This man has been labelled master strategist because of his many achievements in life so far. Be it in business or politics, he’s a game-changer. And when you talk about one individual in Nigeria who God has blessed and favoured with money, influence, power, wisdom etc, no one comes close to the man called Jagaban Borgu, better known as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Some
call him a political juggernaut. Others simply call him a Political Acrobat.
And to a few, he is a Political Strategist. But If you choose to call him
Jagaban Borgu, a chieftaincy title conferred on him in Niger State, you will
also be correct. You can also call him the Asiwaju of Lagos, a title late sage,
Awo held till he died. His 2 favourite titles are Asiwaju & Jagaban. And he
loves being called by those titles.
Currently, he’s been tipped to run for the upcoming presidential election. A few weeks
back when he came back from the UK where he had knee surgery, a newly formed
group that want to ensure his aspirations to become the next President is
actualized had a welcome party where he was received. The group which is called
The South-West Agenda (SWAGA) was created to ensure he (Tinubu) runs and wins
the next Presidential election. Don’t also forget he’s the national leader of
the All Progressives Congress (APC).
What
you are about to read is the amazing facts why Tinubu would be hard to beat in
the next election, not just for his doggedness in Nigeria’s politics, but for many reasons we
would be telling you below.
Let’s
tell you that he is the only man in Nigeria’s politics who has successfully and
consecutively installed 3 governors after him. He is the only man who has
fought the government at the centre to a standstill for more than 4 years,
while he was governor of Lagos State.
The
truth is Tinubu has built his political empire to an enviable height that top
politicians, especially in the South-West now seek his blessing before vying
for any political office. A lot of them (politicians) have turned his house at
Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos to a Mecca of sort. It is an arena for decisions
making. It is a place where top politicians converge to discuss key issues in
politics. A lot of high profile politicians and government officials often
visit him there. They include Governors, Ministers, First Class Kings and
Chiefs, even the Vice President of the country, who many believe is also one of
his guys in the government.
It’s
also believed that his decision of picking Buhari to run for the party’s
Presidential election in 2005 has also placed him above Chief Awolowo. Tinubu
is the only politician in the history of the country who had successfully
installed a President. Many would tell you that Tinubu was instrumental to
Buhari becoming President.
The
big news now is that Tinubu who many refer to as a political figure/political
godfather is being tipped for the Presidency. Although, he hasn’t publicly
declared his ambition, but a group called SWAGA has been canvassing and
pleading to him to run and it’s almost certain now that he would yield to their
call. And those who are very close to him have not only confirmed it, they have
been campaigning for him ever since the news came out.
This
week, InfoOnlineNews brings you 10 factors why he would be hard to defeat.
HE
HAS MANY OF HIS ‘BOYS’ IN GOVERNMENT
Tinubu
is one man who has hundreds of his boys in government, both at the state and
federal levels. And that is deliberate. He’s one man who sees things before
they happen. Many of these boys also have structures they can use to work for
Tinubu if the need be. Tinubu has funded many elections from his pocket just to
ensure his boys get to power. He’s planted the seed and it’s growing and
yielding fruits. Don’t forget Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Honourable Minister
for Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Osun State, now
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and other key members in Buhari’s
government are some of his ‘boys’.
HIS
INFLUENCE ON MEDIA
Talk
of one Nigerian politician who has a tremendous influence on media, Tinubu is
one of the few Nigerians who has influenced the media industry. There is no
media outfit that has consistently written negative things about him. Not just
in newspapers, but also on Radios and Televisions. We can authoritatively tell
you that Tinubu has hundreds of Journalists as friends. He doesn’t joke with
them. And some of them have worked for him in the past and some still do. Some
of the celebrated Publishers are his friends and he holds them in high esteem
and many of them are holding key positions today with his help. One of them is
Mr Sunday Dare, who’s Nigeria Minister of sports.
SOUTH’S
TURN
If
things are done accordingly, the presidency should be zoned to the South. And
it has been claimed that it’s Yoruba’s turn. The Hausa/Fulani has been in power
since 2015. 2023 will make their 8 years in power. And this has a lot of
advantages on whoever represents Yoruba as a presidential candidate.
HIS
INFLUENCE AMONG GOVERNORS
Remember
that Tinubu is a top political godfather. During the campaign, he had supported
some state governors with funds and federal appointments. A few weeks back when
the South West governors had those meetings they suggested that they would
present their candidate and it seems no other politician fits the picture than
Tinubu. Even when the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu Aketin spoke to
the media a few weeks back, he categorically said they were waiting for their
‘Capo’ to return from the UK. So Whoever they (governors) support for a post
has a better chance to emerge a winner.
HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH BUHARI
You
can say he has been sidelined in the scheme of things, but he surely has a good
relationship with the man he installed back to back. Don’t forget Buhari
visited him while he was recuperating in the UK and they had a chat. He (Tinubu)
can also walk into Aso-Rock anytime to meet with Mr President if the need
arises. This is one of the things he enjoys and would definitely work for him.
Aside from the fact that the no1 man is his man, don’t forget that he singlehanded
chose Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to be the deputy of Buhari. These are some
of the things he would enjoy as he sets to run for President.
HE
HAS A CONNECTION WITH The NORTH
Not
many people know Tinubu has a long-existing relationship with the Northerners.
He knows many key guys in the North, who run the affairs of things. The likes
of Kano governor, Ganduje and the likes are his men.
Tinubu
knows some of the guys to talk to in the north when the need for that arises.
He is a man with a vision and he has built his political structure to an
enviable height.
RESOURCES
When
you talk about one politician in Nigeria who spends big for elections, it is
Jagaban himself.
Let’s
take you back to 2015 when the former Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode ran for
gubernatorial elections and former President Ebele Jonathan was also fighting
for his second term in office and Lagos was the centre of focus for the
ex-president. He released a lot of fund for Jimi Agbaje to counter Asiwaju’s
candidate, Ambode. But trust Jagaban himself, he ensured his candidate emerged
victorious as he spent hugely to make sure his candidate won Lagos. And when it
comes to big companies in Nigeria, Lagos is their abode. These are some of the
entities that contribute to Asiwaju’s political projects. What about the bank
MDs? They all support him. Naira for Naira, Tinubu would be hard to defeat.
HIS
IMAGE
Asiwaju
Tinubu’s image is very enviable. He is one of the few men who have unblemished
records. He doesn’t have any fraud allegation hanging on his neck, unlike many other
politicians who have run for that post in the past. A lot of people have
alleged that he has many companies but they are all in Nigeria to provide
employment. He is a philanthropist and a man who derives pleasure in homemade
products. These will definitely play a significant role to boost his ambition.
HIS
GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Tinubu
is one of the few politicians in the history of Nigeria who have an influence on
the two leaders of the National Assembly. The Nigerian Senate President, Ahmed
Lawan, who many believe is a longtime friend of Asiwaju, even before he emerged
Senate President.
In
the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is the Speaker and it’s
also believed he has a strong relationship with Asiwaju. These two guys have a
huge influence on the decision making process in the country. Aside from these two
leaders in the National Assembly, he (Tinubu) also has many lawmakers who are
members in the House of Reps and Senate who are also loyal to him.
SOUTH
WOULD PREFER HIM TO ANY NORTHERNER
A lot
has been happening in Nigeria, especially the security aspect and it’s been
alleged many of these atrocities are being committed by armed Fulani herdsmen.
Many people believe they are more active because the No1 man is also a Fulani.
An average Igbo man believes his life is more secured in the hands of Yoruba
than any Fulani. He might not be their favourite but the Igbo might not have a
choice.
Let’s
tell you more about Tinubu who left the AD many years ago to form the AC, later
ACN, and Afenifere, Obasanjo could not unseat him. He lost two Deputy
Governors, Kofo Bucknor and Femi Pedro to the opposition party, Lost Obanikoro,
a man he single-handedly made a senator to PDP. He also lost Jimi Agbaje a close
ally, also to the PDP. They tried to unseat him, they failed. Obasanjo and GEJ
tried, they didn’t succeed. Lagos State had the Minister of Works, Ogunlewe,
PDP
BOT Chairman – Chief Bode George, Minister for Defence – Obanikoro, Olusegun
Aganga – Trade and Investment, at the time but while these notable men go to
bed at night, Jagaban stays awake scheming and planning his next move at
Bourdillon, rallying the grassroots and usually, he comes up with either a
stick or a carrot.
Obanikoro
his sworn political enemy is back, Pedro is back, Salvador former PDP Chairman,
is back to his camp.
He
has successfully built a battalion of loyalists from 1999 to date. From
Fashola to the councillor in the smallest ward in Lagos. Fashola, Osinbajo,
Fowler, Lai Mohammed, Ben Akabueze, Ojudu, Ade Ipaye, Rauf, Hamzat,
GOS,
Gbajabiamila, Faleke, Yayi, Ashafa, Opeifa, Tunji Bello, Leke Pitan, Jide
Idris, Dele Alake, Mamora and a whole lot of other young brilliant minds. For
every one person he empowered, he got thousands more in return. He identifies
the best and uses them to his advantage.
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