The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bola Tinubu

  • Tinubu faults attack on Fashola

    Tinubu faults attack on Fashola

    Says I am very proud of my successor

    Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned attacks on his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
    Tinubu, in a statement by his media office on Wednesday, said Fashola would emerge victorious at the end.
    He said the immediate past governor contributed immensely to the development of Lagos adding that he remains proud of Fashola and would never be part of any process to bring him down.
    The statement reads: “The past elections were an epic confrontation between two opposing political camps. Those who believed in the progressive governance of the people gathered under the banner of the APC. Those who harkened to the conservative elitism that had cast this nation downward for so many years held to the PDP.
    “The elections clearly showed the preference of the average Nigerian. They chose the APC and rejected the PDP nationally and in Lagos state. Since the commanding victory of the APC in Lagos and all over Nigeria, the enemies of progressive governance have cleverly been at work, trying to regain through intrigue and subterfuge what they so openly and fairly lost in the elections.
    “Our political opponents now try to steal victory when their only entitlement is resounding defeat.
    ” Having fared woefully with the electorate, their game plan is to sow discord within the ranks of the party people had chosen to lead them. The PDP hopes to strike division in the APC, in that way weakening us and our ability to govern.
    “Apprised of their wiles, we in the progressive camp must be wiser still. We must not allow ourselves to be pawns in this cynical strategy. We cannot fall into their obvious snares for that would be embracing defeat when victory has already been won. It is our responsibility to govern as the people want. It would be to our detriment to fall victim to our opponent’s sly instigations by allowing ourselves to be utensils picking each other apart.
    “This brings me to recent developments in the Lagos political scene. Born of this motley stew is the recent gossip mongering that I have willfully instigated false and negative reports against former Governor Fashola to thwart him from being appointed to a major post in the Buhari administration. I want to declare clearly and categorically that these rancid attacks do not come from me nor do I endorse them. Neither my hand nor my heart is in these mean submissions. I deplore them. An attack against the performance of Governor Fashola is indirectly an attack against me and the edifice of achievements we have constructed in leading Lagos State out of a protracted time of stagnation and into an era of sustained progress and development.

    “Lagos is a much better place than when we came into governance in 1999. Each year, it has gotten better. With the APC at the helm, each subsequent year will be better yet. Babatunde Fashola has been an integral part of this improvement. He does not deserve the pillory. His record has been applauded and will continue to be when all this rumor mongering has died its natural and quick death.
    “I am proud to say that I played an instrumental role in bringing Governor Fashola into politics in the first instance. He served as my trusted chief of staff, performing excellently in that role. Due to his leadership qualities and diligent work ethic, I endorsed him for governor notwithstanding the stiff and vocal opposition of many. I am not ashamed of backing him. I believe the progress the state made under his administration has more than vindicated my endorsement.
    “Fashola, the present Governor Akin Ambode including myself are the products of a progressive political institution and its programmatic expressions. I laid the governance foundation and started the first lap, running as well as I could. I handed the baton to Fashola, knowing he would do the same. He did; he ran as well as he could. Now, he has handed to Ambode who is off and running as well as he can. We have achieved much in Lagos; but, we recognise as much as anyone that we have much more to do.
    “We also know that progress is fragile and easily undone while destruction is easily transacted but hard to undo. I for one am not the type to tear down my own house or to bring my enemy’s rubbish into it.
    “We must remember something. We have always governed Lagos state as an open forum where democracy and free expression were respected. Those who are against us were never placed in fear of the heavy hand of government descending on them even as they played funny tricks. We also must remember than in any democracy, a number of people will always oppose you no matter the quality of your performance. If an office holder has an approval rating of 70 per cent, this means, in Lagos, roughly five million people dislike the person. Also remember the PDP is just recently out of office at the federal level and that it built a vast, unprecedented financial war chest to contest the elections. The residual of that war chest is still at work, buying media space to plant rumors in hopes of spreading discord through the APC. Thus, the enemy camp may be a minority but it is a large and well-funded one that knows its only chance lies in us attacking ourselves.
    “I for one will not bend to the artificial provocation of those seeking to tear at what we have painstakingly built over the years. In my mind, Governor Fashola and I are and shall always be political allies and fellow travelers on a vital journey; that alliance is unshakeable and our journey must not be interrupted. I would no more attack his character or his administration than I would attack myself.
    “I see this present moment as crucial to Nigeria’s future. The nation faces acute challenges of security, corruption and economic development. Our task is to create policies that bring prosperity, dignity and hope to all. Great change is in reach because we have progressive governments at the federal and state levels for the first time. With great change at hand, it would be a terrible abdication of our duty to allow agents provocateur to prompt us to suspect and toss dirt at each other at a time when we should be focused on building a better, more equitable nation and society.
    “I for one shall never allow myself to be a tool of a political enemy that has nothing good in mind for Nigeria. I for one will never engage in the intramural character attacks of which I am being accused. I stand for the unity of the APC and for the progressive purpose we serve. I will not be guilty of tearing down our progressive house, not a brick of it. That I vow to all.”

