Category: Discourse

By Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

I thank the organizers for selecting me to be the Chairman for the launch of this excellent book about a truly remarkable woman, First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

Join me in congratulating the book’s author, Dr. Hajo Sani, for making this important contribution to our collective knowledge by highlighting the role the First Lady has played in our society. The author treated this task with a straightforward literary style but also with a depth of analysis a book of this nature requires.

Given the First Lady’s achievements, no one can reasonably question the role of a First Lady any longer. Remember there were those who argued that the constitution does not assign an official role to the First Lady. Because of Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari, their concerns have been forever laid to rest.

The First Lady has played an uplifting, unifying role both in symbol and substance. She has been a voice of conscience calling us to be our better selves for the good of the nation and for the betterment of the weakest, most vulnerable among us.

As such she has been a strong pillar of support not only to the president but also to the Nigerian people whom they both serve with such patriotic commitment and high purpose.

The role of the First Lady is instrumental to our society and to how a great number of our people relate to government. Custom and tradition may call to her in a certain way. Yet, the issues of the day may call to her in another. First Lady Aisha Buhari has done a masterful job melding the calls of tradition and the imperatives of today into a creative, benevolent role that has enriched society and the art of governance.

Many political thinkers argue the state or country is nothing but a social extension or evolution of the family. As such, if the president is the father of the national family, his spouse becomes the mother of that family.

This is why Chief Obafemi Awolowo once praised the then First Lady, Mrs. Victoria Gowon, by saying, “The hands that rock the cradle, so goes the wise saying, rule the nation. If it is not presumptuous to say so, I would like to add that the hands that tend a ruler in true affection, in large measure, rule the nation. If this is so, then the contributions of Victoria to the progress of this country thus far stand in bold and historic relief.”

Because of the humility of the presidential couple, Mrs. Aisha Buhari chose not to be addressed as ‘First Lady’ at the beginning of this administration. However, this could not be sustained. Neither her role nor her individual capabilities could be downplayed very long. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has truly shown herself to be the First Lady of Nigeria in title but also by virtue of her talent and temperament.

The role of First Lady provides critical support to the public functioning of the presidency. The author thus must be commended not just for documenting the background, education, career, family and public life of Mrs. Buhari in an enjoyable, easily readable manner but also in narrating the political and constitutional context within which Mrs. Buhari has moulded the position of the First Lady in Nigeria.

Read Also: Aisha Buhari is an unusual First Lady – Osinbajo

This book will be a vital read to future historians and future generations who seek to understand the evolution of the Nigerian presidency as well as for those interested in the progress of women’s rights and empowerment in our land.

Against this backdrop, the title of this book, ‘Being Different’ is more than appropriate. Indeed, it may be the only title that fits. It captures the personality of the First Lady. A human being of deep convictions and feelings, she is more than passionate about her husband and her family.

You can plainly see she loves them deeply. This depth of feeling extends to a love of country. From the very onset, she was totally commitment to ensuring the success of the campaign of then candidate Buhari and later to the success of the administration of President Buhari.

She has a naturally strong connection with the average person because she speaks with sincerity and belief. We noticed this very early during the historic 2015 campaign. Thus, we convinced her to play a vocal and visible role in that groundbreaking campaign. Her efforts contributed to her husband’s success. She helped him make history during that campaign. Since coming to the office of the First Lady, she has not stopped making history.

She has been an active and dedicated voice to those whom society sometimes forgets. She gives comfort to the broken and seeks relief for the destitute. No one can doubt her concern. And her care for the wellbeing of women, children and the powerless has established the standard for the office of the First Lady for years to come.

Mrs. Buhari shows that a First Lady should not stand aloof and detached from what is happening in the country.  Mrs. Buhari never shies from what she believes in. This makes her a reliable and true advisor to her beloved husband. No doubt that Mr. President’s administration has been enriched because of her active role and the teamwork that exists between husband and wife.

As I conclude, may I restate that this book is an excellent discourse on the Office of the First Lady. It is a fine handbook on the unique contribution of women to the life of the nation. Most importantly, it is a superb exposition of the life and times of Her Excellency, Dr, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

Being Different, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has reached the highest of heights, yet she has not allowed this to change her or to turn her back on those in need.

Being Different, she has effortlessly melded impeccable style with intelligent substance, melded gracefulness with gravitas, melded public image with principled idealism.

Being Different, she has carved a new path. A path not just for herself, but one for other women to follow and for all to admire.

