Bola Tinubu: The exceptional warrior

BY OGUNTOYE OPEYEMI

Some people can spot the good in others even when miles away.They are too good to see the quality in themselves, know how to find it in others and use the two for a particular task. The most surprising out of all is that only few could be able to do such. Shouldn’t we envy them?

In 2014, when Nigeria government under the former President Jonathan used 15million dollars in South Africa to purchase ammunition, and the news broke out, the then government didn’t only accused the opposition party (APC) but Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of conniving with the South Africa government in making their actions known to all Nigerians. I asked myself then, how popular, great and important can a man be for an incumbent government to single-handedly be accusing only him for all their woes?

Throughout President Jonathan’s tenure, all the failures and problems had Tinubu who wasn’t even in government then to blame.
In 1934, coach Larry Synder met a black Negro ( Jesse Owen) when he was admitted to the Ohio state college, Larry was a former champion in athletic until he retired and started coaching in the state of Ohio, but had no luck on his first team. Immediately Owen got to the school, Larry sighted and invited him to join the school team.

At the pre-race, Owen ran 100 meters in 9.4 sec which beat the then world record. Larry made a statement to his colleague who was a football coach standing next to him, ” this boy, just ran 100meters in 9.4 sec, you are looking at 1936 Olympic gold medal right there, “two years later, in Berlin, Jesse Owen broke the record which took 25 years to break for another champion, he won four gold medal in Berlin which infuriated Adolf Hitler because he defeated their champion in Germany. Larry saw a champion in Jesse Owen and many others which led to his popularity in 1936, his athletes he trained won set 14 world record, won 52 all America certificates and 8 gold medals and in 1960, he traveled to Rome as the head coach of USA Olympic team.

Larry was a white man who didn’t discriminate against Jesse Owen even though blacks were seen as inferior at all angle on America back then but he looked beyond colour, ethnicity and religion but saw a champion. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed had over the years after his tenure as Governor of Lagos raised people from different kind of religion, ethnic background to a level of leadership without prejudice. Show me a man who hasn’t fail before and I will show you a house full of Nigerians that had at a point been called failure. Show me a man who had nothing and I will show you mansion full of genius in the country. But people need someone who will show them to the world. This is where the role of Asiwaju comes in; he sees, encourages, spends, grooms, guides and builds leaders.

We have many of them around us today who cannot write their success story without the mention of the Jagaban. When Fayemi decided to run for the governor of Ekiti state, he rushed down to Lagos to meet the great planner, executioner and fixer, to explain his intention and vision to run for the governorship race of Ekiti. Asiwaju who know well and understood politics believed it was possible. He did everything in his capacity and Fayemi became the governor of Ekiti state but when it was time for him to run for the second term, he was so confident in himself and with the work he did for the people of the state, at some point, he didn’t listen to the advice of the man that supported him there in the first place.We all know what later came out of it. Should I talk about Akeredolu that emerged as the governorship candidate of APC in Ondo state without mentioning Asiwaju who supported his foray to politics with his initial attempt against Mimiko in 2012.

How will I talk about Tambuwal story without Asiwaju’s effort that made him enjoyed his tenure as speaker of the House of Representatives. Tambuwal isn’t from the Southwest neither is he from the southern region but Asiwaju always look beyond ethnicity, religion and ethnicity. His wife is even a Christian like the incumbent governor of Lagos.

How do we rate Asiwaju without mentioning his support for governor Adam Oshiomhole of Edo state. When the heat was high and south south was a no go area for the opposition, Asiwaju took Oshiomhole in, supported him and rallied around him to become the governor of the state.

His tentacles moved to the east where he had confidence in Audu Ogbeh, Chris Ngige and many others. I have read and seen leaders exaggerated but Asiwaju cannot be overrated and exaggerated because that is who he is.

Have we seen someone like him before? I will say yes but only one or two can match the level of the leadership skills that Asiwaju has. We could all relate to the politics of “Amala ” that a former political godfather in Oyo state had. We have seen the rascality of godfathers.

Asiwaju stepped in and rescued the then caged governor of oyo state Rashidi Ladoja. With his political skills and sagacity, he raised a legal team for him and they won the case. We should not forget on time how Adedibu threatened Ladoja not to step into Ibadan but Asiwaju made it possible. So in the face of terror and tyranny, Asiwaju triumph and till today, he is a man who has never be found wanting when it comes to war.

We have seen many, we have seen one from Kwara state but at the end, people tend to see the truth and most of them couldn’t get pass the state they reside in. Today is another calculation for Asiwaju but for the people who had forgotten history, after he helped ladoja till the end of his tenure and he ended disrespecting Asiwaju, he had only try and hasn’t tasted power again in OYO state.

What most of the people that he helped and turned against him do not realise is that, when God is the one fighting your battle, it is easy to defeat anyone who comes against you. Some of them forget also that in the scripture, 2 kings 2:9, ” When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ” Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you? ” let me inherit a double portion of your spirit “, Elisha replied. Most of them had forgotten where they are coming from, most importantly, they didn’t know that they’ve been enjoying the grace of the same man that brought them into limelight, thinking they are equally capable.

But at the end, arrogance and pride made them forget that they needed to ask for the blessing of the same man that got them here. Had Elisha decided to run away and backbite against Elijah, his gift which he received wouldn’t be given to him but he did obey, stayed, learn and asked for the double portion he got. You don’t fight who God has blessed, favoured, and elevated but at the end, they will learn their lesson in a hard way. But till tomorrow, #IStandWithAsiwaju.

Opeyemi tweets at @equityoyo