Femi Salako extols the virtues of All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who clocked 68 on Thursday.
The political space of Nigeria has over the decades churned out quite a good number of leaders since the nation attained independence. Some of the leaders had manifested varied character traits. Few of the leaders have done well, while the vast majority have only been self seeking. However, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) has been dominating the political spaces of Lagos State and Nigerian by extension like a colossus since 1999 with some of his demonstrated altruistic characters.
Asiwaju Tinubu who served as a Senator of the Federal Republic in 1992 had gone ahead to also served as a two term governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He has also achieved a feat that was unprecedented in Nigeria political history by organizing the opposition political parties that morphed into the APC and defeated an incumbent president in the 2015 general elections. To a very large extent, Tinubu was highly instrumental to the victory of President Mohammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
Asiwaju spotted out Babatunde Raji Fashola for an appointment as his Chief Of Staff while serving as a governor before he eventually worked tirelessly to ensure that Fashola succeeded him as Lagos State Governor in 2007. The joy of having Fashola as a governor was the fact that he became almost an instant success as a governor. BRF as he is popularly known, leveraged on the achievements of Asiwaju to transform Lagos State and delivered good dividends of democracy to Lagosians.
In appreciation of financial wizardry that helped to keep Lagos afloat when Obasanjo withheld statutory allocations meant for Lagos State local government areas, Tinubu declared his preference for Akinwumi Ambode to succeed BRF as governor. The incumbent Lagos State Governor has so far worked very tirelessly to dwarf the seeming unmatchable achievements of Raji Fashola. Of a fact, Ambode has surpassed himself in terms of achievements. Meanwhile, the tide has again turned and Asiwaju has thrown his weight behind the ticket of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kadri Hamzat to take over from Ambode as governor and deputy governor respectively of Lagos State respectively. The duo served as Commissioners in Lagos State under Tinubu and Fashola.
It is by the grace of God and the endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo became the incumbent Vice President of Nigeria. Osinbajo was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice during the administration of Tinubu between 1999 and 2007. Worthy of note is the confession of the Vice President that he had never met Tinubu before the hunter of leadership qualities appointed him the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State.
The Jargaban of Borgu has also developed other countless numbers of people that are now occupying vantage leadership positions in Nigeria today. It may interest that the out going Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was a two term Commissioner for Works in Lagos State during Tinubu’s administration before he eventually became Osun State Governor himself. Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola the incoming governor of the same Osun State is also a product of the leadership breeding school of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr Babatunde Fowler is another product of the leadership school of Asiwaju Tinubu. He was the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue and Chief Executive Officer Lagos State Internal Revenue Service during the administration of Tinubu. Of course, Fowler performed excellently well and it was on the basis of his achievements in Lagos that he got appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Ben Akabueze was the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Planning during the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu. He is also one of the shinning light of the leadership school of Asiwaju Tinubu. Today, he is the Director-General of Budget Office of the federation. Prior to this appointment, Akabueze was the Special Adviser to President Buhari on planning.
Hon. Abike Dabiri is another individual that has passed through the leadership tutelage of Asiwaju. Dabiri was advised to resign her appointment as a staff of Nigerian Television Authority by Bola Tinubu, after which she became a member of the Federal House of Representatives and represented Ikorodu Federal Constituency for three consecutive times. Today, she is the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora. Without doubt, political promotions of Dabiri could not have been without the favourable disposition of Asiwaju.
Another shinning light in Nigeria political sphere that underwent tutelage under Asiwaju Tinubu is Muiz Adeyemi Banire. He served as a three-term commissioner in Lagos State and also served as the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Today, he is the Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigerian and a member of the National Judicial Council. All these attainments have been made possible by God and through the Tinubu’s factor.
The list of leaders that have undergone tutelage under Asiwaju Tinubu is simply endless. The Jargaban Borgu has produced several governors, senators, members House of Representatives and members states House of Assembly. It may also interest that the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is also beneficiary of political mentorship of Asiwaju Tinubu. The story is not any different in the case of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman of Conference of Speakers, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. He is also a product of the leadership school of Asiwaju Tinubu, hence his consistently rising political profile.
Tinubu is a leader like no other in the political firmament of Nigeria. His desire to groom and grow leaders is unparalleled. He is meticulous in his search for leadership qualities but exhibits fidelity in his strive to ensure that his products attains greater leadership heights.
Asiwaju has diligently paid his dues and as he marks another birthday, he deserves more accolades, more prayers and greater wishes to attain that position he eyes to bring better and bigger impact to the life of his country. (The Nation)