The more that people follow her lead, the better, more just and more compassionate this nation shall become.

If this is being different, then so be it.  On behalf of all gathered here as well as the tens of millions of people whom you have touched may I say, “Thank you First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari” for your invaluable contribution to the nation.

May God bless you all. May God bless our beloved Nigeria.

• Text of a remark by Asiwaju TInubu at the presentation of a book —Aisha Buhari: Being Different —in Abuja 

Excerpts of a remark by former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dr. Jayeola Lewu during the celebration of Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora’s 80th birthday

It was a great honor and privilege that I was invited to be the Guest Speaker by THE IJESHA  SOCIETY in a virtual celebration of the 80th birthday anniversary of Ambassador Dr Oladapo Olusola Fafowora,  the  Otun Sebaloju of Ijesha.

I did not have the good fortune of working under Ambassador Fafowora  from the period that I was recruited into the foreign service in 1972 until he was unjustly retired in 1984; so I had to rely mainly on his memoirs “Lest I Forget” and also on discussions with some former colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  a few of his friends, and my personal interactions with him on many issues.

Ambassador Fafowora merges from this process as a true son of Ijesha land who was well brought up by his Ijesha father and would always speak his mind, which sometimes got him into trouble with some powerful people who had despotic tendencies as expatiated in his memoir,  Lest I Forget.

He is a kind gentleman who is truthful and will not change A and call it B. He is a very polished personality and an excellent representative of Nigeria as demonstrated by his success and immense contributions during his tours of duty in the Nigerian Foreign Service; particularly in the Nigeria High Commission in London; as Acting High Commissioner in Uganda during the Idi Amin regime; as Nigerian Charge d’affaires in Ankara, Turkey; as Secretary of the National Advisory Council on Foreign Policy; as Director, Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Before his untimely retirement, he performed creditably well as Nigerian Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations. He made us proud when he was elected Chairman of the Second Committee (the most powerful Committee which deals with Economic and Financial matters) of the United Nations; and he succeeded, during a tense moment of the military coup against the Shagari government, in bringing the United Nations Secretary General, Perez de Cuellar on an official visit to Nigeria, an achievement  that could be accomplished only by a courageous person like him.

Ambassador Fafowora’s life mirrors the socio-economic and political life of Nigeria between the 1960s and 2000s. It reflects a country that was eager to hit the ground running at independence with the aspiration of being counted among the developed world within the first twenty years of its life. Initially, Nigeria had patriotic leaders like Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, Zik of Africa and others like Ambassador Fafowora, and many members in the Ijesha Society, who had great dreams of making Nigeria the pride of the black race.

Unfortunately, as rightly pointed out by Ambassador Fafowora in his book “Lest I Forget”, tribal politics, religion and corruption displayed by Nigerian leaders made the great dreams unrealizable.

Nigeria in the 60s/70s was considered to be the rising star of the African continent as exemplified by the feat achieved by Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was living ahead of his contemporaries in Nigeria and Africa in giving free education to the people of Western Nigeria. In his quest for industrial development of the West, he turned the jungles of Ikeja and Agege into an industrial haven. A great modernizer, he established the first Television Station in Africa, exposing his people to the benefit of information technology, education, entertainment, awareness of the world beyond Nigeria, and the promotion of the cultural values and heritage of the people.

It was under this environment created by Chief Obafemi  Awolowo that Ambassador Fafowora, his contemporaries and those before him, acquired the enviable knowledge and wisdom that propelled him to stardom, not only in the foreign service but in the “Organized Private Sector”  a term he coined  when he was the Director-General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

If other regions, especially the North, had emulated the West as regards provision of free primary education for all, the wide gap between the North and the South would not have existed.

Unfortunately, this has now been exacerbated by the continuous attacks by bandits on schools and colleges, leading to their closure and also by the pillaging activities of cattle herders of farms and heinous destruction by Boko Haram that forbids Western education. The states concerned, working in concert with the Federal Government, should swiftly put an end to this tragedy; otherwise, the North will continue to be a drag on the country and a drain pipe on the resources used in fighting insecurity and rehabilitating its people and infrastructure, which should have rather been used for the socio-economic development of the region.

Ambassador Fafowora is quite right in his assertion in his book that ‘political tribalism, religion, self- interest rather than ideological differences’ are the main factors that have drawn Nigeria backwards. Consequently, many countries in Asia and Latin America that were at par with Nigeria at independence in 1960 have left us miles and years behind.

