FROM THE STABLES OF A WRITER AND POET.
SUCCINCTLY EXPRESSED BY,
Awalme Gowal .
TINUBU AND 2023
It takes a great mind to be strategic in his thoughts and actions. I have long been an admirer of Bola Ahmed Tinubu because of his his political dexterity and style of leadership.
Leadership, as I see it, is about vision, organisation, and management. Having a clear cut picture of what you intend to paint and recruiting the right materials to give you the touch of the different shades you conceived mentally.
My knowledge of Bola Tinubu is relatively recent. Back in 1999 when he became the Governor of Lagos State. I was just graduating from secondary School and observed from a bird's eye view how he stuck to his ideology of a progressive amidst all the arrows shot at him by the then President Oluesegun Obasanjo. His steadfastness to his beliefs was what appealed to my young revolutionary mind that in present reflection I can say I'm his fan.
No one can take away the fact that it was under his regime that Lagos got the right to boast of a mapped out roadmap for order, direction, self sustenance and economic revolution. Like a good coach, he assembled an excellent team from far and wide into a winning team that has metamorphosed into the spine of the Nigerian project under president Buhari.
Only a visionary can do this. Not an arm chair and virtuoso but one who is willing to collect the blows and mudslinging, one who is willing to stick out his neck above the crowd and noise to voice out his ideas and diligently pursue them. This is my kind of person and they don't come around often.
It is no longer news that Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared his intention of replacing President Buhari in Aso Rock come 2023. It is also very interesting that as it stands, he's the candidate to beat in his party the APC and as it looms, come the general elections next year. Little wonder his name is on the lips of every politically conscious Nigerian.
Tinubu is different things to different people. To some he's a rogue who goes around buying and bullying his way with stolen loot stashed in bullion vans, to others he's a king maker who whose stock in trade is imposing candidates on Lagosians while to others he's the architect of modern Lagos. Whatever it is you attribute to this fella, you can't take away the network he has built across Nigeria overtime. And for you to win elections in Nigeria, you must have expansive networks across divides.
Personally as an advocate of youth inclusion into governance, my sentiments lies in him anointing the present ViceVPresident, Yemi Osinbajo to run for the office of the President. This is in relation to his age as against that of Tinubu and also because of his teeming appeal among the Nigerian youths. Preferably, I will have loved for an Igbo presidency, but their inability to handle the Biafra agitation has placed them in a dark spot on the minds of most Nigerians.
But with the enormity of the task of the office of the Nigerian presidency, which will need someone with friends across divides, I am a bit skeptical if the Vice President has the grit to handle such egos.
My fear draws from the former president, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, who despite his amiable disposition and perceived good intentions, lacked the grip and politics to tactically steer the egos of power blocs to the good of nation building.
It is one thing to look smart and charismatic and a different thing to balance the vanities of men who can orchestrate your downfall through blood and chaos to the detriment of state. Ruthless men who understand the chess of power play. Tinubu has that edge over him on this, the ability to use your yin and yang to the good of office, unless I underestimate Osinbajo's political dexterity.
As it is, Osinbajo is Tinubu's boy in political parlance, as such is incumbent to protect the interest of his principal. It is expected that wherever his principal sways to, the breeze should push him there. He's part and lump of Tinubu's political dynasty and amongst the chief beneficiaries. I stand to witness how this plays out amidst the shouts of political merchants and die-hard supporters of the Vice President to join the race.
Will Osinbajo vie against his boss? Interesting times ahead.
In our present political cycle, there is no one who can match the focus and wherewithal of Tinubu in building the network of people around him. He has over the years assembled excellent minds and under his political guidance turned them into political heavyweights.
He fished them from neighbouring states and harnessed their finesse in the development of Lagos State. Long before the present democratic dispensation, Tinubu was known to be strategic in putting pressure on military regimes for the gain of democracy.
It seems he has mapped out his plans long before his recent declaration of contesting the seat of the president. This should be a thing of concern to his political opponents because his every step seems to be in accordance to a script well-crafted.
Little wonder ever since his declaration, he has been traversing the length and breadth of the country leaving his opponents dwelling on the trivialities of his age and personality.
He understands what it takes to be president in the present Nigerian setting, he understands the need to build alliances and leverage existing ones. It's why he has been up and running in strengthening the bridges of friendship built over the years.
As it stands, despite the outcries of some Nigerians against the candidature of Tinubu, he stands tall as the candidate to beat because of his political war chest. He has the human and capital resources to go toe to toe with whomever will stand on his way to Aso Rock come 2023.
This is not about "God forbid" or "over my dead body" that we declare in our comfort without owning PVCs and lacking the clout to mobilise on election day. For whoever is coming against a Tinubu, must be one who in street parlance we term a "bad guy" who can match him wit for wit and naira for naira. One who has studied the chess of power play to be able to undermine the strength and tricks of this political gladiator.
Whoever emerges as our president come 2023, may Nigeria be the utmost beneficiary.
Awalme Gowal
(The Poetician)
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