When The Sun Newspaper announced its prestigious MAN OF THE YEAR personality, it was no surprise that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was named. In Nigeria of today, Tinubu is a subject. Many great word-works have been done to eulogise the personality of the man that rose to the peak of his calling on self-belief, sagacity, decorum, vision and divinely mobilised force beyond human comprehension. I mean God is involved with Tinubu like my popular slogan.
No more beautiful words can be used to paint a man that has been described as “a kingmaker, courageous and fearless political General, patriot, motivator, strategic thinker, risk taker, grand master of grassroots politicking, humanist, visionary leader, crowd puller; a crusader for change, the enthronement of the rule of law, electoral reforms, justice, good governance and development; and a great apostle of power, which, in his view, is never served a la cart”. He was also described as a man that is “always exuding charisma, carriage, dignity and honour, an indomitable opposition leader, a man endowed with sheer organisational ability, mobilisation prowess, uncommon acumen, masterful logic, foresight, and the most colourful politician in the post-Awolowo era”.
John Quincy Adams said Leadership is practiced in attitude and action rather than words. Tnubu, beyond reasonable doubt, has been reckoned with by our history. The son of late Iyaloja General, like Alexander the Great, has cut the Gordian knot of Nigeria’s political warfare, overcoming all odds to assume greatness pronounced by the people and his achievements rather than by himself; like Alexander, Tinubu smells great.
One of the greatest characteristics of prophets and leaders is prediction concerning them long before their arrival. Thirty two years ago, the late sage and indomitable political icon Chief Obafemi Awolowo predicted that progressive forces would float a formidable opposition platform that would win federal power in Nigeria. The former Premier of the defunct Western Region and identified leader of Yoruba race foretold the emergence of a man that would achieve what the oppositions in the country attempted in 1959/60, 1964, 1979, 1983, 2003, 2007 and 2011 but could not achieve despite their intellectual capacity, ideological inclination and vision of a better society.
Among several gifts in political philosophy, Tinubu is master of the art of timing as described by Robert Greene. He organised all opposition flanks into a formidable strength to give the ruling federal the fight of the century. Succeeding on the strength of purpose, he saw the political tide of our country’s power system and stood to fight alone as an Alliance Democracy (AD) Governor when others fell like pack of cards to the decoy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2003 general election.
By 2007, he has re-built the political relics of the South West Nigeria to emerge as formidable opposition that gave the federal a stunt fight and defeated PDP’s 16 years reign. He was the last man standing liberator of the South West and the nation for progressive politics. Tinubu defied momentary glory and risked everything to choose heroism, honour and glory to death as against glamour and glorification offered to him on the platter of gold by the oppressing ruling.
Tinubu is great in much ratification. If leadership is truly about unlocking people’s potential to become better, no living political leader in Nigeria is near Tinubu’s achievements talking about organised followership and leadership breed.
After the demise of Obafemi Awolowo, Tinubu is the outstanding Yoruba Leader to have profoundly shape and dictate the pendulum of Nigerian Politics from a regional route. Tinubu brought to a close the search for a successor or a clone that can best fit in to the legacies of Awo. Having several resemblances with Obafemi Awolowo, Tinubu takes a step further in his leadership style that demolished the barrier wall and built access and smooth relationship between him and those who follow him on one hand and between him and the common man on the other hand. Described as the King of Bourdillon, no individual of whatever low class is barred from accessing Tinubu’s political empire.
Paying tribute to Tinubu, Second Republic Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Olorunfunmi Basorun, described him as a man of immense political stature. He said the former governor has been bothered by the lack of good roads, electricity, employment, good health care system and security. “Asiwaju Tinubu is an exemplary leader whose philosophy is deeply anchored on the tenets of Awoism. Tinubu’s mere cough or sneeze makes some people severely panicky and jittery. He is the contemporary Awo of our time, who is destined to complete Awo’s unfinished business,” he added.
Harping the greatness of Asiwaju, the incorruptible General found solace in the maestro to piggy-back on his political acumen to achieve long dreaded ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria. Like every great leader, Tinubu rode on all odds and stumbling blocks set against him to greatness. From political exile in the military era to certificate racketing allegation; the code of conduct trial, the saga that witnessed creation of additional local governments in Lagos; the organised fight against Asiwaju by agitators for Yoruba leadership position, threat and offer by the Goodluck Jonathan government and the airing of satanic ‘Lion of Bourdillon documentary’ meant to destroy him and destabilise the opposition front at the peak of 2015 general election. He is a tested leader who has surpassed most difficult challenges in this era. He has fought several battles and won.
As a politician, I did not encounter Asiwaju when I started politics. I first encountered him as students’ leader. Every moment with him was promising. His mentoring acumen reflects wisdom with every word he uttered. He discusses issues without struggling to make himself heard; he proffers solutions without labouring for it; he consults, he engages in opinions, he delegates and demands outcome of resolutions promptly, he makes comic relief promptly when atmosphere is tensed, and finally, he takes decisions to show true leadership!
I remembered during a conversation in Chicago while we discussed issues relating to President Obama’s second term campaign, Asiwaju’s contribution in a way inspired me to naming my popular publication ‘ELENIYANCARES’. He is one great discussant I have ever seen.
The CHANGE project that led to dislodgement of the erstwhile largest party in Africa alone qualifies Asiwaju to be MAN OF THE DECADE. To all players and gladiators, going to the moon was easier. From the South West Nigeria, he raced towards South-South; with a swift turn off the East, he conquered North Central, North West and North East in his political ideology. Everyone bowed to the COMMON SENSE REVOLUTION as authored by the Jagaban. His post CHANGE battle has started clearing the East in the relics of that great political combat. Tinubu, the conqueror!
The wife of the President Hajia Aisha Buhari once praised Tinubu for his selflessness and sacrifices which enabled the actualisation of her husband’s 10-year Presidential quest. If Jagaban had given Goodluck Jonathan support, the game would have been different but he chooses to be on the path of common man. As a divinely anointed one by God, everyone who attempted to fight Tinubu’s greatness has ended up becoming nobody; the records are there for researchers.
It will take another very long year to see a living sage achieve almost all possible missions in the political empire in his lifetime. Celebrated in Nigeria, across Africa and beyond, Asiwaju’s political philosophy was recommended to become a course of study in a University in Europe, it will soon be.
I cannot close without mentioning Bola Tinubu’s passion for greatness of our fatherland. Beyond what many people knew, Tinubu has unbridled passion for Nigeria’s greatness and emancipation. Little did people know that the Jagaban was a successful Chicago trained auditor with Shell Petroleum before entering politics fully. He had studied philosophy of the founding fathers of Nigerian nation, with history of greatest men in the world. He was prominent in the fight for actualisation of June 12 election won by late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola but which was annulled by the Babangida led Military junta. Tinubu didn’t come to leadership by accident.
The words of Oliver Tambo truly represents what Tinubu stands for, “the fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest”.
Honoured across board, the Taraba State APC leader, Senator Joel Ikenya, described Tinubu as an electoral reform curator, adding that he is passionate about the sanctity of the ballot box. He said: “Many people follow Asiwaju because he has the qualities of a leader. He is forthright, sincere, dedicated and committed to the cause of the common man.”
Bola Tinubu, truly my 2015 MAN OF THE YEAR; and of course, our country’s MAN OF THE MOMENT!
Olulade is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Epe Constituency II.