The first military coup in 1966 and subsequent coups, including the civil war, were based more or less on tribalism, and self-interest.  The concomitant civil service purges, depleted the Nigerian state of able-bodied personalities who would have been advancing the aspiration of Nigeria to be one of the ten most advanced economies before 2000. The two major purges by General Murtala Mohammad in 1975 and General Muhammadu Buhari in 1983/84 swept away the best and brightest in the civil service, which   invariably, was left with mediocrity rather than meritocracy in accordance with the whim and caprice of the military, who cared very little about  good governance, rule of law, equity, fairness and justice,- the values espoused by Amb Fafowora. The country ended up being governed by Heads of State from one region of the country at the expense and displeasure of the other parts.

Also, personal vendetta among the military brought untold agony and instability to the country due to constant change of government by the rule of the gun. No wonder Ambassador Fafowora detests military rule where democratic principles are jettisoned and injustice is pervasive.

Unfortunately,, despite the return of the country to democratic system of government since 1999, the values embraced by Ambassador Fafowora have not prevailed. For instance, under the Obasanjo regime, though some economic  benefits accrued to Nigeria through debts forgiveness, the military traits in the persona of Obasanjo led to the uncivil sacking and destruction of Odi in Bayelsa state; a total disregard for judicial order as exemplified by the non-payment of federal allocation due to Lagos state; and interpersonal squabbles between Obasanjo and his Vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, which distracted them from vital focus on infrastructural development of the country, leaving our schools, health services, water facilities, roads, bridges and electricity in a sorry state of disrepair.

The Yar’adua era which succeeded them was short-lived; being a more civil personality, President Yar’adua helped Lagos state by releasing its federal allocation due to that state in accordance with the  Supreme  Court  judgement. He also brought some sanity to the Delta region through his amnesty program which also resulted in relative peace and flow of oil and gas. Perhaps, if he had lived longer, the country’s socio-economic development would have improved, although his tall order of getting Nigeria into the league of the 20 most developed countries of the world would not have been accomplished in 2020, and it could not be accomplished after his demise, as Nigeria did not plan nor have the infrastructure in place. The nation was chasing shadows rather than substance. It was a hope against hope.

Then, 2020 came with covid-19 and left us behind. In the last UNDP Human Development Index, Nigeria placed 20th from the bottom of the 180 countries surveyed The regime of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could not lead Nigeria to the Promised Land despite the huge revenue from high priced oil. Unfortunately, corruption, mismanagement and ineptitude which are very repulsive to Ambassador Fafowora, kept Nigeria at the bottom of the Human Development lndex.

Currently, under President Mohammadu Buhari, Nigeria has suffered series of recession; appointments and advancements in the civil service and public service are based more on political godfatherism, nepotism, without reflecting federal character and mediocrity than meritocracy. The result of which is a dysfunctional system, loss of trust and confidence in the leadership of this country at all levels, aggravated by the inability to conquer ceaseless insecurity especially in the northern parts of the country.

From his relationship with politicians, Ambassador Fafowora became disillusioned with politics in Nigeria, including those of the so-called progressives, many of whom he discovered, I quote “were only interested in advancing their personal material interests. Any form of ideology, except that of self-interests had become irrelevant in the context of Nigerian politics which had assumed an increasingly violent character.”

What I can deduce from this statement and from the comportment of the Nigerian political class is that the Nigerian state may not be allowed to breakup as long as there is a national cake to be shared among its members for their own benefits rather than for the overall good of the masses of the country. Thanks to the resources with which this country is endowed by God, there appears to be something to be shared most of the time among the politicians, even in some instance, before the cake is baked.

Where do we go from here, when will the Nigeria of our dream be realized?

Election year 2023 is around the corner. This is the time to start preparing and mobilizing the nation, particularly the patriotic, disciplined and incorruptible men and women and the youth in changing the fortunes of the country for the better. The recycling of the old guards should stop, while new blood that have the ideological content of aspiring to raise Nigeria, from the repugnant level of corruption, tribal politics and nepotism, insecurity and injustice,  to the highest innovation, scientific and technological level of the 21st century, should be encouraged and promoted to replace them.

The gap between Nigeria and its contemporaries like Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, India and China, is too wide. We need men and women of vision and discipline like Ambassador Fafowora  or Lee Kuan Yew, with abiding dedication, and the best patriotic zeal and character to create the enabling atmosphere to fill the gap soonest.

