Does Tinubu Have the Authority to Advise Governors on His Domain? By Emmanuel Aziken

Prompted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's move to freeze an Osun State Government account, President Bola Tinubu has intervened in a manner that raises crucial questions about the inner workings of his presidency, particularly in regards to who acts on his behalf and what actions are taken with his prior knowledge and approval.

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The EFCC had obtained a court order to restrict withdrawals from an Osun State statutory allocation account as part of an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of around N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and FAAC allocations, an action that took on a political dimension given its timing just before the August 15 governorship election.

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In response, Tinubu issued a personally signed statement directing the EFCC to vacate the order, expressing deep embarrassment not at the commission's actions, but at the timing, which he felt could be perceived as an attempt by Abuja to influence the Osun election.

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It's noteworthy that Tinubu's intervention did not exonerate Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration from the allegations under investigation, nor did it instruct the EFCC to abandon its duties, but rather emphasized the need for law enforcement to remain distinct from partisan politics.

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Tinubu's actions are particularly significant in Osun, a state where his APC has suffered significant defeats, including Adeleke's victory over incumbent APC Governor Gboyega Oyetola in 2022, with 403,371 votes to Oyetola's 375,027, and Tinubu's own loss to the PDP's Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, with 354,366 votes to Tinubu's 343,945.

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The political landscape in Osun is further complicated by the crisis within the PDP and Adeleke's flirtation with the APC, with Adeleke's camp maintaining that he did not reject an invitation to join the APC, but was resisted by Oyetola and the Osun APC establishment, ultimately leading to Adeleke's move to the Accord party, on whose platform he seeks re-election.

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For some within the APC, the calculation may have seemed straightforward, given the PDP's weakness and the ruling party's federal power, but this underestimates Governor Adeleke, who belongs to one of Nigeria's most enduring political families, with his father, Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke, and brother, Isiaka Adeleke, having held significant political offices.

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Ademola Adeleke himself has a strong political background, having represented Osun West in the Senate before becoming governor, and his family's cultural reach, including his nephew, Davido, one of Africa's most recognizable music stars, gives them access to a youthful constituency that could be valuable in the election.

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Tinubu's intervention not only prevents a potentially destabilizing confrontation in Osun but also protects the President's own interests, raising questions about how such a politically explosive action was taken without his prior knowledge or approval.

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The EFCC, an institution with statutory responsibilities, had obtained a court order, but the President's public embarrassment over the timing of the action raises legitimate questions about political judgment and coordination within the federal establishment.

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While it would be premature to conclude that "rogue elements" deliberately engineered the affair, it is reasonable to ask whether officials around the presidency and federal institutions fully appreciate the consequences of their actions on the President's credibility.

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Tinubu therefore faces a larger task than just resolving the Osun issue, as he must establish who authorized the controversial action, on what basis, and with what understanding of the consequences, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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Accountability cannot be limited to correcting decisions after public outcry, and the President must ensure that those around him understand the importance of their actions, as a ruler is ultimately judged not only by their intentions but also by the conduct of those exercising authority on their behalf.

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Tinubu has acted wisely in Osun by ensuring that the August 15 election is not tainted by federal interference, and both the APC and Adeleke are entitled to campaign and defend their interests, while the EFCC is entitled to investigate credible allegations, but ultimately, the people of Osun must decide who governs them.

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If Tinubu wants this intervention to contribute to his legacy, he must go beyond Osun and ensure that no one can use the authority of the Nigerian state for partisan purposes, making the best outcome for Osun a credible election whose result cannot be attributed to Abuja, which would also be a victory for Tinubu.