A former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has revealed that there were serious spiritual threats aimed at preventing the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president.
Speaking in Kaduna during a one-day lecture organized by Arewa Think Tank to celebrate the one-year achievements of President Tinubu’s administration, the elder statesman reflected on the tumultuous journey leading up to Tinubu’s presidency.
“The tension and threats generated in the country by the opposition with the view to deny Tinubu the presidential victory in the Presidential election were not surprising,” Akande remarked.
He highlighted the historical roots of this discord, noting, “Since 1953, when a motion for Independence was first moved in parliament by Chief Tony Enahoro, our polity has been moving from tensions of one threat to another that Nigeria must not be allowed to continue as one and united country.”
Akande recounted the series of predictions and spiritual threats that Tinubu faced.
“Towards the last elections, the prophecy was thick that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not become the APC candidate, he did become.
Religious clerics of one belief and the other became sleepless for him not to win the presidential elections, he won!” he said.
He continued, “Thereafter, spiritual threats and political maneuvering began that he would not be inaugurated as a Nigerian president, he assumed the presidency!
The battle then shifted to the judicial sword-crossing that he should be removed from the presidency, his presidency was upheld!”
Akande expressed confidence in Nigeria’s future under Tinubu’s leadership.
“I am therefore particularly convinced that Nigeria will forever continue to be sustained as a more peaceful, more developed, more progressive and a more prosperous country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and beyond.”
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, who served as the guest speaker, emphasized the importance of national unity.
“Our religions should not be a dividing factor to us,” he said. Alia warned that Nigeria’s failure would negatively impact the entire African continent.
“We should not take our diversity for granted, our diversity should be our power, strength, and unifying force that holds us together as one people.”
Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, also underscored the significance of unity.
“With unity of purpose, Nigeria and Nigerians would achieve the desired peace and progress,” he stated.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chief Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, outlined the event’s objectives.
“The objective of the event is aimed at strengthening and encouraging the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu which has several laudable brilliant layers linked to foreign investment drive, energizing the health sector, making education affordable for the poor and underserved, delivering good governance amidst debt burden, social and economic transformation, driving peace and religious harmony, as well as measures to combat rural banditry and insecurity across the country,” Yakubu explained.