What, really, is the difference between Tinubu, Atiku, and Peter Obi?

Nigerians, it’s time for a harsh dose of reality. We have been here before, at this junction, facing a political landscape eerily similar to the one we plan to escape. The euphoria that greeted the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Tinubu and others in 2013, fueled by the promise of wresting power from an “incompetent” Goodluck Jonathan, has long since evaporated. 

Jonathan’s administration under the PDP umbrella faced accusations of incompetence, particularly concerning its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency and its inability to deliver on basic services. Yet, here we are, facing the same old faces, albeit in new alliances, ready to repeat the cycle of disillusionment.

The architects of our current predicament are no strangers to controversy. Bola Tinubu, whose tenure in Lagos has drawn criticism, joined forces with Muhammadu Buhari, a figure once deemed the “worst military administrator,” and Atiku Abubakar, a man long associated with corruption allegations. This unholy trinity, under the banner of the APC, has led us to the economic and social quagmire we inhabit today.

Now, as we look towards the next election, a new coalition emerges in the form of ADC, featuring familiar names like Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Abubakar Malami, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi. Predictably, many Nigerians are cheering them on, desperate for any change from the current administration. But have we learned nothing? This is not a new dawn; it’s a rerun of a poorly scripted drama.

A lot of these men who would become the party’s presidential candidates have many allegations against them and cannot be said to have clean hands. How is Atiku Abubakar, with his long history of corruption allegations any better than the Bola Tinubu you want him to replace? A 2017 US Senate report detailed how Atiku, between 2000 and 2008, allegedly used offshore companies to siphon over $40 million in suspect funds to his fourth wife in the United States. He has also been implicated in the Halliburton scandal and accused of influencing the sale of government enterprises to his friends during the privatization process. 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whom Atiku served, described him as having a “propensity to corruption,” “a tendency to disloyalty,” and “a lack of transparency.” Atiku himself has urged Nigerians to confront poor leadership, a statement that rings hollow given his own past.

While I consider Nasir El-Rufai to be very intelligent, the accidental public servant and former governor of Kaduna State still faces accusations of corruption, religious bigotry and poor leadership. His administration as Kaduna Governor is currently under investigation for alleged mismanagement of N423 billion in loans, with some former officials claiming the allegations are politically motivated. 

Beyond financial impropriety, El-Rufai has been accused of religious discrimination. In a widely circulated video, he admitted that his party, the APC, routinely practices religious discrimination, explaining why he did not include Christians in local government appointments, stating that “Those that are not Muslims don’t vote for our party.” The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan accused him of bias in handling the killings by herdsmen in Southern Kaduna, alleging he used state apparatus to harass those who challenged his approach. 

The Middle Belt Forum also alleged that his eight years as governor were characterized by massive killings and the decimation of Christian-dominated areas. He has also criticized the APC for poor leadership and lack of internal democracy, despite being a prominent figure within the party.

As the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami has been the subject of extensive corruption allegations and accusations of poor leadership. Civil society groups have compiled a list of corruption allegations against him, including the alleged illegal auctioning of sea vessels seized by the Federal Government and the withdrawal of criminal charges against individuals without justification.

He was also accused of using official letterheads to seek support for his son’s wedding and allowing breaches of COVID-19 protocols during the event. Critics argue that Malami’s leadership led to a lack of coordination among anti-corruption agencies and that he undermined the anti-corruption campaign with undue influence over the EFCC.

The former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor has also been embroiled in corruption allegations. Rivers State has filed criminal charges against him over the alleged misuse of N96 billion from the sales of state assets. More recently, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike accused Amaechi’s wife of receiving N4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for a year, totalling N48 billion, and alleged that Amaechi facilitated government contracts for his wife within agencies under his ministry. Wike has also accused Amaechi of deceit, betrayal, and lacking integrity, claiming he risked his life to make Amaechi governor. Amaechi, on his part, has blamed Nigerians for electing “bad leaders,” a statement that many find ironic given the allegations against him.

The current narrative, where Peter Obi is being touted as the “youth favorite,” mirrors the fervent support for Buhari in 2015. Back then, the excuse for his administration’s failings was that Buhari himself was “good, nice, and incorruptible.” But what happens if Obi, or any other candidate, aligns with these same individuals who have a documented history of alleged corruption, religious bias, and poor leadership? Will we once again rationalize their actions, claiming they are merely “the devil” influencing an otherwise good leader?

Nigeria cannot afford to be swayed by “fake” changes in political alliances. The problems plaguing Nigeria are systemic, and they will not be solved by recycling the same individuals who have contributed to the rot. It’s time to demand true accountability, transparency, and a genuine commitment to good governance, not just a change of guard that brings back the same old players with new promises. 

The cycle of disillusionment will continue until we, the people, refuse to fall for the same old tricks.