  • Buhari can’t perform magic, needs time – Tinubu

    Buhari can’t perform magic, needs time – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot perform magic to bring instant changes to the country.

    He said that Buhari needs time to plan, examine, re-evaluate what is on ground towards taking accurate steps that will bring about the changes Nigerians desire.

    Tinubu spoke to State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, Nigeria has had many problems because of policies that were created without adequate and effective planning.

    Responding to a question on delayed changes expected by Nigerians, he said: “Excuse me! Let us calm now here. How long ago? May 29th was when this president was sworn in. It is an international norm all over the world, there is an honeymoon period, at least minimum of 100 days honeymoon.

    “And you won’t allow honeymoon at all? You said change is not coming, change is not by magic it is driven by the people, the spirit and the character and the planning.

    “You see, we have had so much problem in this country in the past because we run into policy blind folded without adequate and effective planning you don’t have results unless you plan well,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “The time it takes you to plan, examine, rejig, re-evaluate is more important than the time you just rush into taking action because you are either being sentimental, being emotional and being driven by other forces that are not expected.

    “It is not fair to jump into those conclusions. There must be time to plan, to review and even listen to people. There is a separation between a campaign period, articulating your vision, expressing the promises to Nigerians, there is a time to look at wholistically what you inherited, analysis it, distill and then take action.

    “Even in 100 meters race, there is a time to say on your mark, set, ready, go. So you don’t even want a time to be on your mark, set and go? No no no. You are not being fair.” He added

    He said that the purpose of his visit to President Buhari is to ensure that the right tract is maintained.

    He said: “The purpose of this visit is to see my president and our leader. The purpose is to ensure we are on the right tract and coming back from a very successful trip to United States of America.”

    On the report that the President’s meeting with APC members in the House of Representatives on Monday was deadlocked, he said: “That is the conclusion of the press. Deadlock if we are going for literally translation that is people’s opinion, I have not read any comment from the parties whether it was deadlock or not, that is the media conclusion.

    “But the question is a political process it needs to develop its own life to be worked upon to really stabilize and continue to serve the interest of the populace. As a matter of fact when the National Assembly job starts, the job of lawmaking in earnest, the president needs to step in once in a while as he did to let people to understand the import of the expectations of the public and particularly of the international community on various Programmes and institutions.

    “We need to build the institutions, make it viral and effective for the entire country. To step in to douse any conflict is not a wrong thing or do you think is wrong?” he queried.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” tag=”Tinubu, APC” count=”6″ show_more=”on”]

  • I’m loyal to Buhari’s course, says Tinubu

    I’m loyal to Buhari’s course, says Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared that he is loyal to the the course of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said there is no truth in the speculations of rift between them, adding that they understand one another.

    Tinubu spoke with State House correspondents after joining other Nigerians to break the Muslim fast with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the APC can’t perform majic and clean up the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 16 years’ mess in 30 days.

    Stressing that party supremacy must be upheld, he said that the party must have disciplined leadership and followers.

    On the alleged rift with the President, he said: “I have no demand than the party. If you understand what party politics is all about and leadership is all about, it is about loyalty and commitments to the values that leadership believes in.

    “I believe in what President believes. I respect him and I stand firmly loyal to his course. So, you can go to any length of speculation that you might want. I have not responded to all of that because I understand the president and the president understands me clearly.” he said

    Asked to comment on the crisis in the National Assembly, Tinubu said: “That is an area I am very cautious of my position and my utterances. I still want to keep my side of interpretation or analysis to me to be able to achieve a resolution of the matter as quickly as possible.

