Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Sunday Dare, at the weekend advised the group of politicians forming a coalition against second tenure ambition of President Bola Tinubu to forget 2027.
Rather, he charged them to start preparing for their chance in 2031 after President Tinubu would have completed his mandatory two terms.
The presidential aide, in a reaction to concerns being raised on the possibility of the coalition group wresting power from the All Progressives Congress-led government at the centre, said none of those in the coalition has the president’s democratic potentials considering what his government has achieved in the last two years.
Describing the new opposition coalition as a “purely opportunistic gathering of disgruntled politicians”, Dare emphasised that “the Presidency already rests with the region rightfully due, and that’s where it will be till 2031.”
According to him, those politicians who have carried their political harlotry to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were merely living a lie by telling Nigerians that they were out to redress the injustice in the system.
His words: “There is no injustice to redress—only avarice ambition to satisfy the cravings of a few for the control of the National treasury. “
The Presidency had, in a statement issued during the week, dismissed the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by the opposition coalition, saying they cannot repeat the events that clinched victory for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2015 General Elections.
“In 2013, the merger that birthed the APC was driven by selflessness, national interest, and strategic discipline. The leaders at the time were willing to set aside personal ambitions for the greater good. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, despite commanding the loyalty of several sitting governors, chose to wait. He bided his time, played the long game, and focused on building a viable political platform.
“He had never lost an election, and he didn’t have to force his way in.
“Today, no one in this coalition commands that kind of loyalty or trust. Not one of them could genuinely unite a ward, let alone a country. No one comes close to parading the democratic credentials of President Bola Tinubu”, Dare said.