Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has described President Bola Tinubu as a daring and self-made leader, asserting that Tinubu’s rise to power was entirely of his own making, without any assistance from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Lamido, a prominent figure within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made these remarks during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune. He highlighted Tinubu’s strategic acumen, noting that the President was highly skilled in studying, manipulating, and exploiting the political system to his advantage.
Reflecting on the events leading up to Tinubu’s emergence as the presidential candidate, Lamido recalled Tinubu’s bold declaration in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he asserted that it was his turn to lead Nigeria. According to Lamido, Buhari, who never favored Tinubu, was unable to push through his preferred candidate, Ahmed Lawan, at the convention. Instead, Tinubu’s determination and strategic prowess led to his victory.
“Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing,” Lamido said, adding that Tinubu was not the preferred candidate of several influential groups, including Afenifere and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yet he still emerged victorious. “He was determined to demolish all obstacles and he crushed them.”
Lamido also spoke about the challenges facing the PDP as it prepares for the 2027 elections, acknowledging the difficulty of competing against Tinubu, whom he described as having a strong grip on the country and its economy. “Tinubu is very daring; he is his own creation, right from Chicago, what he went through on the streets,” Lamido remarked.
He emphasized that Tinubu has consistently defied expectations and overcome obstacles throughout his political career. “There is no Nigerian like Tinubu who has been there on his own. Every established political arrangement, every institution, he demolished them. Now that he is in charge, he is not going to be easy to deal with. With Tinubu, Nigeria is a fiefdom, Tinubu is the emperor. And if you watch him closely, he doesn’t care.”