    “I am backing all the president has carefully enumerated and articulated to the party. The party is supreme, the party must have disciplined leadership and followers. The party’s process must be respected because that is the confidence and the trust of the people.”

    He however pointed out that conflicts should be expected in every political environment.

    “That is politics. And conflict resolution mechanism will be applied to resolve all problems. So, we are there, there is honour in every struggle, in every competition and there must be honour in victory too.” He added

    On how prepared the APC is to avoid the mistakes of PDP, he said: “We are different. We cannot be PDP, we are APC. We will not repeat their mistakes. We know their mistakes, we know their errors. And we understand what Nigerians wanted. Nigerians gave this party a mandate because of our manifesto.

    “We are pro-people, we are progressives. We have had a conservative government in the last 16 years. This is progressives party, just coming barely 30 days. We understand the hope of Nigerians and we respect that hope. We understand the expectation of Nigerians. We believe in that expectation and in our promise of prosperity to come. We will not change that,” Tinubu said.

  • ‘June 12 challenges us to guard our democracy‘

    ‘June 12 challenges us to guard our democracy‘

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to jealously guard the nation’s burgeoning democracy, in the spirit of the June 12, 1993 Struggle.

    In his goodwill message to lovers of democracy on the 25th anniversary of the annulment of a presidential election, adjudged to be the most freest and credible, Asiwaju Tinubu said the greatest honour Nigerians can give to the late Chief MKO Abiola is to protect the present dispensation from being scuttled by fifth columnists.

    The message titled: “June 12 challenges us to guard our democracy,” reads: “As we remember the June 12 struggle, we are challenged to guard our hard-won democratic freedom and prevent any hijack or abuse of the very principles of constitutional democracy.

    “This anniversary offers us another reminder that this country is one set for greatness. Chief Moshood Abiola the symbol of June 12 struggle is one of the greatest Nigerian to ever live.

    “Through his life, we glean selfless service and commitment to people. Through his political struggle, we glean courage and incorrigible commitment to principles of the just, free and humane society.

    “Today, our democracy thrives on the selfless sacrifices he made. His politics was without bitterness and rancor.  His patriotism was devoid of tribal marks and nepotism.

    “It will be said, here lies a man who did his duty on earth; it is what we should all strive for. We owe it to Abiola and all the fallen patriots of the June 12 struggle to make sure our democracy never falters and this current government succeeds.

    “We must also make sure that the People remain the focus of our policy and politics. This is the commitment the new APC government has made to the people of this great country and by Gods grace we intend to keep it under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • This is Nigeria’s finest moment – Tinubu

    This is Nigeria’s finest moment – Tinubu

    National leader of  All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the victory of the Presidential candidate of the party, General Muhammadu Buhari, as Nigeria’s finest moment in its political history. 

    “It is a moment when hope is re-born, faith is rekindled and a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead. I congratulate General Buhari, Nigeria’s President-elect,  on his  hard won victory. I salute our gallant party leaders and members for running the long distance to victory. To millions of Nigerians, I say this – the APC seeks not power for its sake, but for the purpose of bringing a better life to our people and re-building our country.
    “This is also democracy’ s finest moment. Nigerians alive today have witnessed the beginning of an era of change . They made this happen and they are the true celebrants and they are deserving. Together, we share this victory.Side by side we would work together to bring our country back,” Tinubu stated. 
  • 63rd Birthday prayer for Tinubu

    63rd Birthday prayer for Tinubu

    L-R; Oba Of Lagos ,Oba Rilwan Akiolu;Senator Oluremi Tinubu;Ogun State Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosu;National Leader of APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ;Wife of Ogun State Governor Mrs Funsho Amosu;Senator Gbenga Ashafa;during the 63th Birthday Prayer of the National Leaders of APC ,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at his residece, at Ikoyi Lagos.
    L-R; Oba Of Lagos ,Oba Rilwan Akiolu;Senator Oluremi Tinubu;Ogun State Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosu;National Leader of APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ;Wife of Ogun State Governor Mrs Funsho Amosu;Senator Gbenga Ashafa;during the 63th Birthday Prayer of the National Leaders of APC ,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at his residece, at Ikoyi Lagos.
  • Season of the wrong knives-Saharareporters mis-reports

