Some people call him a political Juggernaut. Others simply call him a Political Acrobat. And to a few, he is a Political Strategist. But If you choose to call him Jagaban Borgu, a chieftaincy title conferred on him in Niger State, you will also be correct. You can also choose to call him Asiwaju of Lagos or the Asiwaju of Yorubaland, a title late sage, Awo held till he died. His 2 favourite titles are Asiwaju & Jagaban. And he loves being called by those titles. Currently, he is the national leader of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).
What you are about to read is the amazing story of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and how he has become the man to beat in Politics because of his doggedness. He is the only man in Nigerian politics who has successfully and consecutively installed 3 governors after him. He is the only man who has fought the government at the centre to a stand still for more than 4 years, while he was governor of Lagos state.
Many people have rated him the best. He is mostly compared to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This debate will always pop up on who is the best politician among the 2 in Nigeria history. Although, some people believe Tinubu has done better giving some facts to back their claims. Some others say the late Awolowo has also had his time.
The truth is Tinubu has built his political empire to an enviable height that top politicians, especially in the South-West now seek his blessing before vying for any political office. A lot of them (politicians) have turned his house at Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos to a Mecca of sort. It is an arena for decisions making. It is a place where top politicians converge to discuss key issues in Politics. A lot of high profile politicians and government officials often visit him there. They include Governors, Ministers, First Class Kings and Chiefs, even the Vice President of the Country, who many believe is also one of his guys in the government.
It’s also believed that his decision of picking Buhari to run for the party Presidential election in 2005 has also placed him above Chief Awolowo. Tinubu is the only politician in the history of the country who had successfully installed a President. Many would tell you that Tinubu was instrumental to Buhari becoming President.
The big news now is that Tinubu who many refer to as a political figure/political godfather is being tipped for the Presidency. Although, he hasn’t publicly declared his ambition, those who are very close to him have not only confirmed it, they have been campaigning for him ever since the news came out.
Hate him or like him (Tinubu) is the only politician dead or alive in Nigeria who has successfully built and groomed hundreds of people to become top politicians who are now Ministers, Governors, House Reps members, Senators, State House of Assembly members, Councilors, Local Council Chairmen. This is not just in Lagos state, it cuts across many states in Nigeria.
When the news broke that Tinubu would be running for the Presidency come 2023, many people said he would be limited. That he should just focus on Lagos and continuing to be called Lagos political godfather. Does he (Tinubu) really has what it takes to be President of Nigeria? Can he match whoever wants to run against him? Below are 10 reasons Tinubu have an edge and beat other competitors.
RESOURCES
When you talk about one politician in Nigeria who spends big for elections, it is Jagaban himself.
Let’s take you back to 2015 when the former Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode ran for gubernatorial elections and former President Ebele Jonathan was also fighting for his second term in office and Lagos was the centre of focus for the ex-president. He released a lot of fund for Jimi Agbaje to counter Asiwaju’s candidate, Ambode. But trust Jagaban himself, he ensured his candidate emerged victorious as he spent hugely to make sure his candidate won Lagos. And when it comes to big companies in Nigeria, Lagos is their abode. These are some of the entities that contribute to Asiwaju political projects. What about the banks MDs? They all support him. Naira for Naira, Tinubu would be hard to defeat.
HIS MEN IN GOVERNMENT
When you talk about one person who has many people in government today, Jagaban is the only man. He has planted the seed and it’s growing and yielding fruits. Don’t forget Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Honourable Minister for Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, Former Governor of Osun state, now Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and other key members in Buhari’s government are all his men. And he has influence in most states.
HIS INFLUENCE ON MEDIA
Tinubu is one of the few Nigerians who have influence in the media. There is no media outfit that has consistently written negative things about him. Not just in newspapers, but also on Radios and Televisions. We can authoritatively tell you that Tinubu has hundreds of Journalists as friends. He doesn’t joke with them. And some of them have worked for him in the past and some still do. Some of the celebrated Publishers are his friends and he holds them in esteem.
YORUBA’S TURN
If things are done accordingly, the presidency should be zoned to the South. And it has been claimed that it’s Yoruba’s turn. The Hausa/Fulani has been in power since 2015. 2023 will make their 8 years in power. And this has a lot of advantage on whoever represents Yoruba as a presidential candidate.
HIS INFLUENCE AMONG GOVERNORS
Remember that Tinubu is a top political godfather. During the campaign, he had supported some state governors with funds and federal appointments. Whoever he supports for a post has a better chance to emerge a winner. He had connection’s with more than 12 state governors in Nigeria. And he would definitely count on them to all use their resources and funds to back him for the top job he’s been eyeing.
