Politics
How SWAGA’23 Aided Tinubu’s Journey to Aso Rock Villa
The lifetime ambition achieved by President Bola Tinubu at the recent general elections did not come on a platter of gold. Starting from the build-up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in May 2022, President Tinubu’s electoral success in the struggle against odds was achieved through prayers, determination, dint of hard work, political experience, general acceptability, networks, mostly through a few fanatic foot soldiers, who were strong believers of his political ideology and school of thought.
Even, when the kingmaker’s chances of leading the most populous African nation are seemingly high and brightened in the Northern region of Nigeria, it was not so in his Southwest base, as the region appeared opaque, nebulous, vague, and unpredictable due to obvious threats from his then political sons who had once reaped from his benevolent leadership as they did not only desperately showed interest in the ‘Aso Rock Villa’ race, but pursued it vigorously and were bent on making him unattractive for the race.
At the eruption of the violent and destructive ENDSARS protests that rocked Nigeria, especially Lagos State, it became obvious that political enemies and traducers were not just satisfied with being calumniators of the ‘Lion of Bourdillon’ but have finally gone for the jugular” of the one who brought most of them into political limelight as he became the target of a coordinated attack that initially started like a child’s play but ended claiming scores of lives, ruining businesses and livelihood and razing Asiwaju’s Television Station to the extent that some business owners had to put out public notices that their businesses do not belong to nor have anything to do with Tinubu. What a time to be alive!
This was the lowest point in the political Journey of the “master political strategist” and it was the regenerative turning point for his rise again like the mythical phoenix as SWAGA’23 was formally birthed, with its inaugural meeting and launch in Ibadan on 15th December 2020.
The South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA’23) became the pivotal group with a clear-cut programme of advocacy, sensitization, and mobilization of support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the Presidential elections in 2023.
The group targeted the traditional institutions, opinion molders, political stalwarts across party divides, and youth in the southwest of Nigeria to wake them up to the possibility and reality of Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential contest, the need to encourage him to step out, the essence of supporting him from home as “charity begins from home” and the importance of reconciling the home base with him once again. Although It is clear that most mentees of Asiwaju Tinubu that rose against him, competed, or worked against his presidential ambition overtly or covertly did not do so because they didn’t find Tinubu intelligent, capable or worthy of the exalted office but because they were driven by personal ambition and envy.
From 2020, despite the onslaught of Covid-19, SWAGA’23 traveled across the six (6) States of South West, visiting traditional rulers to plead for their support whilst urging them to call out Tinubu to contest the presidential elections. The response was not only encouraging, but it was also energizing as it provided the inspiration to even go beyond the South West to South-South and North Central Regions with visits to Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Plateau, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue States, and FCT where groups like the North Central Agenda for Asiwaju (NCAA), Akwa Ibom Stakeholders for Asiwaju Tinubu (AKISAT), Delta State for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DESBAT) and CrossSwaga were formed and inaugurated for the Sensitisation and support drive towards 2023.
In all, the leadership and members of the group visited over 300 traditional rulers and none of the monarchs had anything negative to say about President Tinubu, rather their interests were ignited with a passion for Asiwaju.
The birth of SWAGA inspired the formation of various Asiwaju support groups in their hundreds, although many of them didn’t have the plans, purpose, and programme of SWAGA’23; therefore they existed more on social media platforms, without clear-cut direction than on the streets to preach the gospel of Asiwaju Tinubu.
SWAGA ’23, with a well-defined aim, mission, and purpose-driven agenda, did not only strategize politically to market President Tinubu but the group also came out on a very strong conviction that the former governor of Lagos state will be the best president that Nigeria would ever have.
Conceived and convened by a former lawmaker, who represented the IJERO/EFON/EKITI WEST federal constituency of Ekiti State at the House of Representatives, a Political, Peace, and Conflict scholar and son-in-law to the Asiwaju; Oyetunde Ojo, the foremost political group, SWAGA’23, which committed itself and personal resources, both human, material, and networks, has in its fold former lawmakers, including Senators, House of Representatives members, state House of Assembly members, and local government chairmen among others.
