Talk of one political leader in Nigeria who has huge followership and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s name will crop up. Talk of one grassroots leader who has produced very vibrant players on the political scene over the last 20 years or so and Tinubu’s name will again pop up.
The reason is simple. Tinubu is one leader who has produced a new generation of men and women who occupy key positions in public life. Although some of them have come out to chart their different courses, there are many who are still standing firm and have remained very loyal to him.
One of them is Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who started his political career with Tinubu in 1999 as one of his aides. There is also House of Reps Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who has been a lawmaker all his life. Hon. James Faleke is also another loyalist of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They have come a long way.
Let’s also tell you about Cardinal James Odunbaku, popularly called Baba Eto. He and Asiwaju have been together for years. There is also Oba Gbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland who was Tinubu’s ADC and Tayo Ayinde. Let’s also add, Tunji Bello, a seasoned journalist who moved into the political terrain very many years ago. There are also female players like Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Hon. Abike Dabiri Events and Joke Orelope-Adefulire.
Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi has also been a long-standing loyalist of Asiwaju Tinubu, so also Mr. Wale Edun, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (who was Tinubu’s pioneer Chief of Staff when he was Governor).
We can’t forget Oba Saheed Elegushi and the current Lagos Head of Service. Both started their careers as P.As to Tinubu. There is also veteran Journalist, Mr. Dele Alake, who was one of his pioneer Commissioners. Folly Coker falls into this list, so also Dr. Leke Pitan who served Lagos for years as Commissioner for Health. There is also Dr. Muiz Banire, a long-standing Commissioner.
When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu turned 60 ten years ago, some of them revealed why they have continued to remain loyal to him. For someone like Tunji Bello, who has been Lagos Commissioner since the Tinubu administration, Tinubu possesses so many virtues which have endeared him to many of his followers and which has made him a great leader of men. He also added that Asiwaju, as a good leader by all established standards also has his own weakness as well.
“Incidentally, some of Asiwaju’s weaknesses come from those virtues he cherishes. His obsession with loyalty, love for the poor and respect for human rights, did sometimes prevent him from taking rightful, but painful decisions”.
Sam Omatseye, one of Tinubu’s associates said Tinubu has a collaborative approach to ideas. Other ideas were welcome but he was ready to contend…But what stands out for many is the way he translates ideas into reality, and how impatient he was remaining in the dreamland of contemplation.
Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele served as a Commissioner with him. He once described himself as a co-traveller and political associate of Tinubu for many years now. He says the many attributes embedded in Tinubu are the qualities that have thrown him up as the emerging political phenomenon of our time.
Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister for Housing was his Chief of Staff. He once described Tinubu as a logistician, which means someone who is skilled in the practical organisation that is required to make a compilated plan successful when a lot of people and equipment is involved. Fashola revealed that, “I think his looks are perhaps his biggest weapon. He wears a placid face that masks his intellect and quick thinking and pubing mind”. He revealed that many people are usually tempted to underestimate him and that many of his opponents have found out often too late that they have been outwitted by a man of razor-sharp mind and quick wit”.
Dele Alake, who served in Tinubu’s administration as Commissioner for Information and Strategy and who has been a long-standing associate of his, says Tinubu has mastered how to thrive whenever there is a crisis. He in fact calls him The crisis Manager from having watched closely how the Tinubu administration was virtually conceived in crisis, assumed office in crisis and had to surmount one crisis after the other throughout his tenure.
Oba Gbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland admires Tinubu passionately. He once described him as an organiser. He says for Tinubu, organisation is critical to successful leadership. He says Tinubu is never bowed by obstacles on his path. Oba Lawal was his ADC.
He says one of Tinubu’s principles is based on the Islamic notion that the best of mankind is he who brings joy to the lives of others.
His views correlate with that of Tayo Ayinde who is Gov. Sanwo’s Chief of Staff. He sees Tinubu as a dogged fighter par excellence. He has known Tinubu since 1999. He was Tinubu’s Chief Secretary Detail. He also describes him as an Organiser Par Excellence. That is also what Alhaji Lai Mohammed thinks about Tinubu. He once described him as an organizer par excellence. He says Tinubu can see far beyond the horizon. He does not plan by the day or month or year, he plans much further ahead. He makes his plan on the basis that it is a journey, a process and not just an event. “Today, he has what is unarguably the most awesome political machinery in Nigeria.
Sunday Dare, the Minister of Sports once described him as “a man with a tremendous capacity to do good both for the individual and the society at large. He described him as a man of tremendous influence. As far as 10 years ago, Sunday Dare who was a Special Adviser on Media to Asiwaju Tinubu wrote that the mention of the name Tinubu evoked different feelings and reactions. “He is feared & respected… Others simply hate him for what he stands for. He is perceived by scores as a very present threat to their political ambitions”.
Ekiti Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi describes him as “an enigma wrapped in a puzzle. And he revealed that he has learnt a lot from him. There is a quotable quote attributed to BRF. “Let me say generally about his public image that I do not remember one public contest where he has lost the WAR. I speak of many battlefronts, from Oyo to Borgu, Ife, Ibadan, Lagos and Anambra to mention but a few. Of course, he bears many battle scars and these attest to his factical ability to surrender battles in other to win WARS!”
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