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Tinubu Is The Tea And Atiku The Coffee

Published

4 years ago

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APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmad Tinubu exchanging pleasantries with PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar

 

By Bala Ibrahim.

With the turn of events yesterday, where the Jagaba of Borgu, Chief Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged the presidential flag bearer of the APC, the choice for Nigerians on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari next year, is most likely between Tinubu and Atiku. This is so because, the main opposition party, the PDP, had earlier chosen Atiku as its flag bearer. So the option for Nigerians is either to take tea or coffee, and Tinubu is the tea, while Atiku is the coffee.

Both tea and coffee are beverages that are derived from plants and consumed by people for a variety of reasons. While studies say some teas may boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart diseases, certain coffees have tested good in the relieve of physical fatigue, as well as the increase in mental alertness. So depending on what remedy Nigerians want, the option for them is either to take tea or coffee, and Tinubu is the tea, while Atiku is the coffee.

Since the beginning of the fourth republic, history has proven me to be very bad at political predictions, because almost all the time, my political permutations tend to come in the opposite. Contrary to my prediction, Atiku emerged as the flag bearer of the PDP. All along, because of the excessive confidence and boldness being brandished by Governor Nwesom Wike of Rivers states, alongside the postulation put forward by the PDP on zoning, I thought their flag bearer would emerge from the south, more so when they elected a national chairman from the north. Because of naivety, I didn’t know that in politics, exigencies can outstrip emergencies.

Also, pursuant to the election of Atiku as the flag bearer of the PDP, yours truly confidently concluded that, for the APC to cash in on the sectional sentiments that may follow such scheming, it’s flag bearer must also come from the north. As such, I didn’t give Tinubu a high probability of success in the game plan. Because of naivety, I didn’t know that in politics, exigencies can outstrip emergencies.

With the new development, Nigerians on this flight, may now be compelled to either take tea or coffee, except, in the unlikely event of a sudden loss of pressure, where an oxygen mask may come down automatically from the compartment above, which has Kwankwaso as a substitute, with the NNPP brand or logo. If not, the option for them is either to take tea or coffee, and Tinubu is the tea, while Atiku is the coffee.

Until recently, I was an addict of coffee and coca cola, but on the advise of some friends and my doctor, after the manifestation of some adverse effects, I have been off the duo, at least in the public. But seldom, out of the glare of the public, and without the knowledge of my doctor, I indulge, or even overindulge in such wrongdoings.

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I was almost halfway into writing this article when a new message entered. And because my devise is a low quality China phone, if I ignore messages for long, terrible consequences, including memory crashes, often follow. So I was quick to check and the message reads:

“Atiku vs Tinubu – dawn of developmental corruption.

I heard this term developmental corruption on Sunday at TerabKulture. It was a veteran and very brilliant investment banker who coined it.

It perfectly captures what we have already known about the political outlook of these two gladiators.

As I write, Mr Tinubu is on the verge of capturing the APC nomination after almost possibly crippling the treasury of a well-known State allegedly.

So, on Sunday, we were in a heated debate on a possible presidency of either of these two.

The general consensus was that these two have a liberal economic outlook. Understand the role of the private sector as a major engine for economic growth and would put policies in place that would encourage and drive sectorial initiatives.

But at what cost did I ask? The reply was that whatever they will ‘steal’ will be inconsequential to the amount of growth that we will witness.

To buttress their point, they talked about the Lagos State IGR, which has moved phenomenally as a result of a perfect understanding of the terrain.

They also mentioned that Akwa Ibom, my state, and a PDP bastion was also using the sane firm that was collecting IGR for Lagos and has also witnessed a huge spike in collections.

Lagos although not in good stead when compared with other such mega cities in the third world, still stands heads above all states of the federation on key indices as a result of the continuous application of liberal economic tendencies as a result of the Tinubu mystique

For Atiku, they told me that the last time we privatized any meaningful thing was during his tenure as constitutional head of the BPE.

Although most assets were sold off allegedly to cronies, the effect of the exercise in lessening Govt. burden and empowering the private sector and creating jobs is there for all to see.

The story of Intels and its mess was discussed, but its role in boosting government revenues through the NPA was also mentioned.

So according to them, if you juxtapose this with the 8 years of restrictive and incestuous economic policies which has led to a 600% devaluation of the Naira, historic job losses and a cataclysmic effect on the economy we may want to start begging for either a Tinubu or Atiku Presidency.

So now the question would be, do we turn a blind eye to the expected blind thievery and cronyism that would herald this dispensation cos of the attendant general economic benefit or do we say NO and say, it’s better for us to die poor than be economic slaves as a result.

A third leg is emerging in Peter Obi and Kola Abiola. Peter is saying the right things and has lived an exemplary life. But does he have the weight and muscle to defeat these two mercantile giants?

What must have been going through his mind as he watched the bare face monetary thuggery that went on at both conventions?

His appeal to our moral conscience sadly would not be enough to muscle down these two giants.

Kola Abiola’s intellectual morality is another possible third leg. Clinching the nominations of possibly the third largest party and positioning himself for any perceived fall out from intense politicking in the big two may just be a prayer waiting to be answered.

So as we await to crown Mr Tinubu and begin to prepare ourselves for an epic battle, let me just say that Nigerians have once again been sold a very terrible dummy.

We have once again pitted ourselves between two devils and will have to choose one as the lesser evil. Which one??”

And I add, choose between a tea and a coffee, where Tinubu is the tea and Atiku the coffee.

Bala Ibrahim is a Journalist and public affairs commentator

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Opinion

Beyond the Godfather’s Shadow: Why Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Chose Kano Over a Provincial Presidential Quest

Published

1 day ago

on

January 5, 2026

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​By Kabiru Sani Dogo Maiwanki

​The recent pronouncements by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso regarding Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s strategic political recalibration have finally stripped away the façade, exposing the profound ideological fissures within the NNPP hierarchy. In a caustic address delivered Saturday evening, the Senator characterized the Governor’s newfound autonomy as a “betrayal” of a far more egregious nature than that of his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje. However, in this vitriolic attempt to cast himself as the victim of political infidelity, Kwankwaso inadvertently betrayed a disconcerting truth: he viewed the incumbent administration not as a sovereign executive entity, but as a subordinate instrument of his personal political estate.

​Senator Kwankwaso remarked that, as a presidential hopeful, his fundamental expectation was that the administration he purportedly “installed” would function as a geopolitical centrifuge—a financial and logistical catalyst designed to project the Kwankwasiyya hegemony into neighboring Northwestern territories. He expressed profound chagrin that, over two years into this mandate, the machinery of the Kano State government has not been weaponized to “conquer” even Jigawa State for his political brand. This revelation is remarkably candid; it implies that the Senator’s patronage of the current administration was never rooted in the socio-economic advancement of the Kano populace, but was instead a cynical stratagem to treat the state’s commonwealth as a private war chest for a singular, ego-driven presidential odyssey.

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​By resisting this role, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has committed what Kwankwaso perceives as an unpardonable “sin,” but what objective observers must recognize as a courageous act of institutional integrity. The Governor’s refusal to allow the Kano State treasury to be cannibalized for regional political expansion is a resounding victory for fiscal prudence and administrative transparency. It represents a principled rejection of the archaic practice where public commonwealth is weaponized to bolster the narrow political interests of a singular godfather at the expense of the citizenry.

​The depth of the Senator’s desperation is now laid bare for all to see. In a striking reversal from his usual posture of absolute authority, Kwankwaso has been reduced to making public appeals for reconciliation. His recent plea—openly asking anyone with access to the Governor to “beg him to come back”—reveals a leader who has finally grasped the magnitude of his loss. It is the sound of a man who realizes that the “innocent aide” he once underrated has not only secured his independence but has taken the soul of the movement with him.

​It is therefore essential for Kwankwaso and other political leaders who pride themselves on their political stature to realize that there is a limit to how long they can continue to deceive and exploit their followers. Respect must be reciprocal; whether between a leader and the led, there is a definitive limit to the amount of insult, manipulation, and contempt any person can endure.

Whenever you push a supporter to the brink and their patience finally runs out, the consequences of their anger will certainly be unpleasant for those in power.
​For the well-meaning people of Kano, this is a moment to offer unalloyed commendation. Governor Abba deserves praise for his steadfastness in protecting the state’s allocations and for prioritizing the welfare of the masses over the expansionist agenda of a political empire. Abba Kabir Yusuf has chosen to be the custodian of the people’s trust rather than a puppet for personal ambition, and in doing so, he has redefined the essence of leadership in Kano.

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Opinion

From Zamfara roots to national vision: Aliyu Muhammad Adamu, seasoned media leader, returns home to serve his people.”

Published

2 days ago

on

January 4, 2026

By

 

Aliyu Muhammad Adamu was born on 29th December 1982 in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, into the respected Adamu Joji family.

He hails from a lineage that includes notable family members such as Alhaji Sanda Adamu Tsafe (Sarkin Yakin Tsafe), Alhaji Aliyu Adamu (Danmadami), Alhaji Sani Adamu, Hajiya Khadija Adamu (Gwoggo Dala), and Hajiya Amina, among others.

His father, Muhammad Adamu (popularly known as Nata’ala), later relocated to Kano State in pursuit of business expansion. As a result, Aliyu and his siblings were raised in Kano, where he began his early education at Da’awa Primary School, Kano.

Driven by a strong connection to his roots, Aliyu returned to Zamfara State for his secondary education, attending Unity Secondary School, Gummi. He subsequently gained admission into Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where he obtained both his Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree, graduating in 2010.

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After completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Aliyu faced the realities of life with resilience and determination, navigating through challenges that shaped his character and leadership capacity. In 2014, he returned to Zamfara State and began his professional career in the media industry with Gamji Television and Radio.

Through dedication, hard work, and professional excellence, he served the organization for nearly ten years, rising through the ranks to become the General Manager of the station, an achievement that underscored his leadership, administrative competence, and commitment to public communication.

In 2023, Aliyu voluntarily resigned from the media organization and relocated to Kano State in pursuit of broader opportunities and personal development. Today, driven by a renewed sense of purpose and a lifelong commitment to his people, Aliyu Muhammad Adamu is preparing to return to his hometown to seek the support and mandate of his people. His aspiration is to represent our parents, brothers, and sisters at the federal level, with a clear vision of contributing meaningfully to the development, unity, and overall progress of Zamfara State.

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Opinion

Opinion:The Anatomy Of A Hoax- Setting The Record Straight On Governor Abba Yusuf

Published

3 days ago

on

January 4, 2026

By

 

 

​By Ahmed Badamasi Tsaure

​The recent wave of political “scoops” regarding the purported defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved beyond mere speculation into a coordinated campaign of character assassination. Most notably, reports by Daily Nigerian claiming the Governor’s move was “postponed” are masterpieces of fiction, designed to paint a sitting Governor as indecisive and subordinate. As a witness to the political realities in Kano, I find it necessary to dismantle these fallacies with the facts that the purveyors of this rumor have conveniently ignored. In Nigerian politics, defection is a statutory process requiring a formal resignation from one’s current party. To date, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has not submitted any resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). To claim that a “finalized arrangement” for a Monday registration existed is a procedural hallucination; one cannot join a new house without first stepping out of the old one.
​Furthermore, the narrative suggests the Governor’s plans were shelved because he failed to seek the “blessings” of local APC bigwigs. This is a laughable distortion of executive power. History is replete with Governors who defected based on executive conviction without the interference of local APC “big wigs.” We have seen this with the Governor of Delta vs. Senator Omo-Agege, the Governor of Bayelsa vs. David Lyon and Minister Heineken Lokpobiri, the Governor of Rivers vs. Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Plateau vs. the current National Chairman of the APC. More recently, the defections of Governors like Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) proved that when a Governor moves, he does so as the new leader of the party in his state. It is also historically hypocritical to label such a move as “betrayal.” When Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso defected from the PDP to the APC in 2013, he did not seek permission from any person or leadership—he led a rebellion based on his own conviction. If it was “principled politics” for the godfather then, it cannot be “betrayal” for the Governor now.

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​What, then, remains for a Governor who already holds the overwhelming mandate of his people? It is a known fact that Governor Abba Yusuf moves with the ironclad support of almost 95% of the Kano State House of Assembly, 50% of the National Assembly members from the state, all 44 Local Government chairmen, and the entire grassroots party structure. The desperate attempt by the NNPP National Working Committee to dissolve the Kano executive committees is a futile, “too-late” maneuver that only confirms their loss of control. When a Governor commands such total loyalty, he does not ask for permission; he leads. The defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is inevitable if he so wishes, as he carries the entire political soul of Kano with him.
​The theory that the APC postponed this move because Senator Kwankwaso is not coming along simply does not hold water. Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the APC is a settled matter; it is alleged the President offered him a ministerial position or the Chairmanship of the soon-to-be resuscitated Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), both of which he rejected after his demand to join the Presidential ticket was denied. Using this stalemate as a pretext for the Governor’s “indecision” is a transparent lie aimed at making the Governor look like a political appendage. It is disheartening to see Daily Nigerian abandon objective journalism to frame the Governor as a “betrayer.” If Governor Abba Yusuf chooses to move, he does so as a leader of a massive political movement. The media must stop concocting stories to mislead the public. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf remains focused on his mandate. These rumors are merely the desperate gasps of those who wish to see Kano in perpetual turmoil.

​Ahmed Badamasi Tsaure writes from Shanono Local Government, Kano State. He can be reached at ahmedtsaure28@gmail.com.

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