In what could be described as a repeat of history, President Muhammadu Buhari could not attend the 11th colloquium commemorating the 67th birthday anniversary of National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Although the colloquium held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday attracted virtually all the big names in the ruling party, Buhari’s absence drew side comments from the dignitaries.

Some recalled how the president’s failure to attend a forum convened by the APC leader on June 9, 2015 led to a leadership imbroglio at the National Assembly. About a kilometer away, meanwhile, the president attended the launch of the Micro Pension Plan, organised by the National Pension Commission at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

During the 10th colloquium, held last year in Lagos, in the buildup to the 2019 general election, Buhari was special guest of honour, with his visit to the city causing a major traffic lockdown. Coming barely one month after the presidential election, Tinubu and planners of the event might have reflected on the phrase: “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.” Consequently, they scheduled the 11th colloquium to hold in Abuja for easy reach by the president.

The presence of two of the gladiators jostling for the leadership of the Ninth National Assembly, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, who were on hand to pay tributes to Tinubu, helped to give the impression that the president might have tactically stayed away from the celebration to avoid close contact with the juggernauts.

Despite Buhari’s absence, there was very tight security within and around the venue, such that even accredited editors and journalists were denied access.

To add colour to the event, which seemed to have been programmed to serve as a mini victory celebration for the ruling party, major streets and roads in Abuja were emblazoned with goodwill messages from the president to the celebrant and pictures of both leaders. Dignitaries at the event in which the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represented his principal consisted of several members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), National Assembly, and the APC’s 23 governors.

They included: chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari; chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano); Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi).

Members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) led by the party’s National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole were also present. A slight drama took place shortly after Oshiomhole walked in and former Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio was asked to yield his seat to the chairman. The development stirred murmurs of ‘uncommon dethronement’ around the hall.

The colloquium tagged, “Work For The People”, was mainly a celebration of the recent presidential poll in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned Buhari as winner.

In his remarks, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the president for laying a good foundation for the economic recovery of the country, even as he acknowledged the challenges faced by the administration.

•Excerpted from The Guardian report

•Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari (left); wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo; Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; celebrant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi; wife of Lagos State Governor, Bolanle Ambode; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Gboyega Oyetola during the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Abuja… yesterday.