    Season of the wrong knives-Saharareporters mis-reports

    •The media office of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu replies to an article published by a website, Saharareporters, titled: Threat of Perjury Trial: How Jonathan Blackmailed Bola Tinubu before 2011 Presidential Election

    The unfolding smear campaign against former Lagos governor and leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, is no surprise. It had been in the works for years since the Jonathan-led government realised that Tinubu commanded a powerful political followership. The successful merger and birth of the APC posed the most potent threat to the PDP and Tinubu an architect of the merger has become a marked man.

    The thought of a Buhari-Tinubu ticket confounds the PDP hierarchy and their crisis-battered president. That Tinubu might be nominated as General Buhari’s running mate also incenses the small element within the APC who joined the party not for its progressive vision but to exploit its platform to press forward their vision of themselves. Having failed at halting General Buhari’s bid, the PDP disinformation machine has thrown itself into overdrive trying to stymie the selection of Tinubu. Sadly, some elements within the APC – elevating their personal ambition over party and national interests — have lent themselves to this endeavor.

    During the Nazi takeover of Germany, madman Adolf Hitler became jealous of those within his own party who showed independent thought and who would not allow themselves to be bent just so he could satisfy his megalomania. Outraged, he engineered a purge executing the lot of them. This bloody scheme became known as the “night of the long knives.” In Nigeria, we have entered the “season of the wrong knives.”

    The recent report on  one of the online news websites on the allegations bordering on his academic qualification is not new. What is new is how desperate they have become to stir up a new controversy using an old lie. In the past these allegations were successfully rebutted. Recent attempt to present them as fresh allegations will not go unchallenged.

    The online report, published by Sahara Reporters claims that Tinubu withdrew his support for the ACN in the 2011 election due to blackmail by the president. It is rather odd that this report colors Tinubu as the villain. If the report were true, he would be a victim. President Jonathan and his administration would be guilty of the high crime of extortion. This tiny consideration seemed not to dawn on the authors of this scurrilous piece; so fixated on stabbing Tinubu, they implicate their own boss in wrongdoing. So eager to please their master, Jonathan’s mindless men further ensnare him.

    If Tinubu had been scared off in 2011, it would make no sense for him to spearhead the formation of the APC against the same president. If the president had such control over TInubu why didn’t the president use that leverage earlier to scuttle the APC before it gained a strong position in the political space?  The story makes no logical sense.

    The particular accusations in the story further reveal the malice of mind of those peddling it. They claim Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University. They cite as their evidence a letter from the US Consulate. But if you read the letter carefully, the surname stated is “TinubO” not “TinubU.” If the University did a computer check on that name, the check would come up empty. The culprits likely misspelled the last name so that the name search would reveal nothing. This is clever but immoral; it is a wrong knife.

    Meanwhile, Tinubu has genuine documents and pictures showing him as an award-winning student at the school. Nigeria should be proud that one of its own graduated an honor student from an American university over thirty years ago when that was more of a rarity than it is today. Instead, his detractors want to pretend he never set foot on campus.

    As late as August 2012, Tinubu visited the university and was given a special reception and a tour by the school’s president. This would not have been done for a stranger. It would have been done for a distinguished alumnus.

    After graduation, Tinubu landed jobs with two well established international companies, one the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche and the other, ExxonMobil. Such companies investigate an applicant’s academic background. If he had not attended school, these companies would not have hired him. He would not have excelled in them but he did.

    The rumor about drug running is the lowest form of calumny.  He has never been arrested, charged or indicted for any drug-related crime. Had any such suspicion existed, the American government would not have granted him political asylum during the Abacha era. Under American law, asylum cannot attach to anyone who has broken or offended that same law.

    Moreover, Tinubu travels frequently to the states. This means he has a visa. American law prohibits visa issuance to anyone reasonably suspected of drug dealing, let along being convicted of the same.

    If I were Tinubu, I would place a wager with the PDP. He should offer to fly to America if the PDP would also send Mr. Kashamu. Both can fly to Chicago. Then he should bet the PDP who would return to Nigeria first.  We all know the answer.

