There are indications that the 2023 presidential election may be the last chance for some eminent Nigerians who have been within the corridors of power for a very long time.
Since the return of the current political dispensation in 1999, the likes of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, have been in the corridor of power.
While Atiku was Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, Tinubu was involved in the creation of political parties that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power.
Atiku
The retired Customs officer, who turned politician, is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men. The Waziri of Adamawa is known to have businesses that cut across blue chip, education, oil, and so on.
Atiku has been on the pedestal to become Nigeria’s President since the era of MKO Abiola. It’s widely believed that the former Vice President stepped down for Abiola during the 1993 Convention of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Jos, Plateau State.
Since then, Atiku has moved around political parties in his quest to occupy Nigeria’s highest political seat. In 2019, Atiku emerged as PDP presidential candidate, and he gave President Muhammadu Buhari a close “fight” during the presidential election, which he lost.
Atiku, who is 75 years of age, may not have the grit to run for the Presidency after the 2023 elections.
Tinubu
The APC National Leader is widely described as the kingmaker of Nigerian politics. The former Lagos State governor is believed to have groomed politicians like governors, ministers, lawmakers, and the current Vice President of Nigeria.
Though he is believed to be in the league of the wealthiest people in Nigeria, Tinubu’s source of wealth continues to be a mystery to many Nigerians.
Like Atiku, Tinubu belongs to the class of the octogenarians, with his age put at 70 years.
Wikipedia in 2021 had indicated that the APC national Leader updated his age severally.
Similarly, 2023 may be Tinubu’s last option to achieve his lifelong aspiration of ruling Nigeria.
Speaking with DAILY Post, a public affairs commentator, Deji Adeyanju, said Tinubu and Atiku shouldn’t be running for the presidency again.
According to the Abuja-based activist, “It should naturally be, and they shouldn’t even be running, but here we are. If you look at it critically, in this country, you just can never say never.
“At one point, Buhari said he would never run again, but he is almost completing his eight-year tenure now. It’s just a sad reality of where Nigeria has found itself, and it’s only God that will help us.”