Interestingly, the Central Working Committee leading SWAGA ’23 is made up of veteran politicians cum technocrats led by Its chairman, Senator ‘Dayo Adeyeye; a former Minister of State for Works, former media Adviser to Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) for the 1993 elections, ex-media and publicity adviser to Chief Olu Falae (when he contested Presidential election), former spokesman of Afenifere (The Pan Yoruba Group), an astute lawyer and Media Manager.
The Secretary; Hon. Bosun Oladele is equally a lawyer of note, a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Oyo State, a former House of Representatives and ECOWAS parliament member who once represented Nigeria at the Africa/ Caribbean/Pacific-European Union joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Others are, Senator Adesoji Akanbi (Vice Chairman), who is a former House of Representatives member and ECOWAS Parliament member and who later broke away from the group to form the Coalition Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COMBAT), Senator, Olugbenga Obadara, also a former member of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Chairman of the group in Ogun State, Senator Tony Adeniyi (SAN); Ekiti State Chairman of the group, Hon. Monsuru Alao; a four-term House of Representatives member from Lagos State and Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the group, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, one of the pioneer female Soccer administrators in Nigeria and the Chairperson of the group in Osun State, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; a two -term House of Representatives member and former Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Hon. Sunday Adepoju; a two-term House of Representatives member and the current Post Master General of Nigeria, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade; three-term House of Representatives member recently elected for the fourth term, Hon. Rotimi Makinde; a former House of Representatives member and a coordinator of the Youth Wing of the group, Hon. Apostle Oloruntoba Oke; a two-term Executive Chairman of Ifako-Ijaye Local Government of Lagos State, media manager and administrator and National Treasurer of the group, Hon. Gani Dauda; former House of Representatives member from Ondo State, Hon. Mukaila Musa; former Majority leader of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; recently elected House of Representatives member and Hon. Kola Peregrino; the Current General Manager, Lagos State Printing Corporation.
Upon Tinubu’s declaration of interest to contest the 2023 presidency, the focus immediately changed to wooing delegates, and SWAGA’23 tapped into its advantage of deep network among the Statutory delegates. However, the game changed when in a seemingly desperate attempt to pull the carpet from under Tinubu’s feet, the rule changed to having only the elected delegates vote at the primaries; thus the group dug deeper into its well of political network being a group with grassroots appeal due to its composition, and it began the arduous task of mobilizing elected delegates across all states where it has a presence. This paid off as Asiwaju himself toured the states and interacted with the delegates on a first-hand basis.
In the course of campaigning for delegates, Tinubu also took time to reach out to the traditional rulers and politicians of note across the states where SWAG A’23 had been, and he was not surprised when at each stop he was told “Your people have been here earlier to deliver your message” such was the inspiration up to the Eagle Square for the June 7th – 8th Presidential Primaries of the APC that produced Tinubu as the Candidate with a landslide victory.
Then came the ‘Muslim – Muslim Ticket’ political narratives, which became a bigger threat to the actualisation of his cherished ambition to occupy the most exalted position in Nigeria. SWAGA’23 vigorously worked to revive the popularity of its political idol through various branding strategies, wholesale sensitisation, public engagement, and campaigning across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, which dampened the morale of the President’s political enemies and earned him the “renewed hope” acceptance.
Of all the political support groups in Nigeria for the 2023 elections, SWAGA’23 had the best-coordinated media, public engagements, campaigns, and lobbying strategies and the group has not been in the news or media space for the wrong reasons. The credit goes to its leadership.
To members of the Senator Dayo Adeyeye-led SWAGA, the only reward for hard work is more work. For the self-financed pro-Tinubu group, the clincher was its “Operation Polling Booth by Polling Booth” sensitisation for the general elections, which resonated throughout the States where it operated as it permeated the grassroots.
SWAGA’23 fulfilled its mandate when it cleared the road for the political journey of its Principal to Aso Rock Villa. It has been to the nooks and crannies of Yoruba land and beyond and visited places that some even chickened out from, but for members’ passion and trust in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, they remain unwavering.
