Though Seyi has not publicly declared interest in vying for the post of governor of Lagos State come 2027, nevertheless, emotions are already high with surging adrenalin as his recruiters and traducers alike are giving their all to voice their support or opposition.
This article appraises the arguments of both sides legally and morally.
The Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders stirred the hornet nest with it’s press conference in Owerri in which the group called on Seyi to contest for Lagos governorship seat in 2027, citing his many achievements as a youth leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist among others.
Another group named, Friends of Seyi joined the fray and matched word with action by releasing a biopic on Seyi. Additionally, another group of youths from Benue State has thrown it’s hat in the ring in support of Seyi extolling his virtue as a well behaved scion of a foremost family who has taken sides with the less privileged.
However as soon as CONYL’s statement hit the airwaves, a group claiming to be the mouthpiece of Lagos indigenes replied saying Seyi could become governor either in Osun State where they believe Tinubu hailed from or Imo State where CONYL held it’s conference.
A most surprising naysayer to the potential candidacy of Seyi is Joe Igbokwe, a long time political ally and beneficiary of Tinubu.
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Igbokwe perceives the call as a distraction to President Tinubu. If that may be excused as borne out of his desire to see his benefactor succeed in office, referring to a man who would be 42 years old in the year he takes office should he win the election, as a boy, is reprehensible.
Another major antagonist is the PDP Lagos chapter whose spokesman Hakeem Amode unwittingly betrayed his own view of the relationship between political leadership and the electorates as that of master-servant.
Amode reportedly said, “Lagos will not serve him”. Vowing to reject any attempt at forcing Seyi on Lagos he told Punch, “Governorship is not a gift”
A summary of objections to Seyi’s potential candidacy shows rejection ostensibly because of indigency and age on one hand and political despair and fear of impending loss veneered with grandstanding on the other hand.
While the latter should largely be left alone save for the near-moral issue in the unsubstantiated prejudice of leveraging presidential influence to clinch office, the first could be addressed constitutionally and statutorily.
On the issue of indigeneship, the age-long rumour of Tinubu hailing from Osun State remains rumour. But even if true, the Constitution of Nigeria guarantees that once a citizen of Nigeria resides in any part of the nation for at least three years and is a tax payer and otherwise qualified, he is eligible to contest for elections in the same constituency.
Therefore, those raising indigenship as a barrier are either ignorant of the law, mischievous or have unspoken objectives.
Same goes for age-related objection. The “Not too young to rule” Act was signed into law in 2018. The minimum age to run for Governorship election is 25 years as stipulated by the law. Even the old law stipulated 30 years. It is therefore worrisome when those who should know better disqualify a 42-year old man a graduate of close to 20 years and a family man of 11 years who has succeeded in all his economic pursuits as a mete boy who on account of age is not qualified to become governor.
Our contemporary political history is replete with men far younger than Seyi who held their own as notable leaders.
As for the perceived immorality of father being president and son being governor or dynasty building. First is there’s no law against it.
Second, it is not immoral as the electorates decide who leads. We’ve had two cases of father and son becoming presidents of the largest democracy, USA, the latest being the Bush family.
Jeb And George Bush were governors of Texas and Florida at the same time. Isiaka Adeleke was Governor of Osun State and a Senator. His father before him was a Senator.
The incumbent governor of Osun State succeeded his elder brother directly as a Senator heavens did not fall. PDP didn’t cry “Dynasty building!”
Accusations of “forcing”, rigging and the likes are preemptive and unfounded. It is even self-contradictory. Since PDP said Lagosian rejected Tinubu in the last election, let them use the same means to reject Seyi and elect another PDP to succeed Sanwolu who they elected.
I rest my case.
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