    There is a vicious campaign to deter Tinubu from the APC ticket; this campaign is being run from the PDP’s basement. They fear him. They cannot assail his competence and experience. He has been an able senator and governor. They cannot assail his commitment to democracy. He has personally sacrificed more for democracy than all the PDP hierarchy combined. They fear his ability to campaign, to get out the vote and to protect that vote, especially in the southwest because they know that is the pivotal region where the election will likely be won or lost.

    These assailants desperately try to scuttle Tinubu’s potential candidacy. In that the truth offers them no solace, they resort to lies. They seek to ambush the man under cover of innuendo and untruth. But their aim is off and their knives are wrong. In the end, what they use to injure him will turn to point against them. Such is the outcome when one engages in malice.

    Thus, they seek to prevent a person who may be controversial yet he is perhaps Nigeria’s most able and versatile politician, strategist and policy maker. For perhaps the most gifted politician of his time not to seek national office is a luxury a nation in this dire circumstance can ill afford.  In the end, governance has little to do with religion, region or rumor. It has to do with vision and competence. The wrong knives will never be able to cut that truth.

  • Accept result of the primary – Tinubu

    Accept result of the primary – Tinubu

    GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, NATIONAL LEADER APC AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE TO THE 2014 LAGOS GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY DELEGATES. DECEMBER 4, 2014-12-04

    Dear delegates, party members and aspirants. Today is a historic and momentous date. It is a moment when you have come together in the open air and light of day to select the person who will be the party’s standard bearer for our beloved state. As such, today shall advance the march of democracy in our state, our party and our country. With over 6,000 delegates representing the entire party in Lagos state gathered here to fulfil their right and duty to elect our flag bearer for Lagos state, we mark this time is an important moment.

    I want to use this opportunity to commend all the aspirants. You all have tried hard and have sweated and toiled for the good of the state and the party. Traversing every inch of the state, appealing to voters and explaining your vision and programs for Lagos, you all have acquitted yourselves very well indeed. I am proud of how you campaigned. You have done so by trying to sell your vision and not by tearing each other’s down. You have competed fairly and honestly yet have remained brothers throughout. This is as it should and must be. Even after today is over and done, we must continue in this same spirit.

    When I met with all of you some time ago , you spoke of the need to have a fair democratic process in selecting the flag bearer., Today you have that process.

    However, we must be realistic. As much as I wish the party could reward you all for your intelligent and sincere efforts, it is impossible to do so. There are 12 good men seeking but one position. Only one of you can win this contest today. We believe in you as you believe in yourself that you are all qualified in your own right.

    But for the party and for all of us to win and succeed come February, we must join hands in common cause and for one single, solitary purpose after today. That cause is to win the general election so that progressive and enlightened good governance shall continue to reside in Lagos and so that our state remains a shining example to the rest of the nation. The way we conduct ourselves after this primary will be a reflection of what Lagos represents to all Nigerians: a model of democracy, a symbol of peace and cohesion.

    I urge us all to comport ourselves in a brotherly manner and with a democratic spirit. And to accept the result of the primary as the choice of our party that we may move forward to protect the Lagos we have jointly built and to continue the progress we jointly seek.

    I thank all Lagosians, party leaders at both the state and national levels who have worked tirelessly to make today possible.

    Please reflect on what is good for Lagos. Our enemy is lying in wait expecting us to fall apart and come against each other. You are twelve aspirants and like the twelve tribes of Israel you may have some differences but you must remain one and united. No one tears down what he has labored hard to build. Let us put the enemy to shame by resolving to work together as a family because that is what we are and must always be: a family.

    Thank you and God bless.

  • Insecurity: Tinubu asks Jonathan to resign

    Insecurity: Tinubu asks Jonathan to resign

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration lacks the wherewithal to tackle the country’s security challenges.

    The former Lagos State governor therefore asked Jonathan to resign as Nigerian president.

    The APC chieftain spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the formal declaration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s bid for second term in office.

    The event was attended by former head of state and APC’s presidential aspirant, Muhammadu Buhari, former vice Abubakar Atiku and governors of Imo, Rivers, Kano, Sokoto and Edo States.

    Also in attendance were – the Speaker of House of Representative, Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, former governors of Kwara and Ekiti States, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, APC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, member, Board of Trustees of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and  Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa.

