Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has risen to giddy
heights in the Nigerian political terrain and has
amassed so much political capital that nothing can
happen politically in the South-West without his say
so. He seized control of the Action Congress of Nigeria and used tribalism to bring many of his Yoruba
brothers and sisters under his iron grip, and became
the undisputed Godfather of South-west politics. It
takes a particular kind of political intuition and will, to
accomplish such a task in such a short space of time.
His political skills and prowess are exemplary, and his
ability to spot and select talented individuals to work
with him, and in the case of Fashola, succeed him, has
indeed marked him as a one of the greatest leaders
ever to emerge from the South west.
Alex Ferguson became an iconic figure in Football
because he knew how to build winning teams, and this
unique skill which he possessed turned Manchester
United into one of the world’s greatest football clubs.
They’re people in my home town who have never left
Delta state who know who Alex Ferguson is. Whether
or not you support Manchester united or “Man U” as
they’re affectionately called, is neither here nor there,
the truth however is that you cannot ignore them or
pretend that they have not achieved great things.
This is the same rationale that I have applied whilst
talking about Bola Tinubu. I have never been a member of the AC, or ACN and now APC, but that does not
mean that I cannot give honour and recognise the talents of those who are members of that political party.
Tinubu is a gifted man and there’s no doubt that God
called him to be a politician. Is he a perfect man? Well
that’s not for me to judge because the bible clearly
states and I quote “remove the log in your own eye
before trying to remove the speck from your brother’s
eye”, and what that means in layman’s terms is that
before you condemn your brother for his shortcomings
you should deal with your own, because believe it or
not, you’re not perfect either.
I do not know what the future holds for Bola Ahmed
Tinubu and neither do I know what other “political”
surprises he is yet to unveil, but one thing I do know is
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that as a politician he has certainly carved a place for
himself in the history books, and when the history of
South-West politics is written, his name will certainly
be amongst the likes of Awolowo, Akintola, Abiola
and Obasanjo ,as one of the great political titans of the
Yoruba clan that has left his footprints in the sands of
time.
Asiwaju 1, the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, may
God bless you and your family and may his face
continually shine upon thee. You’re indeed a force
of nature whose exploits has forever redefined the
political landscape of South-western Nigeria.