Bola Ahmed Tinubu: The Phenomenon of Our Time By Comr Doji Doji
A great man is known by his name. ‘Jagaban’ which means ‘leader of warriors’ is the tittle that best describes who His Excellency Bola Ahmad Tinubu is in the Nigeria’s political space. The tittle also connotes to someone who get things done, courageous leader. Asiwaju also means ‘leader’ in Yoruba language, or the first to lead, it is also synonymous with ‘champion or winner’. Asiwaju has secured his position as the most influential politician in Nigeria, he foresaw himself strategically placed to lead this country over decades ago.
Today, no state governor can survive one year without receiving the federal government grant, some governors tiptoe around heavy chain of debt as a result of their inability to pace ways to boost their internally generated revenue. Tinubu survived eight years as the governor of Lagos state without receiving grants. The former president Obasanjo stepped on Tinubu’s toes, the fights were coming from all angles but Tinubu stood to ground unflappably firm and continued to initiate new policies and structures that helped him planned and laid a strong foundation for Lagos state. The history of Tinubu’s leadership prowess, political sagacity is placed on the concrete wall of Lagos state.
Leadership is proffering solution, is a service and supporting becoming leaders through initiatives that push them achieving their goals. To say Tinubu is a great leader is to say the least, with his deep vision, highly sensitive to economic issues, advanced intelligence in security and conventional political tolerance put him in a strategic place to lead this country. Tinubu is determined and prepared to reposition this country, his compendious deep history about Nigeria governance and resources is incomparable, he is ready to give back to the country that built and projected him across the African continent. Tinubu is not a new page in Nigerian history, he has built his name across the political space of Africa. His antecedents after leaving office as the governor of Lagos state proved him to be a leader that Nigerians need.
Friends keep on pouring cold water on my nerves, that Tinubu this and Tinubu that. The issue is simple, the window we are viewing Asiwaju is not the same window they’re viewing him, that is the only dissimilarity. They’re seeing Tinubu as a threat to their bosses because of his competence and courage to deliver and move Nigeria forward, we see him as a true nationalist. You can’t just understand what a true leader is until you know what leadership is all about. And let me quickly scratch your head, without Tinubu in 2015, many people would have been struggling to meet up the headlines as second, third or forth in the lane of elections including some key players whose wind blow from Maiduguri to Kebbi. The bitter truth that’s hard to crack. Nigeria is bigger than a few group of people, and for Tinubu it is our self-imposed task to deliver in the forthcoming elections. We are ever ready like scorpions to pull our trousers to cross him over the bridge.
The fact that remain undisputed is the fact that without Tinubu, Buhari would have been struggling to win presidential election till date. Tinubu’s factor in 2015 was so visible to the extent that even town idiots appreciate his selfless commitment towards the victory of APC. In 2014 for instance, Asiwaju sacrificed his presidential ambition for Buhari, relinquished his power in the then ACN and engaged his supporters into the merger which paved the way for the emergence of Buhari as president after 2015 presidential election.
The political dynamism of Nigeria as a multi-ethnic country is now widening as many players of propaganda industry are spreading wings across the northern Nigeria with all sorts of campaigns against the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju, this is no doubt a work of sponsored anti northern development.
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As a northern youth, many people don’t understand me when they see me clearing ground for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election. I am a student of leadership and governance. I know who a leader is whenever I see one. When I pledged my support for Asiwaju, there was so much pressure to withdraw and support a northerner, but I am a Nigerian with a progressive spirit, an apprentice of Jagaban school of leadership and national development.
I chose to write about the truth in which we seek shelter, wisdom and light that lead us to a life of purpose, and a leader from whom we receive direction to a greater future. If there is any time that Nigerians need a great visionary leader like Asiwaji is now. His ideas and managerial muscles have been tested and found working across all sectors of governance, he has been a builder of leaders throughout his life.
For instance, he mentored Fashola, positioned him as his Chief of Staff, he raised him like a son and later Fashola became a two term Governor of Lagos state. And today Fashola is a two term minister, heading the most strategic and big ministry of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Aregbesola was babysitting around politics when Asiwaju brought him as his commissioner, he trained him and stood for him to become a two term Governor of Osun state. Aregbesola is today a serving minister of interior.
Jagaban saw potentialities in Ganiyu Solomon, he made him a Chairman of Mushin Local Government and later pushed him to become a senator. In fact, Tinubu’s words are so inspiring so much so that Ganiyu was shocked to his bone marrow when Tinubu made move to make him a senator. I quoted Tinubu from his own words where he says “I had obtained and filled the INEC form to go to the Senate, then I realised that I have a Governorship candidate, Mr Babatunde Fashola and Obasanjo was the President, determined to win Lagos state. I told myself, ‘if I go ahead I will strive to win my seat while leaving Fashola to his fate’. Then one morning I called Ganiyu Solomon and told him to follow me to Abuja, we landed and off we went to INEC office, withdrew my form and handed him another form. Ganiyu was shocked, he asked me for what sir, I said fill the form, he did and that was how I was able to concentrate in the Governorship election, Fashola won and Gani also won his seat. We must make sacrifices,”
Musiliu Obanikoro became a Senator after serving Tinubu as a Local Government Chairman.
Tinubu appointed Lanlehin as an SA when he was the governor of Lagos state, Lanlehin became a Senator from Oyo state.
Our own Jagaban stretched his hands and appointed Bamidele as an aide, Tinubu raised and mentored him until he became a House of Representatives Member and later a Senator in Ekiti State.
Sunday Dare was mentored by Jagaban, he made him his aide and later supported him to become a Minister.
The current honourable minister of Information Lai Mohammed, was his Chief of Staff. Lai enjoyed attending classes of leadership, mentorship, governance and politics under the care of Tinubu.
Lawal Gbolahan was Tinubu’s ADC, Tinubu put him in a strategic pace. He made him resigned in 2008 and appointed him as an SA under Fashola’s tenure from 2008-2011. In 2011, he was appointed a commissioner until 2015 and Tinubu retained him as same commissioner during Ambode’s tenure. Lawal was occupying the same position in Sanwó’s tenure till June 4th, 2020 when he resigned. In just two days after his resignation he was crowned as Onírù of Irùland (Irùland encompasses Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula.).
Vice President Yemi osinbajo was Tinubu’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Lagos state where he strengthened Yemi, put him on leadership pace until he became who he is today.
Who are we not to entrust the mantle of leadership to Jagaban?
The twin challenges facing Nigeria today are insecurity and economy, sectors that Tinubu has equipped for and prepared himself to tackle and restore the economic glory Nigerians used to enjoy. Tinubu is the mirror of excellence, antidote of failure. With Asiwaju, Nigeria will record massive infrastructural development and economic security which the posterity will live to enjoy.
By Comr Doji Doji
Bauchi State
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