As 2023 general election in Nigeria beckons, the usual political fireworks, intrigues, scheming and blackmail from political actors have continued to dominate national discourse.
The reason is obvious. Who occupies Aso Rock? The seat of power in Nigeria. The struggle for power and the nation’s transition trajectory are basically responsible for the hues and cries of the next President.
President Mohammadu Buhari will vacate Aso Rock on May 29th 2023, as expected, another President will take over the affairs of the nation. The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has perfected strategies on how to retain power. One of such unique selling points was the ceding of the Presidential ticket of the party to the southern part of Nigeria.
Although the electioneering campaign and party primaries has come and gone, some of the Presidential hopefuls who lost will be counting their loses, while one man with an unusual leadership qualities won with a wide margin.
This man needs no introduction within the Nigerian corridors of power. He mingles in high-profile circles. For the uninitiated, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) will be aptly described as a man of character, who rose from a modest background to establish an indelible mark in the sands of time.
In the words of Harry. S. Truman, said “Men make History and not the other way round”. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change the society.
“Jagaban” of Borgu Kingdom as he is widely called, is one of such legendary icons and sages, who has provided credible leadership for Lagos State. His steadfastness and daring revolutionary escapades during the dark days of jackboot military dictatorship and our present civil dispensation is reminiscent of a true selfless leader, ready to sacrifice for the liberation of his people, and to free the collective resources from imperial grip, and advancement of the society.
Today, it’s not only a common knowledge and fact check that Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu long years of iconic administrative experience and ingenuity to manage the running of the great institutions, and reposition them to meet the standards of its peers all over the world remained uncommon achievements and reference point. For example, on February 14th, 2014, the then President of Sierra Leone, Ernest. B. Koroma, made an open declaration about the character of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said “Governor Tinubu, you have demonstrated great leadership qualities. You have what it takes to provide Africa with good leadership. We should honor people like you. Some of us are lucky to be associated with you”.
Other President from Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and others have made similar validations of the political leadership he provided and the qualities he possesses as a visionary Politician. Thus, Bola Tinubu has become a reference point for the kind of leadership, Nigeria desires.
At home in Nigeria, he is no less celebrated. Nigeria is a country where heroes are scarce and visionary leadership is even rarer. However, Nigeria can still take pride in his rare courage and commitment to advance the common good of Nigerians in the fort coming 2023 elections.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that rare leader who combines practical political acumen, strategic vision and moral principles. When the Nigerian history is written, it will state that Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s rare courage and foresight in guiding his party abolished the determined efforts of the then PDP, ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one Party State.
More than anyone else or person, since the return of Civilian rule in 1999, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s actions in maintaining his Political party as the loyal leading party helped salvage multiparty electoral democracy in Nigeria. With his contribution alone, he has helped his nation keep to the path leading toward good governance, human rights and prosperity for all.
In a Political Culture where most members of the political class gravitate towards the ruling party to ease the path towards fulfilment of personal ambition or for pecuniary reward, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resilience and steadfastness in giving inspirational leadership to the then opposition is remarkable. It’s a testimony to the depth of the convictions that have motivated and sustained him in politics over the last two and a half decades.
One of the Nigeria’s leading National Newspapers in a published piece described him as Nigeria’s Political Sumarai. “……. By his focus and determination, Senator BOLA Ahmed Tinubu, has over the years carved out a distinctive niche for himself in politics.
With a towering political status, Senator Bola Tinubu, isn’t just a household name, he is an authority in the artery of the nation’s body politics.
He may have attained his enviable status through consistent ideological standing; it’s certainly a journey of many years of struggle and the grit for Change”
As the new day passes by, Tinubu thinks new strategy, options and style in both politics and governance. He envisions and muses with deep reflection, the Nigerian problems as well as the best approach possible. He knows politics much as he understands the game of powers”. Indeed, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s democratic footprints go beyond Nigeria; it spawns the continent, especially in the immediate West Africa Sub-Region where he has helped sustain democracy and popular participation.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, didn’t only displayed his ingenuity and iconic efforts at the just concluded Presidential primaries, he led men and women of great minds to bring together a conglomerate of legacy parties in Nigeria to form the present Nigeria Federal led Political Party called, All Progressive Congress(APC).
Tinubu’s outstanding persona has not only earned him many feathers in the private and political spheres, his sterling contributions and wealth of experience will continue to stand him out.
Therefore, now that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become one of the great Nigeria’s leaders of hope for good governance come 2023, and with all relevant resources to move the country forward, and indeed make history, his recent victory will formally commence the process that will lead him to ASO ROCK.
As Donald A. Adams put it: “To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” Tinubu confidently came to Nigerian politics with reputation and integrity. Despite all the scheming, politics, permutations, and constant barrage against him by his traducers, the “JAGABAN” of Borgu Kingdom, has always been lauded for his tenacity, passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building.
His brief profile runs thus:
HIS EXCELLENCY SEN. BOLA AHMED TINUBU
Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu is a renowned Nigerian politician, national leader, accountant, former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC).
He was born on 29th March 1952 in Osun State, Nigeria. He has not offered any information about his father and siblings. However, his mother, Abibatu Mogaji, was a Nigerian trader who later became the Mother of the Market (Iyaloja) of Lagos, but passed on at the age of 68.
He got his primary school education from St John’s Primary School, Aroloya Lagos. Later on, was transferred to Children’s Home School in Ibadan, South West region of Nigeria. In 1975 he moved to the United States, where he enrolled at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois. After his high school studies, he joined Chicago State University for his undergraduate studies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1979.
He worked for several accounting firms in the United States. Some of them were: Arthur Anderson Limited liability partnership – An American holding company situated in Chicago, Illinois. Some of the services offered include accounting, professional services, tax and consultancy.
Deloitte, Haskins & Sells – An Anglo-American multinational professional services network. In 1972, it merged with Haskins & Sells to form Deloitte Haskins & Sells. Some of its services include audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and legal services. GTE Services Corporation – Formerly known as the General Telephone & Electronics Corporation that offers several phone services.
Thereafter his sojourn in the United States, he moved to Nigeria in 1983, where he joined Mobil Oil Nigeria, and soon after, he was appointed as the company’s executive.
His political career spans the executive and legislative arms of both State and the short lived Nigerian third republic.
After the annulment of the Presidential elections on 12th June 1993, he became the founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition. The group aimed at mobilizing support to restore democracy and recognize Moshood Abiola as the winner of the 12th general elections.
He went into exile thereafter the 1993 Nigerian coup d’état led by the late Defense Minister, Sani Abacha. He came back to Nigeria in 1998 after his demise. In January 1999, he contested and won as the elected Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket on two consecutive terms.
Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubui is a familiar face with fresh vision, a bridge between the old and the new. Hence he will be extending the frontiers of human capital development, job creation, health reforms, infra-structural renewal, and many others if elected President come 2023.
He holds the titles of the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom in Niger State.
Sen. Bola Tinubu, is happily married to his lovely wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the marriage is blessed with lovely children.
