Nigerian Politics now turn by turn, the case of Tinubu and Orji Uzor Kalu

By Obiagwu Chrys

Prior to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, the now president-elect of Nigeria Bola Tinubu has made a statement in a Yoruba language. This statement ‘Emi loKan’ which means “It is my turn” was clearly meaning that Tinubu was asking for what is rightly his.

Mr Tinubu said the now popular Yoruba phrase ’emi lokan’, which means “It is my turn”, while campaigning to delegates in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State on Sunday January 1, in the build up to the APC presidential convention.

At the meeting, Mr Tinubu narrated how his support ensured Muhammadu Buhari became Nigeria’s president after three failed trials. He said he was the next person to become the president of Nigeria, repeating “It is my turn.”

This statement raised a lot of controversies that Nigerians tend to ask if sensitive positions in Nigerian politics are now turn by turn.

The former president of Nigeria Mr Olusegun Obasanjo condemned this statement. In his letter, Mr Obasanjo said, “Let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now.”

As if the assumptions of Nigerians were true on the note that Nigerian politics was turn by turn, Bola Tinubu was announced winner of the 2023 presidential election by INEC, what a coincidence.

Subsequently, the same likely statement was been repeated again by the Chief Whip of Nigerian Senate, Senator Orji Kanu on Tuesday March 21.

“And I hope that Nigerians will pray for me to be senate president because it is my turn,” Mr Kalu said.

Again on this same note, an APC chieftain Mr Eze Chukwuemeka Eze on Wednesday March 29 slammed him maintaining that the claims by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, the incumbent Chief Whip of the Senate, that it is his right to be elected as the Senate President is mischievous and unacceptable, seeing that he is yet to free himself from the corrupt charges still hanging on his neck and for ruining the chances of APC in Abia State through his poor style of leadership.

The question is, EMI LOKAN and its manifestation in Nigerian politics, is it all about the power of positivities or is there something they are not telling Nigerians? But until then, lets watch closely during the 10th Nigerian Senate Election.

Written by Obiagwu Chrys. contact chryszy002@yahoo.com