Nigerian Politics over the years has come with a lot of intrigues, characters and manipulations that has kept the citizenry wondering if this is how politics elsewhere is played. The history of Nigerian Politics from 1992 to date will never be told (that is, if there is still anything like history) without the mentioning of the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From the 1993 Abiola elections to the NADECO time of the Abacha era and to the 1999 elections where he became governor of Lagos State and up til now, His name rings bell negatively or positive whenever Nigerian Politics is mentioned. His contributions to Nigerian Politics is negative to those who sees his contribution as negative and positive, to those who sees his contributions as positive. One thing is very certain about him, he commands respect and loyalty amongst his supporters.
Naturally and politically, a leader's worth is measured by the amount of postitive impact he/she can cause in the live of the people and the number of people he is able to touch. Bola Ahmed Tinubu whether a good or bad person, has one distinct gift in him that is deficient in all other of our politicians north and south, that is, His ability to identify potential leaders, create and make them leaders without any fear of internal competition. This character in him has earned him a lot of respect and loyalty and has made him remain very relevant in the political scene for over a decade now.
My active participation in the 2019 elections gave me an insight to what most politicians fears the most. 1. is competition and the second one is commitment. Politicians sees smaller leaders arroun d them as threats and fear that they would one day wake up to compete against them and for that reason, will do everything within their reach to make sure that their followers perpetually remains followers and dependent on them.
This attitude of our politicians is one of the causal reason to why His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could not defend most of his votes in the states. A Situation where his managers in APCO saw Atiku support groups as beggars and competitors that must not be given any chance to succeed. To them, Atiku must not be allowed to have a one on one contact with his support groups which actually happened. Note: this is cited in passing and has nothing to do with the article.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the 2019 presidential elections , saw the performances of the opposition ,fearing that he may loose Lagos State and some other South West States triggered the inbuilt character in him that is lacking in most of our politicians by going out of his comfort zone to meet one on one with his field soldiers, dedicated duties committed himself so much to warrant respect and loyalty from them and triggered the arrangement of give and take. While he was doing this, the opposition were still busy going to market place to look for market crowds and avoided their foot soldiers like plague.
His ability to termed greed in him when it comes to satisfying supporters, identify potential youthful leaders and make them leaders at different level without fear of internal competition, make use of their youthful energy and exuberance is legendary. This youths will put their youthful energy to work and also exhibit the exuberance in them positively or negatively when it comes to defending anything about Tinubu so as to make sure that food remains on their table. Who no like better thing?
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earned for himself respect and loyalty from his supporters and South West people of Nigeria, he is the Asiwaju of Lagos and south West politics and the Jagaban Borgu. His political influence is gradually enveloping Nigeria and 2023 is pregnant if Christ tarries.
Ekpenyong Isaiah
Commander, Infantry Pen Battallion.
Isacool4real@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment