Edo Election Should Not Be Used Against Tinubu – Junaid Mohammed

Dr. Junaid Mohammed, a Northern political leader, and second republic lawmaker has submitted that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a right to choose and support any candidate in his personal capacity.

He added that the outcome of the 2020 Edo governorship election shouldn’t be seen as a humiliation of Tinubu or an end of his political dynasty.

Mohammed made his submissions in his reaction to the September 19 governorship election in Edo State in which Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was openly supported by Tinubu lost at the election.

It will be recalled that few days to the election, Tinubu had recorded a video in which he urged the people of Edo State to vote Ize-Iyamu and reject Governor Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, Obaseki emerged victorious at the polls, defeating all other contestants to win a second term in office as the governor of Edo State.

Many political commentators after the election have blamed the Tinubu video and alluded that APC lost in Edo State partially due to the video. The slogan ‘Edo no be Lagos’ also trended on various social media platforms.

However, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, in his view, during a chat with Daily Independent, said Tinubu is not a soothsayer to have correctly predicted the outcome of the polls.

He added that the outcome does not change the fact that the APC National Leader remains a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s political setting and that Tinubu reserves the right to support any candidate of his choice.

“Tinubu is a politician and politician are allowed to once in a while make flowery statements. That should not be taken to mean anything. Secondly, Asiwaju Tinubu has contributed tremendously to the political careers of both Oshiomhole and Obaseki”.

“So, if for whatever reason there is now a reason that Asiwaju has to make a choice, it is not going to be a personal choice, it will be a political choice. He will go for what will serve him better politically”.

“Having Obaseki continue as the governor of Edo state or allowing Oshiomhole to have his way in terms of supporting his handpicked candidate. These are minor issues. You cannot ignore the influence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the South West and parts of the South South where Delta and Edo are”.

“I don’t see any problem in any statement he made. He made the statement but the outcome of the election was not exactly what he had wished. That is the end of the story. We should close the chapter and move on to Ondo and other theatres of contestation”.

It should not be seen as a personal humiliation to Tinubu. In this game called politics, you cannot say that you’ll always win. You win some, you lose some. It should not be used against him because he said something and it turned out to be the reverse”.

” I don’t believe Tinubu is a fortune teller that whatever he says must come to pass. That cannot happen in politics” he said.