 |
| Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. |
His
name inspires reverence, not loathing. Even his political enemies who claim not
to like his style of politicking speaks concerning him with deep respect. With
his undoubted courage and tenacity, observers had watched him snatching victory
from the jaws of political defeat at several intersections of our national
life.
A
man dexterous with financial figures as a trained and qualified accountant, he
nonetheless gives to others the impression of being an intellectual thinker who
loves to read through a wide range of books on varied subjects, a trait
informed perhaps by his distinct leadership drive.
What
is however not in doubt is that his intellectual capacity is beyond reproach. A
promoter of what he calls the “common-sense revolution”, he loves to make
speeches suffused with progressive ideals – in his arresting drawl – on how to
build a pragmatic society where the weak and the strong are not neglected.
He’s
a man who likes to laugh and crack jokes, and does not carry any air of
arrogance wherever he goes. A Leader of leaders, mentor to many, a devoted
Muslim married to a Christian woman – who happens to be not only a senior
pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, but also a Senator of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria – he is largely instrumental to making APC into a
behemoth that cannot be easily crushed in the politics of Nigeria.
If
you have read this far without suffering boredom, the personality I’m writing
about is none other than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Acolytes call him “The
Asiwaju.” Admirers call him “The Jagaban.”
Here
we were gathered at the large Convention Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotels
in Victoria Island, Lagos, for the Sun Awards on February 20, 2016, mingling
with the high and mighty. Some governors and ex-governors, along with their
wives, from various states of the Federation were in attendance. Senator Emeka
Ngige; and Lai Mohammed (APC propaganda chief now metamorphosed into Nigeria’s
minister of information) were not left out. Captains of industry, business
moguls, banking czars swirled around exuding extreme confidence. Nollywood
stars and starlets added their glamour. (Pete Edochie was visible) The
Vice-President himself, Yemi Osinbajo made his appearance, and gave a little
speech about how Tinubu, a “fearless trouble-maker, a Jagaban” once chided him, “How, Yemi, will you have a
job if I don’t make trouble?” when he, Yemi Osinbajo as his legal counsellor,
tried to steer Tinubu cautiously out of troubled political waters. At that, the
hall roared with laughter. The import of the joke didn’t elude them. With the political success of APC, it cannot be in doubt that trouble-making is a
profitable enterprise!
With
the programme on course, good, energetic music was blaring from the well-lit
stage. There was enough to eat and drink. The atmosphere was dreamy, and the
event clearly lived up to its billing as an “evening of glitz and glamour.”
His
Excellency, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, governor of Anambra State, was taking
home the “Sun Governor of the Year 2015” award. Mr Yemi Adeola, CEO, Sterling
Bank, got the “Sun Banker of the Year” award. Dr. Anthony Chukwuka, the
Executive Chairman of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Ltd, got the “Sun Business
Person of the Year” award. Chief Eric Umeofia, President/CEO of Erisco Foods
Ltd took home the “Sun Manufacturer of the Year” award. Dr Uche Ogah,
President, Master Energy Group, got the “Sun Investor of the Year” award. Mr
Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) won the “Sun
Sport Personality of the Year” award. Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director-General
of the National Pensions Commission (PenCom) took home the “Sun Public Service
Award 2015.”
Even
with so many powerful, wealthy and influential personalities gathered under one
roof, the presence of Bola Tinubu loomed large. When it was time for him to
come on stage to receive The Sun Man of the Year 2015 award, presented to him
by Orji Kalu, publisher of Sun newspaper, practically everybody in the hall
stood up to give this larger-than-life political godfather, the Jagaban of
Borgu, a standing ovation. In the
retinue of close associates and friend, along with his wife, Senator Remi
Tinubu, he unhurriedly danced to the stage, took the microphone, and said,
among other things, “There’s hope for Nigeria. With perseverance, tenacity and
determination, we will breakthrough, economically and developmentally.”
 |
| Orji Kalu. |
It
was a magical evening, designed to crush any enclosing wall of despair, spark
the fire of inspiration, and bolster the motivation in anyone fortunate to be
present. The Sun newspaper put up a good, well-organized show. Yet despite
myself, I felt uneasy and disturbed.
I
tried to quell the questions welling up in me, which I felt were troublesome;
but I couldn’t. Was the award for Tinubu misplaced or premature? Lesser men
than him had gotten it in the past. Why not him? Of his greatness, his looming
influence over Nigeria, his political sagacity, there can be no question.
Then
I read in front of me what Eric Osagie, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief
of Sun newspapers, wrote concerning the winners of the awards: “They changed
the paradigm, altered the equation and quickened the pace of activities in the
march of progress to the future.”
Suddenly,
I was able to locate why I felt disturbed and uneasy. “...in the march of progress to
the future.” If this was the reason
for the Jagaban winning the Sun Man
of the Year 2015, then the Sun newspaper editors should be ashamed of
themselves. Despite my personal admiration, I thought the award was premature
and misplaced. I knew it would have been tough for Tinubu to reject the award,
but I wished he had.
If
there were no suitable candidates among the political movers and shakers of
Nigeria, this award should have gone symbolically to the Common-Man on the Street
who has borne the brunt of the misrule, miseducation, the hypocrisy, deception
and bare-faced stealing of our vision-less, but power-grabbing vampires
masquerading as leaders, cutting across every political parties, none exempted.
Every
national vision must be invested with values that have the restoration and
empowerment of the weak elements in the society at its nexus. Without that, the
vision is irrelevant and retrograde. Greatness must have its purpose other than
self-glorification.
Though
they are elements in the northern part of Nigeria that tried to downplay the
significance of Tinubu in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president of
Nigeria, but the plain truth is that even the deaf and the blind know that
without Tinubu, Buhari, despite his massive, fanatical but regional following,
would have been left stranded, wailing in the political wilderness of Nigeria. And this is the burden that the Jagaban has to
bear. If Buhari succeeds, Tinubu gets the credit. If the president fails to
deliver, Nigerians, especially many in the South, will be unforgiving toward
Tinubu.
Right
now, many Nigerians don’t know whether we are going forward or sliding
backward. The government apologists tell us to show a little patience. Yet the
body language from the presidency does not inspire hope. Nepotism has been
enthroned blatantly at the Federal level, and we are being forced to believe
that it’s only persons from the North that are “competent and honest” to handle
strategic affairs at the national level. Forgive the hyperbole, but prices are
shooting through the roof. Bestiality is rising. Boko Haram is technically, but
not realistically, defeated. Instead of positive change, what stares us in the
face is retrogression. Naira is beggarly before the dollar. The president,
Buhari, is not hiding his reluctance to have a fatherly talk with Biafran
agitators. Armless citizens are mowed down remorselessly by soldiers for daring
to protest their grievances.
When
Tinubu allied with Buhari to dethrone Jonathan, was it for the political
survival of the Jagaban, or his genuine attempt to put Nigeria on the
fast-track of progress? Only the Jagaban can tell us. But until then, Sun
newspaper, you no do well.
 |
| Eric Osagie. |
No comments:
Post a Comment