In so doing, it is essential to embark on drafting a socio-economic development plan with achievable and quantifiable set targets/goals and with benchmarks or key performance indicators  for monitoring and evaluation. However, such a plan cannot be designed if there is no concensus on a true federalism, if we have no census or an idea of the state of the country’s resources, the collective interests of the people and country, the number, capacity, age and location of the populace that is sensitized and empowered; as it will be inappropriate to resort to another “planning without facts,” to borrow the title of economist Wolfgang Stolpher’s book on Nigeria’s experience in

development planning.

With a growing population projected to make Nigeria  the world’s 3rd largest country in the world by 2050 or so, the need to plan ahead to mitigate socio-economic, political and external demands of the country cannot be over-emphasized.

The Nigeria of our dream, therefore, requires leaders like Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore who instilled discipline and patriotism in his people. He promoted and advanced country before individual self-interest, and he emphasized meritocracy rather than political mediocrity, nepotism or tribalism. He built solid institutions rather than individual mini gods who prefer to display blatant impunity in

flouting the rule of law. He was Prime Minister in 1959-1990 and turned Singapore, which was at par with Nigeria in 1960, into a first world country of the 21st century.

Ambassador Fafowora, in my view, has similar qualities of excellence, both in character and intellect, with Lee Kuan Yew.  The main difference between the two is that Amb. Fafowora was an astute and conscientious civil servant to the core before his unjustified abrupt retirement, while Lee Kuan Yew is a shrewd and disciplined politician who had a vision that he followed religiously as regards the path to greatness of his country to being among the most developed countries in the world.

Perhaps, if Ambassador Fafowora had climbed the political rostrum in this country, he would have not been merely “seen” as a civil servant that he was, but would have been “heard” as a fearless and outstanding politician whose principles and philosophy of equity, fairness, accountability, transparency, meritocracy and social justice would have brought greater positive changes that would have led to the Nigeria of our dream.

Nonetheless, and in spite of the frailties of our leaders who have led this country to the edge of a precipice, I am still very optimistic, and I hope Ambassador Fafowora is too, that the country of our dream will eventually be realized sooner than later when greater number of conscientious, disciplined well educated elites of integrity enter the political arena.

However, to get there, Nigerians in general, especially the youth, will have to go through the crucible of the highest and best character and values extolled by Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora. They have to imbibe them in order to build a new Nigerian nation whose domestic and foreign policies will interface and be centered on Nigeria itself, which will have an enduring socio-political and economic development, stability and security of life, properties and investments; and which will be the envy of the rest of the world in the 21st century and beyond.

And so, on this auspicious occasion it is appropriate to pour ecomiums  on our iconic leader, an illustrious and quintessential diplomat, an intellectual per excellence, whose doctoral dissertation on Nigerian Federalism was published by Spectrum Books. He had impressive stints as Visiting Member/Consultant to the Editorial Board of the Guardian and later The NATION.

He was not required to maintain a regular column but he did so at both publications. His columns on politics, economics and international affairs, in addition to his six published books, were full of insight and attracted a wide appreciative readership. It is no surprise that he is an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL). He is a man of enviable principles and admirable values, who, according to his friends, is a warm and amiable personality with a good sense of humour and who, as a typical diplomat, likes the good life, but being distinguished, he is not flamboyant.

Happy Birthday to His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Oladapo Olusola Fafowora, The OTUN S0BALOJU OF IJESHA.  Also, my felicitations to Her Excellency, Chief Bose Fafowora, who has been a pillar of support during the twists and turns in the life of her spouse. Ambassador Fafowora, I understand, has been a devoted husband and an exemplary family man. May the couple continue to enjoy many more joyous, healthful and glorious years ahead.

Congratulations to the IJESHA SOCIETY for honoring their great son and leader, a man who has done Ijesha and Nigeria proud; and who has left a legacy of making better wherever he goes and whatever position he holds as shown during his public life in the Foreign Service, in Chief Bisi Akande’s Administration in Osun State, and in rejuvenating and rebuilding the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, for which he coined that term “Organized Private Sector”.

• Dr Lewu, Fellow (Harvard) mni, served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil.

By Adekunle Otitoju

The report of his planned defection in newspapers has given us the impetus to review the circumstance that led to the emergence of the Zamfara state Governor Bello Matawalle and to unequivocally point out the likely consequence of his intending action.

