A tribute to Jagaban at 60

As Tinubu stands before the mirror of
history at 60 years of age, what is discernable from the
mirror?

He is, first and foremost, a
professional; an accountant and
financial surgeon, who had paid his
dues in the competitive private sector;
a shrewd businessman and core
investor, manager of men and
resources; a benevolent capitalist. But
he is also a consummate activist,
prolific analyst, strategic thinker,
humanist, philanthropist, astute
administrator, visionary leader, man of
foresight, courageous fighter, a
peoples’ politician and citizen of the
world.
At 60, d ‘Jagaban Borgu’ is perceived bymany as an oak tree offering political shades to a vast progressive followership. It is incontrovertible that he is the most Visible Yoruba politician in d post-Bola Ige era. he is not only an asset to d Southwest, but also a national icon now raising d core Values germane to progress,prosperity, peaceful co-existence andsurvival of alternative political platform.

For him, politics is a vocation and the
scramble for power is only meaningful,
if power, which he believes is never
served ala carte, is employed to usher
in a new lease of life for the generality
of the people. If his sojourn in the
corridor of power laid the premise for
his political fame, his antecedent as a
private sector operator actually
prepared him for the future endeavour.
His professional colleagues and co-
employees at Mobil Nigeria would recall
the picture of a workaholic treasurer,
who never compromised organisational
goals of efficiency, productivity, office
ethics and other fine arts of excellence
at work.
He was persuaded to leave his lucrative
career around 1989 to participate in
politics as a “new breed politician”. He
could not have been indifferent to
participation, having been brought up
by the prominent women leader and
Awolowo devotee, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji,
who played prominent roles in the AG
and UPN Women Caucus, which
revolved around the wife of the late
sage, Yeyeoba HID Awolowo. Tinubu
took the politics of Lagos West
Senatorial District by storm. The
leaders and people of the district who
endorsed his ambition for the Senate in
1990 would testify to his political
prowess, mobilisation acumen,
organisational ability, power of
foresight and masterful logic.
He was
among the brave ones who dared the
military gun by insisting on a terminal
date, which the military set for itself.
When colleagues were bought over
with money, Tinubu was on the firing
line; consistent and adamant. Ironically,
the fall of the regime led to a chain of
events, which consequently aborted his
career in the Senate.
The pro-democracy elements who co-
ordinated the titanic battle against the
military, following the annulment of the
historic June 12, 1993 presidential
election won by the late Chief Moshood
Abiola, would attest to his inspiring,
brave and bold leadership as a dogged
and principled fighter for justice.
Members of the National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO), of which he was an
arrowhead abroad, would speak
glowingly about his dedication, courage
of conviction, fighting spirit and
financial backing for a noble cause.
As governor of the ‘Centre of
Excellence’, for eight years, Tinubu
showed that he was an experienced
and excellent administrator, who,
through his achievements, laid the
foundation for a prosperous Lagos. He
is today perceived by the governors of
the Southwest as a role model and
pride of the region. Others would salute
his large heart as a cheerful giver,
benefactor and godfather to the
oppressed, like his friend and
associate, the late MKO Abiola. But
more than that, Tinubu is a national
property and detribalised apostle of
national unity.
The Asiwaju of
Lagos’s bedrock of strength is his
power of ideas; his conviction about
progressive ideals and his love for the
masses, who are the focus of his
service to humanity, either as a private
man or public figure.
On the floor of the Senate, Tinubu
asked the soldiers of fortune to pack
their load, warning that further delay
could lead to a popular uprising. When
the 1993 presidential election won by
Abiola was criminally annulled, he
opposed the military rascality. He was
among the SDP senators who stood
behind Abiola till the end. He rejected
the military carrot, which he knew
would be accompanied with a cane.
Tinubu was marked for liquidation. He
had started suffering some bruises
before he managed to escape abroad.
From the United States, he fired salvos
at the the late Abacha, financed Radio
Kudirat and inspired other freedom
fighters to sustain the tempo of anti-
military struggle at home.

When Tinubu returned home, he had
wanted to return to the senate, but the
NADECO/Afenifere leaders of Ogun
State origin insisted that he should
serve as governor. To them, it was
suicidal to allow a military stooge to
rule Lagos, despite the fact that he had
the full support of their colleague, the
late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu. In 1999, he
defeated Dapo Sarumi, the PDP
candidate. it was ironic, because in
1991, he had backed Sarumi, the
leader of ‘Primose’ for the job against
the late Prof. femi Agbalajobi, Both camps paid for the
cracks on the wall, which allowed the
NRC candidate, Chief Michael Otedola,
to get to power.
In
response to their yearnings for
grassroots development, 37 local
council development areas were
created, following the conduct of a
referendum. But, Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo wielded the big
hammer, seizing the allocations to the
councils. For more than three years,
the councils were nearly grounded to a
halt, but the internally generated
revenue, which was on the increase,
became the saving grace. Through
Tinubu’s financial engineering, the local
governments survived.
From that stage, Tinubu embraced a
new pastime; the battle for true
federalism. He intensified his advocacy
for fiscal federalism, devolution of
powers, state police and general
restructuring of the polity. To him, a
sovereign national conference is
inevitable, although it is being delayed.
Outside power, he became the fierce
leader of opposition. He also turned his
attention to the battle for free and fair
elections. No politician of note in the
country has fought the battle for
electoral reforms more than Tinubu,
who has stood behind the Coalition of
Democrats for Electoral Reforms
(CODER) like the rock. Although the
battle has not been fully won, Nigeria
has not remained the same.
Under his leadership, ACN has also
enlarged its coast to other six geo-
political zones, thereby becoming a
national party and credible alternative.
After regaining its prized stronghold in
the Southwest, it has remained on the
firing line, winning elective seats in the
Northcentral, Southeast and
Southsouth zones. Apparently to
silence him, Tinubu was arraigned for
trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for
keeping foreign accounts. To the
chagrin of his foes, the tribunal toed
the path of the rule of law, declining
jurisdiction. On the way to the tribunal
at Abuja, the popularity of Tinubu
dwarfed them. His supporters were
denied entry into the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT).
A man of history, his rise to fame is an
act of God. Tinubu was not born into
greatness; neither has greatness been
thrust on him on a platter of gold. He
achieved greatness through hard
work, resolve, and determination. So
far, he has demonstrated a huge
capacity for the management of the
achievement.
Born on March 29, 1952, Tinubu
endured, like many others, a difficult
childhood and today, he has a tale of
survival to tell. His academic sojourn in
the United States started in 1975 at
Richard Daley College, Chicago, Illinois,
where he justified himself before
proceeding to Chicago State University,
graduating in 1979 with a first class
honours in Business Administration,
specialising in Accounting and
Management. In his last year, he
taught the remedial tutorial classes on
part-time basis. Throughout his
studies, he was on the Dean’s List. A
campus politician, Tinubu was also the
President of the Accounting Society in
his final year. In the course of
professional practice, he has traversed
blue chip companies Arthur Anderson,
Deloitte Haskins, GTE Service
Corporation, and Mobil Nigeria, where
he was treasurer. He was a contributor
to worthy social and community causes
as an acclaimed philanthropist before
becoming a politician of repute.