By Kehinde Olaosebikan
In my tribute to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 70th birthday exactly one year ago, I asserted that he would celebrate his next birthday, 71st as the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I concluded, albeit largely against the prevailing political situation of the time, that no matter the might of the opposition, challenges, landmines, and obstacles laid on his way by whoever and at any level, the former Governor of Lagos State would win the contest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office.
Relying on the exceptional wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage, exposure, connections and resources that have fortified him with an uncommon ability to perform extraordinarily, resist and conquer all rejections as he did as the Governor of Lagos State, I wrote that Tinubu possesses all the credentials, ingredients and instruments required to conquest the presidential race.
In the piece titled ‘What Alhaji Lam Adesina Told Me about Tinubu and His Ability to Win Against All Odds,’ many were not pleased with my submission that Tinubu would win the presidential election. They felt the write-up was against the subsisting political tide. Many of my friends including newspapers’ editors did not publish the article out of fear that it would pitch me against the man of the moment then, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other aspirants they felt had greater chances than Tinubu. They believed that Tinubu would not make it and as such advised me to drop the article in order not to shoot myself in the foot as a politician.
While I expressed my gratitude to those friends and editors for their genuine interest, I still went ahead and got the piece published in full, out of my strong conviction in its content and my desire for a better Nigeria under a man I was cock sure of his genuine interest, competence and capacity to truly move the country forward. With my knowledge of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Nigeria, I knew he was the best among those that showed interest in the race and instead of abandoning the write-up as advised by my friends, I got it published to support and propel the Jagaban in trudging on.
I undertook a similar adventure in 1999 shortly after the presidential election when I convinced the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, the governor elect of Oyo State then, to broker peace between the just elected President-elect, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Yoruba Social Cultural Group, Afenifere. The Abraham Adesanya led Afenifere had wanted to put spanners in the works to forestall the inauguration of Obasanjo as the civilian president of the country.
With his power of oration and credibility amongst the Afenifere, Alhaji Lam Adesina successfully brokered the much needed peace and Obasanjo was eventually sworn in as the president.
Today, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is celebrating his 71st birthday as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all odds, characterised by the challenges, intrigues and obstacles put on his way from all angles.
From the Emilokan debacle in Abeokuta and the Muslim-Muslim ticket that almost ruined the aspiration, Tinubu’s preparedness and ability to manage crisis turned negatives to positives, resulting in his huge victory at the All Progressives Congress Presidential Primary on 8 June 2022.
The outcry and condemnation that followed the declaration of Emilokan from the seat of power and the national headquarters of APC were initially seen as the end of the presidential aspiration of Bola Timubu. But, as a great politician, well prepared for the race and surrounded by eminent loyalists, the situation was not just brought under control, Emilokan is now the mantra for success as recently deployed by Senator Uzor Orji Kalu in his latest quest for Senate Presidency.
One must commend the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, for staying with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when it mattered most. For Shettima’s quick and effective intervention on the Abeokuta outburst, the aspiration would have kissed the dust. The likes of Babachir Lawal and co found their superior in the Vice President-elect with his effective handling of the farce.
The strong defense of the Emilokan outburst by Senator Shettima was out of this world. In the most profound manner, he acting an unprepared PR script went round all the major media houses and was able to convince all that the then APC presidential aspirant meant well for President Muhammadu Buhari with the declaration. I am not sure that the best of public relations firm in the world could have achieved that great feat ably accomplished by Shettima in record time.
From that moment, I knew that the vice presidential slot would be given to him. I said it in many fora. Bola Ahmed Tinubu appreciates and reciprocates good gestures. He knows his onions and surroundings pretty well.
With May 29, the day for inauguration of the new president still about 60 days away, the battle is not over as Tinubu’s path to Aso Rock is strewn with landmines of various sorts. In as much as one is not really bothered about the cases filed in the court by the other parties, the antics of the anti-democracy elements masquerading as democrats call for concern.
Buoyed by the support of fellow democrats from the days of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, and his unceasing advancement in politics and power game, Tinubu has transmuted into the Rock of Nigeria’s democracy. From 1993 to 1998, he and his fellow NADECO leaders fought for our democracy and the ever respected last Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Abdusalami Abubakar, crowned their efforts with the inauguration of the present democratic government in 1999.
Thence, Bola Tinubu has continued to nurture our democracy and developing along the line new leaders capable of achieving greatness for our dear country. As the Rock of Democracy in Nigeria, his contributions to the evolution of democracy is unmatched by any living Nigerian.
Tinubu is today the symbol of stability, permanence, strength, dependability, steadfastness and growth of our democracy. From the commencement of the present democracy in 1999, Asiwaju has proven without any iota of doubt that he is the greatest democrat of all time in Nigeria.
In just eight years, Tinubu revolutionized governance, leadership, politics, and revenue generation in the most complex state in Nigeria, Lagos; preserved continuity through purposeful, meaningful and pragmatic leadership and eventually made Lagos the model for the remaining 35 states in Nigeria for developmental purposes.
In what now appears as a source of pains to some people, Tinubu, the proud maker of governors, ministers and president, would be successfully inaugurated as the 16th President of Nigeria on the 29 May 2023 and by this time next year when he will be marking his 72nd birthday, we shall be glad to celebrate him as a president we are all be proud of.
For the anti-democracy elements still smarting to put landmines on his path, their case is just like that of eggs wanting to duel with the rock. On whatever turf they meet, the rock would always, effortlessly, crush the eggs.
Olaosebikan is a journalist and politician.