By Prof. Echefuna' R G ONYEBEADI

Hmmmmmmm!... There have been differing reports and opinions on the inaugural October 24, 2026 presidential campaign rally for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (PBAT's) second tenure in Kaduna. Many more may yet come.

Many of those people mentioned at the PBAT's Kaduna campaign rally and more, were also pretenders who claimed to be working for the reelection of the then PGEJ, yet PGEJ lost on election day!

They had the presence, money and influence, yet PGEJ lost!

They swore and reassured PGEJ of his victory at the polls; and the CBN suddenly became an 'ATM' overnight, which was backed up with PGEJ's rigorous personal campaigns in all the 36 States plus FCT, yet he lost!

On the election day, PGEJ, as a serving President, couldn't get his own fingers recognized on the INEC's machine, which his government funded, to vote for himself, in his own village, until an emergency improvisation was made to enable him vote after repeated attempts!

Even PGEJ's political party's National Chairman, who was among the loudest praise singers betrayed him, even after squandering a humongous amount of money meant to build their party's new national headquarters and after much more money from the emergency CBN 'ATM'!

It could and in fact, may still be that bad.

PGEJ personally campaigned rigorously throughout the Federation, though with a caveat that, his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, yet he lost!

By contrast, you now have an "invisible" PBAT that seems to be taking the Nigerian electorates for granted by declaring selective campaign from day one; and expecting people to do for him what he has failed/refused and/or does not have the energy/capacity to do for himself.

Meanwhile, the same PBAT that cannot go round the country to showcase his performance in office because of his purported "very busy official schedule", does not seem to have any worry whatsoever about globetrotting for various opaque and mundane reasons that are not altruistic, at very humongous costs to the country, while many of the citizens wallows in misery.

PBAT does not seem to have any worry whatsoever for his frequent travels out of the country, even at critical moments for the country, for a cumulative period of more than 200 days out of his current tenure, despite his taunted "very busy official schedule"; but finds it convenient to neglect/refuse/fail to identify with the electorates of the country for the office he seeks to retain!

In fact, PBAT has become more of a visiting President to Nigeria than the President of Nigeria!

Even a new nomenclature of an unconstitutional "working vacation" abroad had to be "manufactured" for PBAT, to "rule" from anywhere outside the shores of Nigeria! Isn't that strange?

As I type this message presently, PBAT is warming up to jet out again for days within the next few hours, for a very personal/private religious matter, but he is supposedly too 'busy' to interface with the people he expects to vote for him and govern.

PBAT's posture and attitude is like that of an applicant for a job who is not willing to, and/or incapable of properly presenting himself by dodging a scheduled interview with the employer for the job he applied for.

So, on what will the employer's evaluation be based for the job the applicant seeks by abstaining himself for an interview with the employer?

Will it make any sense for the employer with options of other qualified and competent applicants to be chasing a 'snub' who didn't show up for interview in preference to the other willing, capable and competent applicants who came for interview for proper open scrutiny, more so, when the absentee applicant is encumbered and plagued with many questionable and unresolved riddles, coupled with doubtful performance at last duty post?

Some may argue that PBAT's assessment should be based on his performance or otherwise at the helm of affairs. But, who is better placed to show his scorecard more than PBAT himself?

Water tends to flow on the path of least resistance. So it seems also for typical Nigerian politicians and those well seated in their comfort zones, that naturally, wouldn't want any disruption of their flow of comfort, no matter how temporary; and no matter how inconveniencing it is for others.

It is instructive to notice that crowds at campaign rallies, whether hired or organic, are not a monopoly and/or the sole determinant of electoral victory at the polls.

The same or similar 'crowd', if not more, that were in Kaduna for PBAT's selective campaign, will most likely be there for others too, if so motivated.

So, the appearance of crowds at rallies does not necessarily connote and/or automatically translate to victory at the polls!

Whether we like it or not, believe it or not, TAQIYYA is indeed real in Nigeria!

One day could be like eternity in the Nigerian electoral process and the final outcome. Very mysterious some would say!

However, the advice to the opposition political parties, candidates and their supporters to get more serious, organised, strategic and intentional to canvas, galvanise and secure much more votes for themselves is quite insightful and timely.

It is up to the opposition to heed the solemn advice to unite, canvas, convince, get more votes and protect their votes, to 'cash' in bountifully on election day or neglect it to their peril.

January 16, 2027 is indeed very pregnant!

•Professor Echefuna’ R. G. ONYEBEADI [DBA; PhDs; CEng. etc], Professor of Engineering Economy, Strategic Management Expert and the Inegbese of Oligbo Kingdom, writes from FCT Abuja.