President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political journey commenced in 1992 when he contested for the Lagos west senatorial seat and won on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). However, the Senate could not be inaugurated on July 27, 1992, on the ground that it was democratically abnormal to have an existing senate without an elected president. Nonetheless, the then military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida formally inaugurated the Senate on December 5, 1992.
The annulment of the June 12 election, adjudged the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s political history, paved the way for the strong man in Tinubu to manifest in everything he did from that moment until democratic rule was restored in Nigeria in 1999.
With the unfortunate annulment, Tinubu joined other eminent Nigerians to work assiduously for the return of Nigeria to democratic rule. They did that under the banner of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). In 1994, the then General Sani Abacha regime hunted NADECO members in order to stop their agitation. It was in the throes of the persecution by Abacha that Tinubu had his personal residence attacked by armed men. Conditions at home forced him to exile from 1994 to 1998 to the U.S., where he remained faithful to the cause of the Nati NADECO.
A true freedom fighter does not abandon the struggle to be free and does not consider his freedom alone as the ultimate objective of his struggle – he fights until everyone is free. In the sustained battle to return Nigeria to democratic rule, Tinubu did not just lose the comfort of his home in Lagos; he had to also bear the trouble of attempts to blackmail him.
On April 23, 2001, one Mr. Francis Ede, told the Justice Oputa panel how he was arrested, tortured and asked to implicate Tinubu as one of those planning to launch bomb attacks across Nigeria in the name of NADECO. This was necessary to justify any harsh action that was to be taken against NADECO’s most influential members. Naturally, if you want to hang a dog, you give it a bad name.
As destiny will have it, on June 8, 1998, Abacha died and was succeeded by General Abdussalami Abubakar who superintended over the transition from military to civilian rule. Tinubu returned to the country and joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He contested and won the gubernatorial election in Lagos state becoming the second elected governor of the state. While in office, he did everything possible to carry with him the spirit of true and transparent leadership which the NADECO struggle had inculcated in him.
He impacted all aspects of human life under his purview. His immense contributions set Lagos state on the path to modernity – the type that is only found in 1st world nations. Tinubu’s managerial cum leadership acumen was well hatched with the unforeseen assassination of Bola Ige on December 23, 2001. That bitter development exposed governors of the South- western states at the time to a political tsunami that swept them off their feet, depriving them of the opportunity to secure re-election. At the end, Asiwaju Tinubu was the only South-west governor to have defied it (tsunami) and returned to office for a second term.
The unfortunate passing of Ige created a power vacuum in the politics of Southwestern Nigeria. It was this moment that beckoned on Tinubu to rise to the occasion; and he did. He was able to draw resourceful personalities from within and outside Lagos state, to occupy key positions his government. They included Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara state), Professor Yemi Osinbajo (Ogun state), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun state) etc. These men were to take up greater task in the days ahead, as our present day reality can attest to.
As governor, Tinubu created more local councils in 2003 to bring governance closer to the ordinary man. This decision did not go well with the government at the centre and a fortiori in 2005, the Obasanjo federal government imposed sanctions on Lagos state local council funds. This was after Tinubu had defied high-handed demands by President Obasanjo to reverse his government’s decision to create more local councils. In response, the then Governor Tinubu directed his Attorney-General, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to sue the federal government. On the other hand, he improvised means through which the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Lagos state was heightened – a thing which made it possible for him to sustain the newly created local councils despite the sanctions. This lasted for more than two years.
At the end of his eight years tenure, he presented his Chief of Staff, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), to the good electorates of Lagos state, and because of the confidence the people reposed in him (Tinubu), Fashola won a landslide. And for more than two decades now, Tinubu has not betrayed that covenant between the good people of Lagos state and him, as evidenced by the enduring support his political camp receives throughout this period.
And when in 2006, the late Emir of Borgu, Halliru Dantoro, conferred the title of “JAGABAN” on Tinubu, he had gone through every page of the man’s political struggle where he saw unmatched tenacity, dedication, sacrifice and stoicism. Indeed, there is nothing most befitting of the Jagaban than the Jagaban.
For a man who withstood 16 years of intense opposition from the fountain of dictatorship and threat; who raised the iIGR of Lagos state from N600 million to N7 billion monthly; who tamed the fury of the Atlantic ocean from sweeping Lagos away; who built an empire of dedicated, loyal, reputable and refined men and women who are ever-willing to deep-six the pursuit of personal gains for a higher national aggrandisement; for such a man, there is nothing more befitting than to handover the affairs of the largest democracy in Africa to him.
In this regard, Nigerians should keep believing in President Tinubu. Going by his track record, he has demonstrated genuine commitment to the nation’s progress. Supporting his vision and leadership will be instrumental in propelling Nigeria to the global stage and achieving collective prosperity. Trust in his dedication to our country’s interests can foster positive change and elevate Nigeria to new heights.
President Tinubu is a true democrat who has shown a deep passion for Nigeria’s growth since his early days in politics, he possesses the zeal and zest to make our country’s democracy more vibrant and ensure a robust economy. recognising the need for reforms, the decades-long bastardised economy cannot be revived automatically, it must pass through reforms. While some of these policies may be harsh, they are all aimed at the betterment of our nation.
He is a compassionate and empathetic leader who has no intention of harming Nigerians in anyway. He is committed to working hard to accelerate the realisation of a prosperous nation, He dedicated his life defending and restoring Nigeria’s democracy. Would he destroy what he nurtured for decades? NO! As citizens, we must be patient and understanding as the government is working to reform the system for the benefit of all Nigerians and future generations.
It is important for Nigerians to rise up against those who have no good intentions for the country. Constructive criticism is necessary to hold our leaders accountable, but it must be done with patriotism and a genuine desire for progress.
May the good Lord bless the efforts of President Tinubu and give him the strength, direction and guidance to catapult Nigeria to greater heights, amen.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mohamed Awal Ibrahim,
Abuja