BUHARI/OSINBAJO CONNECTION
You can say he has been sidelined in the scheme of things, but he is surely has a good relationship with the man he installed back to back. He (Tinubu) can walk into Aso rock anytime to meet with Mr President. This is one of the things he enjoys and would definitely work for him. Aside the fact that the no1 man is his man, don’t forget that he singlehanded chose Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to be the deputy of Buhari. These are some of the things he would enjoy as he sets to run for President.
HE HAS A CONNECTION WITH The NORTH
Not many people know Tinubu has a long existing relationship with the northerners. He knows many key guys in the North, who run the affairs of things.
Tinubu, in the region knows the guys to talk to in the north when the needs for that arise. He is a man with a vision and he has built his political structure to an enviable height.
HIS IMAGE
Asiwaju Tinubu’s image is very enviable. He is one of the few men who have unblemished records. He doesn’t have any fraud allegation hanging on his neck unlike many other politicians who have run for that post in the past. He is a Philanthropist and a man who derives pleasure in homemade products. These will definitely play a significant role to boost his ambition.
HIS GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Tinubu is one of the few politicians in the history of Nigeria who have influence on the two leaders of National Assembly. The Nigerian Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who many believe is a longtime friend of Asiwaju, even before he emerged Senate President.
In the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is the Speaker and it’s also believe he has a strong link with Asiwaju. These two guys have a huge influence in the decision making. Aside these two leaders in the National Assembly, he (Tinubu) also has many lawmakers who are members in the House of Reps and Senate who are also loyal to him.
WHAT JIDE OTITOJU SAID ABOUT TINUBU
Few months back, one of his guys, Babajide Otitoju, wrote about Tinubu and why he would continue to beat his opponents, either in Lagos or at federal level. “On this Jagaban issue, every 4 years, people come on social media to yell and castigate the man over his political decisions. There are over 18m people in Lagos, over 1000 politicians yet they cannot unseat him. Is this his fault? Are you expecting him to raise his legs and say “hi guys come and screw me over”?
He left the AD, formed the AC, later ACN, Afenifere, Obasanjo could not unseat him. He lost two deputy governors, Kofo Bucknor and Femi Pedro to the opposition party, Lost Obanikoro, a man he single handed made a senator to PDP. He lost Jimi Agbaje a close ally, also to the PDP. They tried to unseat him, they failed. Obasanjo and GEJ tried, they didn’t succeed. Lagos State had the Minister of works, Ogunlewe,
PDP BOT chairman – Chief Bode George, Minister for Defence – Obanikoro, Olusegun Aganga – Trade and Investment, but while these notable men go to bed at night, Jagaban stays awake scheming and planning his next move at Bourdillon, rallying the grassroots and usually, he comes up with either a stick or a carrot.
Obanikoro his sworn political enemy is back, Pedro is back, Salvador former PDP chairman, is back to his camp.
He did not put a gun to anybody’s head to wine and dine with him. Why can’t they form an alliance to finish him off? We have a choice not to associate with him, don’t we?
He has successfully built a battalion of loyalists from 1999 till date. From Fashola to the councillor in the smallest ward in Lagos. Fashola, Osinbajo, Fowler, Lai Mohammed, Ben Akabueze, Ojudu, Ade Ipaye, Rauf, Hamzat,
GOS, Gbajabiamila, Faleke, Yayi, Ashafa, Opeifa, Tunji Bello, Leke plan, Jide Idris, Dele Alake, Mamora and a whole lot of other young brilliant minds. For every one person he empowered, he got thousands more in return. He identifies the best and uses them to his advantage. Can Bode George or Ogunlewe roll out a list comparable loyalists to Tinubu’s? Why haven’t they been able to create a formidable opposition to kick him out? They had the federal might behind them for 16 years to their advantage.
To be honest, is he at fault? What do we expect him to do? Crawl under his duvet at Bourdillon or watch African Magic? Why can’t other politicians form a consensus?
He is the Lion of Bourdillon and when he roars, his lionesses and cubs will respond. Unless a stronger pride emerges, he will continue to rule this jungle. It is the law of nature, sentiments don’t matter. He is already scheming for 2023, 4 years ahead of other docile politicians.
As 2023 is imminent, Tinubu still is relevant in the affairs of things, politics especially. Can anyone blame him if he decides to run for President?
-Isaac Abimbade
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