Tinubu's Power Consolidation Warned Through Folklore Allegory
An opinion piece by journalist Festus Adedayo uses a Yoruba folktale about a greedy fisherman, Ap'ejalódò, to critique President Bola Tinubu's political strategy. The story warns that seeking power beyond one's station leads to ruin—mirroring Tinubu's alleged systematic weakening of opposition parties. Recent events cited include INEC's derecognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership last week, described as the latest step in dismantling viable opposition.
The piece argues Tinubu, from his base in Lagos, has orchestrated the collapse or co-option of major opposition parties (PDP, APGA, LP, NNPP) through financial incentives and internal sabotage, aiming for a de facto one-party state by the 2027 presidential election. This follows his stated philosophy: "At all cost, fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run with it." The author contends this autocratic consolidation is a dangerous departure from democratic norms, comparing Tinubu to the fisherman who demanded control over the sun and lost everything.
Why this matters: If opposition is fully neutralized, Nigeria risks electing without meaningful choice, concentrating power and stifling dissent. The allegory suggests such overreach may ultimately backfire, but in the interim, democratic health erodes. The piece frames this as a national calamity rooted in earlier political hubris, with all Nigerians complicit for enabling Tinubu's 26-year grip on Lagos and now federal power.
The intelligence question is not about supporting Tinubu but examining democratic resilience: With opposition parties infiltrated or dismantled, what independent civic, judicial, or electoral safeguards remain to ensure a competitive 2027 election? Is a one-party state inevitable, or can alternative platforms emerge?