By Jayeoba David
The recent gathering of self-styled “opposition” figures in Ibadan—what many are now calling the “Amala Summit”—was less a strategic political realignment and more a theatrical display by factional faces. It was a gathering of individuals from the PDP and ADC who have lost their political abode and, frankly, their way.
The Makinde Paradox: Luck vs. Leadership
Let’s be real—Governor Seyi Makinde clearly doesn’t understand the deep waters of Nigerian politics. He is a man who arguably found himself in the game by a stroke of luck rather than grassroots mastery. With less than one year and two months left in his tenure, one would expect a focus on legacy. Instead, we hear reckless calls for “Operation Wetie.”
Invoking a slogan synonymous with the bloody political violence of the Old West is not just shameful; it is a dangerous precedent. We must remember: this brand of inflammatory rhetoric is exactly how groups like Boko Haram started before splintering into ISWAP, ISIS, and the banditry we face today. Extremism often begins with the tongues of desperate leaders.
The Folly of the “Coalition”
The communique released after this summit was a comedy of errors. Beyond the glaring contradictions between its second and third paragraphs, it was conspicuously missing the names of political parties and the officials who supposedly signed it.
If this coalition were serious, they would be engaging the real pillars of opposition governance in Nigeria. Consider the current landscape of influential Governors:
Charles Soludo (Anambra)
Alex Otti (Abia)
Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)
Ademola Adeleke (Osun)
Seyi Makinde (Oyo)
Of these five, only Makinde was summoned to this “circle,” leaving the other four to align with the Federal Government. A gathering that lacks the critical thinking to persuade these key players is not a coalition; it is a vote of no confidence in the participants’ own parties.
A Warning on the Trap of Power
Those currently beating the drums of war should look at the scoreboard of history. They are ready to use the Governor’s head to “break coconut,” and once the dust settles, the rest will be history.
Where are the loud voices that once championed Nasir El-Rufai? They have vanished. Where is the sustained outcry for Nnamdi Kanu, who remains incarcerated? Both figures are significantly more influential than Makinde, yet the political tide has moved on.
“Power is sweet, but frustration is a trap.” Frustration blinds and misguides. It leads a leader to speak recklessly, invoking shadows of the past like “Wetie” that they cannot control once unleashed. My advice? Stay patient, keep your hope alive, and hold your ground—unless you are prepared for the isolation currently faced by those who thought they were untouchable.
Looking Toward 2027
The lack of readiness displayed in Ibadan is a clear signal. While this factional group bickers and excludes women from their “inner circle,” the Master Strategist, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, continues to build.
Based on the lack of intellectual depth seen at the Amala Summit, it is becoming increasingly evident that President Tinubu will win the 2027 Presidential election with a wide margin, InshaaAllah. The opposition isn’t just divided; it is currently leaderless and lost in the woods of its own frustration.
– Jayeoba David writes from Kogi state.