    Tinubu said, “I saw the sea of refuges caused by the Boko Haram insurgents and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision and creativity. The lies of yesterday are what they repeat today and are what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you.

    “They are lying about the security, toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.

    “But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country Jonathan should have resigned. But if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom, we will sweep him away. I will come back.

    “This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed, that he will be re-elected by the grace of God with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of the lives of our children.

    “The thieves that daily steal your money have not given you any job, they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.

    “It now behooves on you to begin a house to house campaign that this is a party of the masses.”

     

     

  • Ambode and the politics of BRF’s successor

    The release of the time-table for party primaries by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has increased the tempo of political activities in most of the states. Returning lawmakers, particularly those who never frequented their constituencies while in Abuja, were shocked at the number of people already jostling and lobbying for their positions. These days, you see some of these Abuja returnees being nice guys, giving out money and buying Keke Marwa, grinding machines, sewing machines, transformers for the constituencies that they abandoned while in Abuja. The flowing robes and sprawling gowns, the trademark of Abuja opulence and flamboyance, can no longer cover their ineffectiveness, failings and frailties. Now, it is pay-back time. The billboards, the posters, the stickers, the banners, the flyers which are the media of reaching out to the people, are back again.

    But beyond the glitz and glamour of the campaign are intrigues and the artifice of the game. Of particular interest to this writer, is what is going on in Lagos State where the most visible governorship aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode competes with other aspirants on his trail. Ambode, a complete gentleman of consummate humility and a meticulous technocrat, was the Accountant-General of Lagos State before he resigned in 2012, and before his foray into politics. While he was in the service, he worked with Bola Tinubu in different capacities but all within the Ministry of Finance. It was in the course of these interactions that Tinubu, himself an accountant, got to know him as a very transparent, disciplined, hardworking and pertinacious professional. Ambode’s expertise in financial engineering and economic management endeared him to Tinubu who never hesitated to advise him to join politics immediately he resigned as the state Accountant-General under Fashola’s administration. Ambode’s closeness to Tinubu paid off when it was time to begin the search for BRF’s successor. It was not an easy selection. Ambode’s eventual choice was, however, made easy when it was agreed at a caucus meeting that the financial situation of Lagos State demanded for a forthright and perspicacious professional who can manage the debt profile of the state in a way that will justify the reasons for obtaining the loans.

    According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Lagos State owes 33.8% of the country’s total sub-national external debts. The state reportedly owes $1.01 billion of the total states’ external debt of $3.01 billion. Components of this debt include $837.91 million from multilateral bodies and $82.5 million from bilateral sources. Displaying his understanding of the debt issue, Ambode at a political forum defended the state by enlightening the people that debt should not be analysed in isolation but considered in relation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He added that most of Lagos debt went into financing projects to increase its revenue-generating capability and ensure it remains credit worthy. His position was reinforced and supported by the DMO which stated that the debt was sustainable and within healthy limits within the context of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    But if Ambode thought that his robust analysis of the state’s debt scenario would impress them at Alausa in a way that would make BRF to support his aspiration, he was wrong. BRF, the incumbent, has obviously committed himself to some other aspirant and it is evident from his body language that he is not ready to retreat.

    With this declarative stance, BRF seems to have drawn the battle line. Speculation in political circles is that his preferred candidate for the governor’s seat is Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, (KOH) the son of Olu of Afowowa Sogaade in Ewekoro Local Governement, Ogun State. Though Hamzat’s scribbling supporters have laboured strenuously to exploit the fluidity and fragility of the Yoruba settlements to justify their principal’s genealogical claim to Lagos, what they fail to understand is that despite the migratory nature of Yoruba settlers, every Yoruba family can still trace their genealogy to a particular Yoruba town or village. If Hamzat’s father therefore was able to trace his roots to Ewekoro and consequently became the Oba of Afowowa, it simply illustrates the fact that the genealogy of the family is rooted in Ewekoro, not Lagos. The dynamics of Yoruba migratory settlements is not a historical justification for automatic conferment of indigeneship status. Instead, it only attests to the concept of Omoluabi which makes the Yoruba to see themselves as one. It is, therefore, unfair that the accomodationist spirit of the Lagos people is now being used to deprive them of a strategic position that is rightfully theirs going by historical antecedents.