It is worthy of note that for any person to emerge as governor of a state in Nigeria, aside the court-ordered governor, the returning officers of an election, after collation of results, would announce to the public that “Mr K, having polled the highest number of votes cast in the gubernatorial election and having satisfied the legal requirements, is hereby returned winner of the election.”

This was not the case in this instance. It is a peculiar situation. Matawalle was returned by the judgment of the Supreme Court in suit: SC/377/2019 wherein the Supreme Court declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC), which the governor is allegedly proposing to join, did not hold a valid primary election and, in turn, sacked all the candidates put forward by the party.

The Supreme Court held that the APC could not have won any election in Zamfara, including the post for the governor. The judgment meant that  Matawalle, candidate of the PDP, who polled the second highest number of votes in the election, was declared winner by the Supreme Court; since APC had failed to fulfill the combined provisions of Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and also section 31 of the Electoral Act.

Section 177 ( c), which stipulates that for a candidate to contest for election, he must be a member of a political party and must be sponsored by that political party.. The Section 31 also stipulates that political parties must conduct primary election and the person who wins the primary election is sponsored by the political party to participate in the general election.

This situation was absent in Zamfara state in the last election for APC thereby robbing them the opportunity to hold any political position in Zamfara state.

The Supreme Court sacked all the APC seats won during the 2019 general election not just for fun but for the purpose of keeping to the tenet of the law.

Read Also: 30,000 bandits terrorising my state, says Gov Matawalle

The proposed intention of Governor Matawalle to defect now would undermine the decision of the Supreme Court which he has benefited from. He must be seen to ensure the complete satisfaction of the judgment rather than frolicking with judicial pronouncements or trying to castrate the order of the apex court..

Having enjoyed the benefit of the judgment, he must not be seen to invalidate the judgment by his action or his proposed intention to join the APC that the Supreme Court had already sacked from occupying any political post in Zamfara for a period of four years.

The learned Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (JSC) did not mince his words when he declared as follows: For the avoidance of doubt, a party that has no candidate in an election cannot be declared the winner of the election. This being so, the votes credited to the alleged candidates of the 1st appellant in the 2019 general election in Zamfara are wasted votes. For that reason, it is hereby ordered that candidates of parties other than the 1st appellant with the highest votes and the required spread stand elected into the various offices that were contested for in Zamfara state in the 2019 general election”

The compelling question judging from above is why would Governor Matawalle want to invalidate and castrate the judgment by defecting from his political party, the PDP, to the APC, which the Supreme Court has sacked for a period of four years?

It is also worthy to note that Section 180 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, settled the tenure of office of the governor and puts it at a four-year fixed term. What it means is that for the period of 2019 to 2023, Governor Matawalle and any other candidate that occupies the sacked seats of APC candidates must remain there with their party affiliation till the end of that tenure.

It, therefore, follows that any attempt by Governor Matawalle to defect from the PDP to APC will not only be contemptuous of the judgment of the Supreme Court which gave the PDP the seat, but, it would also mean that he resigns from the seat for the next in line; according to the provisions of the Constitution, which, in this case, is the deputy governor.

It is clear that by the decision of the Supreme Court, the APC is forbidden from sitting in any of the contested seats during the last general election. Therefore,

any attempt by the governor to circumvent the judgment of the Supreme Court by defecting to APC is contemptuous.

In summary, the proposed action of Governor Matawalle could result in at least four grievous consequences:

1. It would be seen as gravely contemptuous and a way of frustrating and castrating the apt judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit SC.377/2019.
2. It would most likely lead to Governor Matawalle losing his office and, going by the provisions of Section 191(1) of 1999 Constitution as amended, the office becomes that of the deputy governor should he remain with the PDP. However, should Governor Matawalle defect together with his deputy, then, in line with Section 191(3), the office passes to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

3.Any attempt by the governor of Zamfara state, with his other colleagues, to defect from the PDP to the APC will not only be contemptuous of the judgment of the Supreme Court but will also mean that he resigns from the seat for a by-election to be conducted.

4. Also, as a party that has invalidated and castrated the judgment of the Apex Court which made him governor, Matawalle could be made to refund all the benefits he has enjoyed on the basis of this judgment which he is now seeking to invalidate.

It is strongly advised that, in order for the Zamfara State governor not to open a potential can of worms through his actions, it is best that he remains with the PDP in compliance with the Judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit SC.377/2019.

