The Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has publicly expressed his admiration for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, highlighting its significance and effectiveness in shaping the political landscape of Nigeria.
In a recent interview, Dare revealed that Tinubu’s strategic leadership and unwavering support were pivotal in shaping Muhammadu Buhari’s path to the presidency during the 2015 elections, marking a critical moment in Nigeria's political history.
According to reports by GistReel, before successfully dislodging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government in 2015, Buhari faced several significant challenges in his political journey. He had previously run unsuccessfully for the presidency in the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011, experiencing multiple setbacks along the way. Despite these challenges, Buhari’s determination did not waver, leading to important discussions and a political merger between his party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and several other parties. This collaboration ultimately led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which later emerged victorious in the 2015 presidential election.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dare emphasized that Buhari would not have won the election without Tinubu’s critical support. “If you look at the role Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu played in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari, I can say clearly that without Tinubu’s role in forming the party and making the platform available, President Buhari would not have emerged,” he stated, underlining the significance of collaboration in political success.
When asked if he was instrumental in the decision to field Buhari as the APC's presidential candidate, Dare confirmed this by saying, “It couldn’t have been only me; it was a team effort. The electoral victories we won in 2015 and again in 2019 had the writing of President Tinubu. We are a party, and beyond me, several other people were also involved in this process.” His remarks highlight the collaborative nature of political strategy and the importance of unity within the party for achieving electoral success.