There are reports that some members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet are switching allegiance to the incoming government under the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Bola Tinubu. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, made the revelation during an interview with Arise TV on Wednesday.
Shehu explained that such a move is expected and viewed it as a natural occurrence. He, however, compared it to what former President Goodluck Jonathan experienced. Shehu said, “the case of Jonathan was different because I think again, there was desertion by a number of people around him who felt disappointed that he chose to be patriotic, nationalistic, and accepted defeat. And quite a number of people who were within his camp were not happy with that.”
The outgoing president reportedly had to deal with numerous desertions after he conceded defeat in the 2015 presidential election. However, Shehu stated that the villa has never been like the party headquarters for the President in the last eight years. “Visitors come and go, but there has been decency in it now. And I don’t think that we’re witnessing any spectacular desertion of the place,” he added.
Shehu also spoke about the relationship between the President-elect and the outgoing President, describing it as cordial. He emphasized that the incoming government is still part of the same administration, despite different leadership. Shehu relayed a story of how Bola Tinubu first flew to Daura to show his certificate of return to Buhari, adding that “he (Tinubu) never gets tired of saying that the president allowed him to win. It is very significant.”
Switching allegiance during a political transition is a common occurrence. However, the way that it happens can have an impact. Shehu did not disclose which cabinet members are switching allegiance to Tinubu, but he stated that it is normal for people to do so. Nevertheless, such a move may have underlying implications and raises questions about loyalty and long-term commitments.
In conclusion, it is clear that the political landscape in Nigeria is in a state of constant flux, and the actions of political figures can shift the tides of power. As the country prepares for another political transition, it remains to be seen what other changes may arise in Nigeria’s political spectrum.
