APC coalition worked because Tinubu managed his hurt - Sowunmi
Segun Sowunmi, the Convener of The Alternative, stated that the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) coalition in defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 presidential election was largely due to President Bola Tinubu’s ability to prioritize the alliance’s interests over his personal ambitions.
In an interview with Enitan Bello, Sowunmi reflected on the formation of the APC and the strategic decisions leading up to the election. He emphasized that the coalition might have faltered if Tinubu had insisted on positioning himself at its forefront.
“Do you know that one of the reasons why that APC coalition worked is because for whatever reason, Bola was able to manage his own hurt?” Sowunmi remarked.
He noted that after the coalition agreed to nominate Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate, Tinubu was unable to secure the vice-presidential position due to objections against a Muslim-Muslim ticket. The reaction of Tinubu to this setback was essential in maintaining the coalition’s unity.
“He wanted to be vice. They said after they had achieved the coalition, and they had achieved that Muhammadu Buhari was going to be the candidate. Now let us put his name, they came and said they cannot do Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Sowunmi recounted.
He posed a rhetorical question about the difficulty Tinubu must have faced in accepting this decision without letting his disappointment destabilize the coalition.
“Do you know how excruciatingly painful that would be? Did you ever see him start getting angry, destroying the party? Do you know what it takes for him to just press it down for the greater good?” Sowunmi asked.
Sowunmi further reflected on Tinubu’s role in bringing former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo into the political landscape, highlighting it as another example of the sacrifices made to strengthen the coalition.
“Do you know what it takes for him to go and bring Osinbajo who’s just busy somewhere doing his only Jesus can save and suddenly you are vice president?” he questioned.
He characterized these compromises as necessary investments in the creation of a lasting political institution.