• A.O Otitoju (Ph.D), writes from Abuja

A keynote speech delivered by Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi , member representing Atiba/Oyo West/Oyo East/Afijio Constituency in the House of Representatives, at a public event in Ibadan on February 20.

HE IS A POLITICAL PHENOMENON

It is an incontrovertible fact that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, is one unique Nigerian personality with imposing features, strides and achievements. He is politician, businessman and leader of thought. Within the span of twenty-three years, Asiwaju has risen to become the Generalissimo of Nigerian Politics.

As we fondly refer to him as the Jagaban, Tinubu is undoubtedly rated as one of the most influential politicians in Africa of the 21st century. Asides cloaking himself in the garb of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Asiwaju is seen in the mould of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Nelson Mandela, the Great Madiba of South Africa, Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, and the Great Zik of Africa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. These were great men, who liberated their people from the clutches of oppression and colonial imperialism.

Interestingly, another fact about Asiwaju is that there are varied perceptions about him; from being the new Awo of Yoruba politics, an astute businessman, to a tactical politician. It is crystal clear that he is uniquely prominent and relevant in the scheme of the 4th Republic political calculation.

Ladies and gentlemen, in this presentation, we explore five reasons why Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a political phenomenon in Nigeria and why he deserves to be the next president of Nigeria, come 2023.

His antecedents

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been a dogged and resilient fighter, who is firm and resolute on his wants and beliefs. In 1998, he was among the diehard socio-political group (Afenifere), insisting that Nigeria needs a true and participatory democracy. In those trying periods, many NADECO members, who fled Nigeria as a result of persecution of the military junta, took haven in Tinubu’s house in the United States. It is part of history that the said house was a hostel of sort for all human rights and democracy activists of Nigeria origin. Asiwaju damned all consequences by putting up a resistance to the military junta of Late Gen. Sani Abacha, risking his life and businesses at the detriment of his wellbeing.

This, eventually, gave him the leverage and capacity to re-launch into the new political frontier of the 4th Republic, where he became a foundational member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and emerged the first civilian Governor of Lagos State in this extant Republic. His leading roles as a strong opposition leader, asides Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), is a strong testimony to his political resoluteness and forthrightness. He stood out as a towering reference among other politicians, as he vehemently refused to collapse his political structure to join the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

When his administration was at loggerheads with the Federal Government over statutory allocations, due to the creation of LCDAs, he was firm and unwavering to the manipulative antics of the then Obasanjo administration. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, rather than lamenting and crying foul, deployed his business dexterity, with the cooperation of his virile economic team, devised means of surviving the Obasanjo onslaught, by deploying new strategies for internally-generated revenue for Lagos State, so as to pay workers’ salaries and fund several State projects.

He never wavered, for once, in his constructive criticism of the PDP-led administration of sixteen years. Tinubu was also an insubmergible and loud voice in tackling the programmes and policies of the PDP misrule in Nigeria while it lasted.

His political clout

Permit me to take you down the memory lane exploits of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the eve of the 2015 general election. These efforts yielded many positive results and strategically placed the Jagaban of Borgu on a high pedestal of national politics and elevated his political clout from erstwhile regional to national level.

The above assertions underscore Tinubu’s political influence on national stage. The enormous clout he wields accounted for the following achievements:

– In 2007, Tinubu formed the  Action Congress (AC). He handed the party’s chairmanship seat to Chief Bisi Akande and adopted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to fly the presidential flag during the general election.

– In 2011, after the transformation of AC to ACN, he offered Mallam Nuhu Ribadu the party’s platform to contest the presidential election.

– He was a key force in the merger of his Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, with other parties like the CPC, factions of APGA and ANPP.

In 2015, among the prominent founders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, alongside Major General Muhammadu Buhari, was Asiwaju Tinubu. In spite of this fact, he held no position, neither as the Party’s Chairman nor a member of the NWC. Tinubu is the most unambitious politician I have ever known. What a selfless leader Tinubu is!

– His strategic political roadmap of aligning the West with the North was key to APC’s victory in the 2015 general elections.

– Against all odds, he ensured the emergence of his preferred candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

A maker and manager of men

This short description of Tinubu’s political voyage will not be complete without highlighting his impacts and contributions to the development and empowerment of great men in Nigeria’s politics.

– Asiwaju Tinubu was instrumental to the choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as APC vice presidential candidate in the 2015 election. A man who had already gone through his mentorship as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.

