A prominent presidential aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, may have begun the traditional practice of ‘money bag’ politics in manipulating citizens to influence their decisions during elections. The APC national leader and former Governor of Lagos State demonstrated his sagacity in money bag politics when he visited Zamfara State where he donated N50 million to families of victims killed by bandits in two Local Government Areas in the state.
Tinubu had in addition to the N50 million largesse, conveyed his condolence to families of the persons killed during the invasion of the communities and killing of some residents by bandits.
Bandits had last week invaded some communities in Bukkuyum and Anka Local Government Areas in Zamfara State, killing over 58 persons.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a condolence message, declared it “extremely unfortunate” the mass killings of innocent people by fleeing bandits.
President Buhari had sent a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, Sadiya Umar Farouq; and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu; the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
Tinubu may be expanding or exploiting the chains of visitations to Zamfara State, which include a team of APC governors, since that particular killing by bandits in the state, to extract ground for displaying money politics to bolster his 2023 presidential ambition.