Asiwaju Bola Tinubu: All Hail Father Of Nations At 74
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu: All Hail Father Of Nations At 74
Tribute To His Excellency
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu(GCFR)
President & Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
True to his selfless nature, it is very likely that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will use the occasion of his 74th birthday for personal introspection and reflection on the progress recorded under his watch as Nigeria’s helmsman and the challenges confronting his administration.
The birthday anniversary may not be celebrated with pomp and circumstance as expected by many. That is, there may be no rolling out of the drums, blaring of trumpets and a grand red carpet reception for the celebrant to mark another milestone in his journey on this planet.
Tinubu had adopted this solemn way of celebration long before he was handed the reins of power as Nigeria’s helmsman. This is not due to an aversion to partying or a simple soiree but for his commitment to the enormous task of nation building. Asiwaju understands the nitty-gritty of leadership and he is always ready to sacrifice personal comfort for collective progress and the common weal.
Asiwaju’s rise to his present status is not “meteoric” as some people love to describe sudden and rapid exaltation. Tinubu’s political success is a culmination of many years of strategic planning, bridge-building, sacrifice and steadfastness. No wonder he has been a force to reckon with in the country’s national space and discourse for four decades.
This claim may sound extravagant to those who erroneously think Asiwaju began his political career when Nigeria dispensed with the yoke of dictatorship and returned to civilian rule in 1999. I mean those who think Tinubu’s emergence as governor of Lagos State about twenty-seven years ago was his first shot at power. Tinubu had been in the trenches forging alliances with like minds, supporting advocacy and promoting humanistic causes at great financial cost and even personal risk for many years before the advent of the Fourth Republic when he was elected as Lagos State governor.
He sacrificed his position as a legislator in the National Assembly to join the agitation for the actualization of the June 12 mandate when it became clear that the military men were not ready to hand over the reins of power to the democratically elected president, Chief MKO Abiola, and go back to the barracks. He was valiant and defiant in the face of oppression and intimidation of the jackboots.
Thousands of pages have been dedicated to Tinubu’s managerial prowess which served him in a good stead while at the helm in Lagos State and in the heat of his many battles with the federal government during the reign of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
However, Tinubu’s eye for talents has been somewhat underappreciated to the point of being completely disregarded. Asiwaju’s gift for spotting potential is impressive. He has been a reliable and inexhaustible supplier of competent administrators, seasoned technocrats, brilliant journalists and other quality professionals for the country’s public office.
Without him many men and women who are household names in Nigeria today may have just been, by now, retired professionals in civil service or private practice in their chosen disciplines. The fame and honour associated with their names for holding public office could have eluded them. In fact three different ministries vital to our national development were thrust on the shoulders of one of his men at the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Such was the trust political actors had in the competence of Tinubu’s lieutenants and their abilities to deliver in whatever capacity they find themselves. The trust has not diminished a bit for “Tinubu’s people” have never disappointed their hirers.
Asiwaju’s generosity, which is an offshoot of his philanthropy, is legendary. Benefactors of his kind-heartedness have recounted how he rescued them from drowning in a sea of debts and other financial embarrassments.
One of the quartet who founded a prominent national magazine narrated how the company became insolvent and could not pay backlog of workers’ salaries; he noted that the magazine was considering folding up when Tinubu showed up and saved it. According to the veteran journalist Tinubu had to sell one of his many properties to save the company. To understand the magnitude of Asiwaju’s intervention, he made the decision at a time he was battling for his life. He was in exile and running away from Abacha’s ruthless goons who were on his trail. No doubt, Tinubu has a spine of steel and heart of gold.
Asiwaju is a resourceful person and a champion of true federalism and justice. Towards the tail end of last year, a video went viral. In the video, former governor of Lagos State and Tinubu’s successor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, narrated how former governor of Oyo State and the current Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, ran to Tinubu after he was unjustly removed from office, a development orchestrated by the late Lamidi Adedibu with the backing of the Federal Government.
Fashola recalled how Asiwaju called and summoned him to his office one Sunday morning and asked him, together with a couple of lawyers, to prepare a law document and initiate litigation process that would justly restore Ladoja to his rightful position. The former Minister and Asiwaju’s Chief Of Staff during his time as Lagos governor added that it took the intervention of his boss who was elected on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) to return Ladoja, who belonged to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to power in a legitimate manner.
Asiwaju is a loyal friend and always a trusted ally in a cause. There’s an iconic — and now with the benefit of hindsight — symbolic viral picture of the diminutive dark–goggled despot, General Sani Abacha walking side by side with the late business mogul and winner of the June 12 presidential election, MKO Abiola, with Tinubu in tow. He followed Abiola to the lion’s den to discuss how to get his mandate restored. Little did he know that Providence would reward his loyalty and steadfastness to another man’s cause by catapulting him to the most exalted political seat in the land.
However, Tinubu’s present station in life is just a manifestation of a great destiny foretold, or more aptly prophesied, by one of the revered men of God in this country.
While on the campaign trail for the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju narrated how Pastor E.A Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, prophesied he would become Abraham — a father of nations.
“The day my wife was ordained Pastor in the Redeemed Church, I was there,” Tinubu said.
“Pastor Adeboye gave me Abraham, I said what is the meaning? He said watch out, the father of nations.” he added.
I say boldly that the prophesy has come to pass.Tinubu’s proteges and lieutenants are legions. I’m proud to identify myself as one of Asiwaju’s political children and we keep increasing by the day expanding the political empire of our indefatigable leader and father.
We keep learning from you, drinking from the water of your political sagacity. Your infectious optimistic temperament has helped you chart a path to greatness for Nigeria. You have a courage of your conviction which you demonstrated on your first day in office when you announced the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of naira. Those who didn’t know you thought you’re crazy. These were causes hard to accomplish and heavy with risk, yet they were pursued with a lightness of spirit and diligence. You displayed great optimism that has won converts from every class and every political affiliation. Everyone has now seen that there’s method to your madness as your bold reforms have started yielding results.
The signs are here, Nigeria has turned the bend in its journey to the promised land, the country is almost out of the woods. The struggling economy has been stabilized and transformed. But you couldn’t have gone this far without the support and affection of your irrepressible wife, Yeye Asiwaju of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON).
On behalf of the people of Oyo State at home and in the diaspora, I say Happy Birthday, my leader. I wish you good health and long life, Jagaban Borgu, Aare Atayese of Ile-Oluji, and the Agbaakin Adini of Ijeshaland.
By Israel Olaniyi Fadare, Abanise Lo’luwa 2027
Oyo Governorship Hopeful 2027
