunmi noted, “Our zone, the Southwest has had a reasonable opportunity to produce both the President and the Vice-president through Olusegun Obasanjo and your protégé Yemi Osinbajo, some zones have not had that chance, the South-East, the North-east and the North-central.”
He made known his concern at the prospect of reducing the space in Nigeria to a baton passing between the North-west and the South-west; saying other zones might feel alienated, especially in the face of the present level of disunity and instability in Nigeria.
“I would like you to think about this clearly for what is the point in becoming president if the level of dissatisfaction and agitations will increase, the 6 zonal arrangements were birthed to make us have a more stable country.
“We have gotten to a point where we must tell ourselves the truth as it regards our democratic culture, we have not evolved well and the worst of attitudes has come to define our political parties and space that one is bound to ask, ‘Is this democracy?, Or what variant of democracy is this?” he asked.
Showunmi described the 2023 presidential aspirant as the successor of Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola for the Yorubas, stating that “you have done more, contributed more, and raised more Yoruba leaders in our recent history.”
He acknowledged the fact that Tinubu has been very stable politically, unlike other politicians chasing shadows by defecting from one political party to another.
But, Showunmi said he could not understand why the Jagaban joined others to bring about the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, adding that “for with trepidation you have enthroned a government that has done the most disservice to Nigerians and you as a person in terms of disintegration and general failure of state as a nation.
“I wondered how you came to that decision then, knowing the President’s history and rigidity, bordering towards the archaic and retrogression.”
He said Tinubu cemented his respect for him when he stood by Buhari in 2019 when others left, despite the “ill-treatment and disrespect” meted out to him.
“I had to say to myself that Bola Tinubu is made of stellar material, for you cemented my respect for you as a reliable, consistent, forbearing builder.”
While praying for Tinubu on his 70th birthday, the Egba-born politician wished him more of God’s abundant blessings.
“I pray that the good Lord preserve you to contribute your quota to birthing a New Nigeria. May history be kind to you. I hope you will continue doing more, inspiring more, giving more as a Yoruba man,” he submitted.