Today, Tinubu’s emergence as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has put paid to insinuation from some ‘opposition quarters that SWAGA ’23 is just busy-body cannon fodder.
It is generally believed among political watchers that the group will serve a greater purpose of being the cheerleader of this new administration, carrying the actions, developmental strides, and information from the Government to the grassroots always.
Whenever the story of Bola Tinubu’s presidency is written in the future, SWAGA’s contributions would feature prominently.
Idowu Ayodele writes from Ibadan, Oyo State
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the Governor of Ekiti State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyebanji, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced the result at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, saying Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals and secure a second term in office.
According to Oladiji, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, secured 12,872 votes.
She said 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded. The electoral umpire also announced that 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 382,109.
The declaration capped a governorship poll largely adjudged peaceful by observers and security agencies, despite complaints of malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, delayed commencement of voting in some polling units and allegations of voter intimidation by opposition parties.
INEC said voting was conducted in all the 2,445 polling units across the state’s 16 local government areas, noting that 2,257 units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened before 8.30 a.m., while 188 polling units commenced accreditation and voting before 10.30 a.m. after experiencing minor delays.
The commission also commenced uploading polling unit results to its Results Viewing Portal shortly after the completion of voting and counting in several centres.
The PDP candidate, Oluyede, had expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, alleging that many prospective voters were disenfranchised due to BVAS-related challenges.
Speaking with journalists after voting at Polling Unit 006, he further alleged cases of harassment and intimidation of voters in the area.
Some elderly voters at the polling unit also lamented difficulties encountered during accreditation and urged INEC to urgently rectify the technical glitches.
The ADC candidate, Bejide, similarly alleged irregularities during the exercise.
However, Oyebanji dismissed the claims, insisting that those making allegations of electoral misconduct should provide credible evidence to support them.
The governor, who voted at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, described the election as satisfactory and urged eligible voters yet to cast their ballots to do so peacefully.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Abayomi Shogunle, said no case of vote-buying was reported to security agencies throughout the exercise.
Election observers commended the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the poll but raised concerns over procedural inconsistencies.
The First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sebastian Anyia, described the process as orderly and peaceful, saying voter turnout was encouraging.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, lauded the resilience of female voters, many of whom remained at polling units for several hours with their children to exercise their franchise.
Yiaga Africa, however, expressed concern over discrepancies involving ballot papers, result sheets and INEC’s published list of candidates, warning that such inconsistencies could create challenges during collation and reconciliation of results.
The election observer group urged INEC to provide further clarification on the final list of participating parties and candidates and issue clear guidance to electoral officials handling result documentation.
Ahead of the poll, INEC and security agencies had repeatedly assured residents of their preparedness to deliver a peaceful, credible and transparent election, deploying personnel and restricting vehicular movement to forestall electoral violence and other offences.
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has rejected plans by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to conduct another local government election on December 26, 2026, describing the proposed exercise as illegal, premature and a calculated move to retain political influence at the grassroots beyond the governor’s tenure.
The party declared that it would neither participate in the election nor remain silent over what it termed an attempt to squander public resources on a process allegedly designed to install loyalists in the 33 local government councils and 351 wards across the state.
The controversy followed the decision of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to shift the date earlier fixed for January 2027 to December 26, 2026, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The move has continued to generate debate among political observers, many of whom have questioned the urgency of conducting another council poll barely six months before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent chairmen and councillors elected in the 2024 local government elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said it would not stop at boycotting the election but would also collaborate with “patriots and rational minds” to resist what it called an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers’ money.
The party accused Governor Makinde of lacking commitment to local government autonomy, alleging that the administration had exercised undue control over council resources for more than seven years.
“The whole world knows that Governor Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy and, when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” the statement said.
The APC alleged that the proposed poll was aimed at positioning individuals loyal to the governor in local councils before his exit from office on May 29, 2027, arguing that such a move would enable him to sustain political influence after leaving the Agodi Government House.
According to the opposition party, expectations among many residents are centred on ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen local government autonomy and ensure that councils enjoy direct access to their statutory allocations without interference from state governments.