– His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Mr Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, rose through the back of Jagaban to become a member of the House of Representatives. Asiwaju did not relent until he ensured Mr Gbajabiamila became the Speaker, the No. 4 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

– His Excellency, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, passed through Tinubu’s tutelage. First, as his Chief of Staff. Then, with the support of Asiwaju, Fashola became the Governor of the most economically-vibrant state in Nigeria.

– His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, served as Tinubu’s Commissioner of Works before going back to his state of origin to contest the governorship seat. With the support of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aregbesola became the governor of Osun State.

– The contributions of Tinubu to the political success of the former Minister of Solid Mineral, Dr Kayode Fayemi, cannot be overemphasized. Asiwaju toiled day and night to mobilise support, both in cash and kind, for the emergence of JKF as the governor of Ekiti State.

– His Excellency, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the Minister of Information, had first served, meritoriously, as Asiwaju’s Commissioner in Lagos State before becoming APC’s Publicity Secretary and, eventually, a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

– His Excellency, the late Senator Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi  had a fair share of Bola Tinubu’s political influence and generosity. He contested and won the Oyo State gubernatorial election on the platform of Tinubu’s Party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The late Ajimobi became the Deputy National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the support of Asiwaju.

– His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun became the governor of Ogun State on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, as well. Against all odds, Senator Amosun emerged victorious, with kind support of the Jagaban.

– How many do we count? Melo ni a fe ka ninu ehin adipele? Tinubu’s phenomenal contributions in the process of human capital development will eternally remain a watershed in the political history of Nigeria. Governors Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo and Abdur-Rahman Abdur-Razak of Kwara are all beneficiaries of Tinubu’s political largesse. Former Governor Akinwumi Ambode, Adeniyi Adebayo, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mrs Adejoke Adefulire, Babatunde Fowler are all students of Tinubu’s political school.

– The galaxy of stars who got their groove from Tinubu is unending, including people like Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, through whom Fayemi got into the Tinubu political enclave; Mr. Ben Akabueze; Joe Igbokwe; Mr. Sasore; Femi Pedro and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

Tinubu’s political philosophy is that of making and enthroning men of great minds in position of authority, rather than empowering mediocres. His altruism and selflessness in building men of sound and impeccable intellect are unparalleled. In 2007, Asiwaju Tinubu personally handed his senatorial ticket to Senator Ganiyu Solomon. This is rare and uncommon in Nigeria’s political terrain.

A bridge builder

The ability to make friends across all divides is a reflection of someone’s innate wisdom. Tinubu is a bridge builder, who believes in the indivisibility and oneness of Nigeria. All over the Nation, he has made friends, allies, loyalists and supporters across all divides. I make bold to say that Tinubu is a detribalised Nigerian, who sees everyone as equal. His contributions towards the propagation of both Islam and Christianity are unquantifiable. Worthy of note is the fact that Asiwaju’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is a pastor. On the day of her ordainment, Asiwaju Tinubu was in attendance. Also, his love admiration for our royal fathers and traditional institution are enthralling.

From the West to the East and to the far North, Asiwaju has bestridden the political landscape of Nigeria like a colossus. His enigmatic proclivity, unwavering generosity, undefiled dexterity and cerebral acuity have distinguished Bola Tinubu as one of the foremost Africa’s leaders of thought, whose impacts will remain indelible in the mind of people of the Black Race. Little do we wonder why Tinubu is a friend to many African leaders and heads of governments.

There is nothing as interesting as achieving your dreams, and Senator Bola Tinubu will relish the fact that his Party, the APC, has broken the jinx, by becoming the first party that will have both the government at the centre and in Lagos State. Indeed, Lagos’s and Nigeria’s political histories will be incomplete, if the invaluable contributions of Asiwaju Tinubu are not acknowledged.

Tinubu governed the commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos, and laid the solid foundation for the unprecedented growth of Africa’s 5th economy. Doesn’t Nigeria deserve the Lagos prototype? Doesn’t Nigeria deserve someone who will continue the landmark achievements of Buhari in rail transportation, agricultural revolution to mention but a few.

Ladies and gentlemen, the above-stated facts underscore the need for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come 2023, to succeed His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari as president, Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the right moment every well-meaning Nigerian should rally support for Tinubu. It is a payback time, when all his beneficiaries deploy all positive weapons in their arsenal for the realisation of this lofty goal. Let us support this beautiful cause. We shall not regret it. God bless Nigeria.