    Besides, for Hamzat’s father to be crowned an Oba in a village in Ogun State and the son to become governor of Lagos State is nothing but an act of ingratitude to those who provided shelter for the family in the course of their migration to Lagos. The fluidity of the Yoruba settlements should not be an avenue for political opportunism but rather, it should be seen as a symbol of cultural accommodation. This is just a relevant digression.

    The common excuse from the opposition is that Ambode was a bad choice, but the same Tinubu said to be sympathetic towards his bid also made the BRF choice and put his political credibility and integrity on the line by sticking to that choice in the heat of stiff opposition from aggrieved aspirants back then.

    Has BRF not proven to be a very good choice? In a very rare sequence of succession arrangement, the exit of Tinubu heralded the exposure of BRF. Today, BRF’s legacy located in massive construction of new roads, light rail, expansion and rehabilitation of existing ones, extensive landscaping and environmental beautification, agricultural and industrial revolution, radical health services, provision of security, expansive infrastructure development and aggressive service delivery have endeared him to both civil society groups and the political class.

    In appreciation of this revolutionary impact, the society had unconsciously formulated a new socio-political construct to acknowledge the BRF ideology as an ideal conceptual national platform for good governance. In a piece I did on BRF sometime, I wrote inter alia: “…. It is nonplus that a very apolitical BRF is now being celebrated as one of the governors whose performance has attracted both local and international plaudit. The standard he has set in governance despite operating at the state level, is as salient as what some country leaders would hawk as epoch-making accomplishments”

    So, what could have gone wrong that BRF, a product of Tinubu’s discovery, would not back the supposed choice of his mentor? Agreed that both of them (BRF and Hamzat) are free to exercise their right to democratic participation in order to realize their political aspiration, I am only concerned about the fact that collision between “father” and “son” could have been avoided.

    In trying to repudiate a statement credited to him in his interview with a national newspaper, Hamzat wrote: “I, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat owe Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a lot of gratitude because GOD has been using him for me….. specifically, apart from GOD Almighty, Asiwaju has been contributing to my successes in government and outside. He was the one that brought me back into Nigeria from USA and all that I have achieved politically must be attributed to his support.”

    For a man who claimed that Tinubu did all that for him, would it not have been more dignifying, decorous, courteous and gratifying to respect and support Ambode, who’s said to be Tinubu’s candidate, rather than confronting his choice? By implication, Hamzat is not competing with Ambode but Tinubu. Assuming, but not conceding, that Tinubu’s candidate loses to Hamzat, will Hamzat and his sponsor take delight in celebrating their victory and leaving Tinubu to mourn his defeat? They cannot deny that they will not celebrate if they win because there is no sobriety in victory. But what will be the gain if the man who brought them to fame ends his political career in shame? A case of one biting the fingers that fed him!

    The story of Gbenga Ashafa will help in elucidating this point. Senator Gbenga Ashafa was employed into the Lagos State Civil Service as a director by Tinubu in 1999. From his position as a director in the Governor’s office, Tinubu moved Ashafa to the Ministry of Lands as the Executive Secretary and later he was made the Permanent Secretary of the same ministry. It was from there he forayed into politics and through Tinubu’s intervention became a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Like Hamzat, Ashafa was also interested in the governorship. He consulted Tinubu on his ambition and the latter told him to keep working until the caucus decides who to adopt out of an army of aspirants that were lobbying him. Ashafa promised to collapse his group and support whoever was eventually favoured. As soon as signals pointed to Ambode, in deference to Tinubu, Ashafa collapsed his group and started working on his re-election as a senator representing Lagos East. Though some mischievous elements placed Ashafa’s billboards at strategic points in the state, those who are close to him knew it was all politics.

    Kowtowing and showing reverence to one’s benefactor is not stupidity but a sign of strong moral character and maturity. Why must a man be desperate to fulfill his ambition by betraying the one that gave him the inspiration for the ambition? Whatever resources and network those in power have today were made possible by the fact that Tinubu brought them into his administration without them being able to boast of any political structure. The world is full of people with ambitions and if we are all desperate to achieve our ambitions by throwing loyalty to the winds, the ethereal space will become a narrow-gate chaos. Over to you, pool scribblers!