Veteran Nigerian comedian, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba has revealed some political strategies he learned from former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In an interview with Outside the Box Podcast, aired on YouTube on Saturday, Alibaba shed light on the political dynamics in Nigeria, disclosing the steps required to win a presidential election in the country.
According to Alibaba, Obasanjo thought he was venturing into politics and, in their discussion, outlined a series of strategic moves essential for success in Nigerian politics.
“Ali, I’m happy you’re catching up with politics but you still have a lot to learn, like how you get governors and presidents elected,” Alibaba quoted Obasanjo.
Reading from a chat with Obasanjo, Alibaba explained that one of the key insights was the importance of securing the support of certain state governors to win a presidential race.
According to Obasanjo, a candidate needs at least seven governors to have a viable chance of winning a presidential election.
Alibaba said, “You need seven governors to win an election: Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and the CBN governor. Then I said Kano and Kaduna don’t have money, he said that is for numbers, and what it money, that is numbers too.”
Reading further, he said, “You need 44 of the most popular senatorial districts. You need to have awarded 10 contracts and 15% of that contract can give you a marginal impact at the polls. And you must award this contract in your first year of assumption of office.”
“If you don’t do that then, you can’t ask the people for anything because when you give them at the first year of your getting into office, when it’s time for elections you just tell them ‘Do you want to continue this contract or…?’” Alibaba added.
The ace comedian revealed that their conversation also delved into the importance of strategic appointments.
Obasanjo reportedly emphasised the need to hand-pick key officials such as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police, the Comptroller-General of Customs, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the Central Bank Governor.
According to Alibaba, Obasanjo also advised that pending cases of corrupt former governors who are “loaded” should be suspended.
“You must suspend pending cases of corrupt past governors who are loaded,” Alibaba quoted Obasanjo.
Alibaba explained that these governors could be pivotal allies, especially as they control substantial financial resources.
He said, “Don’t forget that those guys have chests, war chests that they are just sitting and waiting for who they want to align with. No matter how much EFFC milks from them they still have plenty.
“These are people who were sitting on a monthly federal allocation… like some states that when they get their federal allocation, they don’t touch it. They actually add to it because their state’s internally generated revenue is higher than what the federal gives to them.
“So if the federal government gives them N3, they can add N4 to it and spend N7. When they leave office, EFCC can’t come looking for them because they added money to what the federal government gave them, but you see that internally generated revenue that is their sweat as it is called, it is their money, they generated it themselves. They can determine anything they want to do with it.”
Reading from the chat, Alibaba continued, “This is the meaty part of it, he says ‘Get US or China support because of their businesses in your country, they would support.
“Get National Association of Nigerian Students, market women, National Union of Road Transport Workers. Unsettle the organized labour. Get 10 of the richest Nigerians on your side.
“Infiltrate opposition parties and let them decamp before the election. Buy delegates one year before the congresses.”
“I asked how do you buy congresses,” Alibaba continued. “He said you know who and who will be selected as delegates, you give two of his daughters jobs at the bank, you give this other person’s wife a shop, this person wants to go to hajj, they go to hajj.
“When the time for election comes and you say this is the person I’m supporting, because of these people who you gave given those things, they won’t mess up. While some people are raising money to give dollars and all those things, you already have bought their loyalty since.”
He claimed that Obasanjo also told him to “have a hand in appointing all parties’ chairmen.”
“So when you hear two people are gunning for an office and you are not in the party, you call the other party and say you want to be chairman, we’ll fund you,” Alibaba explained.
“Secure INEC and state REC, blogs and social media, religious leaders, royal fathers, the appointment of board of chairmen and DGs. He says to refer to No 2. Get four constitutional lawyers on retainership,” Alibaba quoted Obasanjo as saying.
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