Chief Onyebuchi Ememanka shares his views on why Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, is the most powerful politician in Nigeria.
Bola Tinubu
How Tinubu started his political career
In 1999, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected Governor of Lagos state. His then party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) produced all the governors of the South West.
By 2003, Tinubu was the only governor left in the AD. He was under pressure to decamp but he stayed. He built the party and it became stronger.
For the eight years that he ruled Lagos, he hired several guys to work with him. I think he carefully picked them. Apart from using them to work in his government, he also groomed them for the future.
Tinubu’s men that rule Nigeria
Eight years down the line, see where those Tinubu guys are today –
1. Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN was Tinubu’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. He is today, Nigeria’s Vice President.
2. Rauf Aregbesola was Tinubu’s Commissioner for Works. Today he is serving his second tenure as Governor of Osun state.
3. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was Tinubu’s Chief of Staff and successor in office. He is today Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
4. Alhaji Lai Mohammed was Tinubu’s first Chief of Staff. He is today, Nigeria’s Minister of Information.
5. Babatunde Fowler was appointed by Tinubu as Chairman of the Lagos state Internal Revenue Service. Today, he is the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
At the National Assembly, there are countless “Tinubu boys” who have occupied and are still occupying seats till today.
Since 1999, the Tinubu camp has produced almost 98% of the members of the National Assembly from Lagos state.
Forget politics, this man is a political enigma. Rewind to 1999, I am sure most of us have forgotten the names of the people who were elected governors then.
How Tinubu controls Lagos politics
Some of them have gone out of circulation. Some are gasping for breath politically. Indeed, most of them are no longer relevant today. Who still remembers Mbadinuju of Anambra State, Jolly Nyame of Taraba, Mohammed Lawal of Kwara, Segun Osoba of Ogun, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia?
That one has lost two consecutive senatorial elections. But Tinubu has not only managed to remain extremely relevant, he has continued to control Lagos politics 100%.
Not only that, he manages to carry his boys along and today they occupy critical positions in our national life. Take it or leave it, Tinubu is today, Nigeria’s most powerful politician.
It didn’t just happen by chance. He worked very hard for it. Very very hard. The hallmark of a true leader is not just the ability to rule well but also the ability to nurture and groom his associates. Oga Tinubu, tuale sir!!!
