Jonathan Nwokpor
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A few days ago, a number of organisations launched campaigns to support Seyi Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu’s son, for the position of Lagos State’s next governor.
According to ZINGTIE, it began when the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, or CONYL, supported the president’s son for the 2027 governorship of Lagos in a statement released in Owerri, Imo State.
The Coalition claims that Seyi Tinubu has demonstrated his selflessness in every way via his charitable deeds on multiple occasions.
“When there was flooding in Borno State, Mr Seyi and his team were there to sympathize and show support to those Nigerians whose property, homes and means of livelihood were destroyed by the flood.
“He gave a lot of gift items, food, home utensils, drugs and money to the affected persons during that period when the sad event took place,” the coalition said.
Additionally, the Middle Belt Youths’ Lagos chapter joined the call in a news conference, where the group’s National Youth Leader and Dr. Stanley Augustine Kavwam, the Middle Belt Forum’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Capt. Brent Kane, urging Seyi to step up in 2027, describing him as the leader Lagos needs.
Similarly, Seyi Tinubu was endorsed for the 2027 election by Friends of Seyi Tinubu, FOST, a socio-political organisation.
According to the organisation, Seyi Tinubu is the ideal candidate to lead Lagos State into a future characterised by innovation and wealth because he is a visionary leader who possesses a unique combination of intelligence, empathy, and strategic acumen.
Its president, Comr. Adejorin Tai Manuel, stated in a statement that Seyi Tinubu’s leadership skills, dedication to social advancement, and charitable donations demonstrate his suitability as governor.
Various stakeholders have been responding to the development.
A well-known member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, or APC, Joe Igbokwe, was the first to swiftly respond. He expressed his disapproval in a Facebook post, calling the endorsements a ploy to undermine President Tinubu.
“Who are these faceless people pushing Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor? This is a needless distraction. To pull PBAT down is their target. Ruling Lagos is not the job of boys,” Igbokwe wrote.
A youth organisation affiliated with the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths also denied the endorsement, claiming that the Alausa Government House was not open to non-indigenous candidates.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, CONYL, and the group is described as the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“The said Coalition sat in Owerri, Imo State and publicly issued the statement of endorsement.
“While we know Mr Seyi Tinubu has his democratic rights as a Nigerian, we condemn the ill-fated endorsement and describe it as anti-democracy and a deliberate move by some faceless individuals to deny indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves in 2027.
“It is no longer news that since 1999, no true blood indigene of Lagos State has taken over the mantle of leadership in the State (except one), the marginalization which underscores the essence of democracy and an outright denial of the indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves.
“We know as a fact that there will soon be vacancy in Osun State where Mr Seyi Tinubu can best exercise his democratic rights unhindered.
“And if the people of Owerri in Imo are also interested in benefiting from the experience Mr Seyi Tinubu has acquired in recent times, they can push him to succeed Governor Uzodinma.
“As for us there is no vacancy for non-indigenes in Lagos State in 2027. The marginalization is too much and the marginalization has led to the underdevelopment in the state,” the group said.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Lagos State chapter stated that the populace will oppose any efforts to appoint Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, as the state’s next governor.
“Lagos will not serve him,” stated Hakeem Amode, the state PDP spokesperson, in opposition to the proposal.
Amode questioned whether the position of governor should be passed down through the generations, arguing that it was improper for a son to take on such a responsibility after his father.
He emphasised that if the Tinubu camp adopted strategies akin to those employed in Ondo and Edo states in the past, it would be met with resistance.
“Governorship is not a gift,” he stated.
In an interview with ZINGTIE, human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju called the endorsement “laughable” and said it was a blatant sign that the people of Lagos State were being taken advantage of.
He questioned if Nigeria, and Lagos State in particular, was using a monarchical form of administration, in which a parent would hand over the reins of power to his son in a democracy with capable and eligible citizens.
He claims that this occurs because there isn’t an election and that “selection” is what actually occurs in lieu of an election.
Adeyanju urged Lagos State’s political players to step up, pointing out that everyone has the right to run for office.
“It is a laughable endorsement because they have underrated Lagos people. If they rate them, such calls would not even be arising.
“Is Lagos a monarchy state, where the Tinubu’s family is supreme? Is it that power is the birthright of the Tinubu’s family?
“Is there something that people don’t know that should be known about them? Because I just don’t understand and can’t explain it.
“It makes no sense that they underrated Lagos people. And it’s because elections don’t take place there, it’s just selection. And because strong political office holders are never held accountable by the people, that’s why things go the way they go.
“Nigeria is practising federalism and not monarchy where political powers are being inherited from the father to the son.
“It therefore behoves on the political actors of Lagos State to stand up and do what is right for the state,” he stated.
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