The APC also linked what it described as poor development outcomes in some rural communities to the operation of the state-local government joint account system. It cited communities such as Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area, which have reportedly faced security challenges, as examples of areas where local government resources should have translated into visible improvements.
“It is sad that Governor Makinde appears determined to sustain a system that has left many rural communities vulnerable despite huge allocations accruing to local governments monthly,” the party said.
The opposition further dismissed the local government elections conducted in 2020 and 2024 as lacking credibility, alleging that winners emerged through predetermined outcomes rather than a transparent electoral process.
“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 should be the last the people of Oyo State would witness. Governor Makinde and his supporters should bury any thought of staging another charade in which results are announced without genuine voting and public offices become tools for the diversion of public funds,” the statement added.
The APC consequently urged officials of OYSIEC to halt preparations for the proposed December election, warning against actions capable of undermining democratic values and public confidence in the electoral process.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Oyo State Government nor OYSIEC had issued an official response to the allegations raised by the opposition party.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, on Saturday mobilised thousands of artisans and traders across Oyo State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Oseni said the support base of the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), in collaboration with other stakeholders, was intensifying efforts to deliver one million votes for the President in the state.
Oseni, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said artisans and traders must see themselves as critical stakeholders in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the success of the administration depends largely on grassroots participation.
The federal lawmaker spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations.
In a symbolic show of political readiness, scores of traders and artisans displayed their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while Oseni urged eligible Nigerians yet to register to obtain their voter cards ahead of the next general election.
He cautioned against vote-buying and vote-selling, warning that such practices threaten the future of democracy and mortgage the destiny of younger generations.
The meeting, according to Oseni, was also convened to deepen economic support for members through empowerment programmes targeted at strengthening businesses and improving livelihoods.
He announced that requests for a N250 million interest-free loan scheme for artisans and traders, construction of an artisans’ village with stable electricity supply, and health insurance support had received approval.
According to him, the loan facility will be administered through a microfinance bank under the Remi Oseni Foundation to ensure transparency, accessibility and sustainability.
He added that road and infrastructure projects across communities would remain a major priority.
Oseni, who is seeking to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the next election cycle, also used the meeting to explain his decision to pursue a Senate seat instead of his earlier governorship ambition.
He said the move followed consultations with party leaders and supporters.
According to him, supporters deserved clarity on the political direction of the movement.
He said: “We convened this stakeholders’ meeting to review our present position. Before now, our focus was on leading Oyo State through the governorship. That was our clear objective as a movement, but today, it has become evident that God is directing us towards the Senate.
“Our people needed to understand the reasons for this decision, the position of the party and what we have accepted in the overall interest of our political future. It is not enough for leaders to take decisions. We owe our supporters explanations and must carry them along.
“We have encouraged them to embrace this opportunity in good faith and believe that greater opportunities still lie ahead.
“Many of them felt our governorship ambition would have delivered greater benefits, but we have reassured them that the government remains supportive and the future is bright.
“We have equally assured the President that our decision to pursue the Oyo South Senate seat will not affect the one million votes earlier promised him, because ROCOF structures across the 33 local government areas are fully mobilised and committed to his re-election.”
On the crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oseni said efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members, expressing confidence that outstanding differences would soon be resolved.
He described competing interests within the party as a reflection of the APC’s growing strength and political attractiveness.
Earlier, the Oyo State Coordinator of ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations, Alhaji Munirudeen Adegoke, described Oseni’s empowerment drive as a strategic investment capable of reducing unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty.
Adegoke said meaningful empowerment for artisans and traders must go beyond temporary palliatives.
According to him, sustainable support requires deliberate policies that guarantee access to capital, improved infrastructure and social protection.
-
News4 days agoKola Oyewo’s family to Adeleke, Ooni, Atiku: Your condolences are our pillar of strength
-
Opinion1 week ago
The Silent Thief in Nigeria’s Petrol Stations | By Solomon Oroge
-
Politics7 days ago
Oyo APC rejects Makinde’s planned December LG poll, vows boycott
-
News6 days ago
Govs Back State Police, Power Reform, Nutrition Drive, World Bank Partnership
