Many people are still very puzzled at how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the recent Presidential-elections a few months back. Many felt he couldn’t win. They felt it was impossible for a Yorubaman to win and beat big contenders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Below, City People reveals these Principles that worked for him.
In his tribute to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he turned 60, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) the Minister of Works & Housing, who was also former Lagos Governor for 8 years, revealed one of the strengths of Tinubu.
“I have never told him, this before, but I think his looks are perhaps his biggest weapon. He wears a placid face that masks his intellect and quick thinking and probing mind. By the time I started working with him, I realised how much advantage his looks gave him against his adversaries. It was always tempting to underestimate him, but 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”.
Truly so. City People gathered that the big problem most of his contemporaries usually have with him is his simple looks, which makes them underrate him, all the time.
What also works in his favour is that as a rule he usually takes a long term view of anything. He loves to take a 10 to 15 year view of anything he wants to do.
There is also the principle of Generousity. There is no gainsaying that he has been generous to very many people across the country which came back to help him achieve his goal.
There is a long list of people and families he has helped.
There is also his principle of investing in People. Since he left MOBIL in the early 90s he has been helping people. When he became Senator he touched lives. When he became Lagos Governor for 8 years he created close to 1,000 new political players spread across. He made many Commissioners, and Lawmakers in Lagos and found vital roles for many others to play within the system.
What has further helped him is his proper understanding of the game of politics. He is a master strategiest, no doubt. He understands the game. And he knows how to dribble his opponents to score impossible goals.
He is also imbued with a large dose of street smartness. He is a man who is wise in the way of the world. His having lived in the US for many years made him smart. And that is why he likes to call himself The City Boy.
He believes in the Power of Positive Thinking. And this has worked for him. He also believes in the power of positive affirmations. This worked a lot for him during the last elections. Throughout, he kept being positive. He kept prefacing his statements with I will, I want to, I am. He loves to speak to the issues at hand and claim it. He one said A ma dibo, a ma wole.
He believes in being Bold & Courageous. That is one trait he has that many other politicians lack. He will speak out whenever the need arises. He took on Pres. Buhari publicly at least 3 times.
He believes in the power of Focus. That is one of the things that earned him the Presidency. He had always wanted to be the President of Nigeria for decades and he has been focused on it. He admitted that himself several times. He called his decision to contest a life time ambition.
When he resigned from his juicy job at Mobil, his bosses thought he was crazy. But he knew that the only way he can be President is if he goes into Politics.
Also, as a matter of principle, he doesn’t like to fight or quarrel with people. He will never be the first to initiate a fight with people.
He tries to be accomodating. But if others pick a fight with him, he will remain silent. And will not fight back.
He knows when to fight, and when not to fight. If he engages you in a fight, he doesn’t fight to finish.
He also aligns with one of the Principles in the popular book of 48 Laws of Power, which is Don’t outshine your master.
That is why after he helped Buhari come to power he stayed back. He did not go to him for contracts. He made sure that for the 8 years Buhari was in power he Tinubu did not outshine him. Whenever they meet he shows him courtesy. He usually bends to greet him. It is the same thing he does for tradition rulers like the Ooni of Ife & Olu of Warri. No matter your status, Asiwaju respects all.
He also believes in starting small. He likes the days of little beginning. In whatever he does he usually starts small and now expands his horizon. When he began his plans to contest for Presidency he started small. He started it when he became Governor of Lagos. He told all his aides then, in 1999, that winning the governorship of Lagos was not the ultimate, and that the ultimate trophy was the Presidency.
What he did was to grow his Boys in Lagos and now sent them out to Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and other states to go and dominate those states in preparation for the BIG job at the federal.
What no one will tell you is about the man who groomed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu several years ago when he was living in the US. The man is called Richard Daley.
