A look into Nigeria ‘s political firmament since our nation’s return to democratic governance will reveal without much doubt that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has left undeniable GIANT footsteps on our nation’s political landscape, proving himself to be a great leader that would be remembered for good governance, positive exploits and impact on the lives of Lagosians and beyond. This positive impacts encompasses almost every area of human need.
But even beyond this, another area that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sterling leadership quality has manifested greatly is succession, that is his ability to raise men who stepped into his shoes and have taken his vision, leadership values and legacies further and beyond the bars set by him. One of the greatest virtues of leadership which Bola Tinubu has proved himself more successful than any other politician alive in Nigeria today is raising successors.
He is about the only Nigerian politician alive today who was able to extend his political influence beyond his own state of origin, installing political greenhorns and neophytes as governors of their respective states. He achieved this through exceptional and exemplary leadership. His political dexterity and sagacity in raising ordinary men to political juggernauts has turned many jungle states to maga cities, especially in South Western States of Nigeria.
It was by ridding on the wings of this solid political platform built by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that President Muhammadu Buhari came to power. Prior to that general election, book makers already knew that the South West would decide who wins the election. Yes, it was obvious that whoever wins the south- west will certainly carry the day. Not only that, in addition to this is the fact that all decerning minds knew that nobody could win South West without Asiwaju’s endorsement and support. It was therefore clear when Buhari won the South West in that election that he did so because Tinubu supported him.
THE UNFOLDING DRAMA AND SATANIC BETRAYAL OF TINUBU
For the avoidance of doubt, let me make it clear that I don’t have any political affiliation with Bola Tinubu right now. I have always admired and hitherto given him my political loyalty until he erroneously entered into this unholy alliance with the people of the caliphate.
But not withstanding, I am of the view that the truth should be told by every patriotic Nigerian in view of the satanic plots and injustice been targeted at the eminent personality of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I will not fail to add that this shenanigans will fail and destroy this government if those behind it does not tread with caution. The attitude of people bitting the fingers that fed them for no just cause is not good. It’s satanic, and will always lead to self destruction.
Buhari and his co-travelers should learn from recent history. For these people, I have a Nimbo adage. You can have more new clothes than your father, but you can’t possibly have more old clothes than him. Another Nimbo adage says, an old woman cannot be old in a dance she knows how to dance. Tinubu is a political King, King Maker, Juggernaut and Generalismo.
There is a deliberate attempt to malign Asiwaju Tinubu and cut him to size by those who feel that he should not be allowed to extend his political influence beyond the South West geo political zone. Those who promote this view are of the opinion that if not checked his influence and authority could override that of the President and even the national leadership of APC. They believe that would inevitably give him the control of the party structure ahead of the 2019 general election.
THE ALLIANCE, THE ERROR, THE SELLOUT AND WHY
As far as I am concerned, the political almagamation and marriage of convenience between the progressive Southern politicians led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the conservative Northern political oligarchs led by President Muhammadu Buhari was borne out of sheer desperation and lust for power at the center. On the part of Tinubu and his progressive team in the then ACN, it couldn’t have been anything else. It wasn’t for patriotism, if it was, Tinubu and other progressive elements and, self acclaimed Awoists wouldn’t have joined forces with well known and unrepentant conservatives led by Buhari.
The Error: It was a grievous mistake for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others, especially those from the South West, men who leveraged on the progressive tendencies of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to come to power and achieve political prominence, both nationally and regionally to jettison and sacrifice the core values, legacies and policies of the great Awoist movement, ideologies like true federalism, resource control and many more in the name of having power at the center.
For the Awoists in this government, their fate and fortune is like a man who gave you his daughter to marry, but first removed the womb. Which the consequence is that even though you have the woman, there is no hope of procreation. In this kind of scenario, you are nothing but a loser. What is the essence of political power if your ideologies and interest of your people is not represented and accommodated.
* For All The Progressives,
* Their Merging With
* The Conservatives And
* The Subsequent Victory Is Like
* A Father Who Gave You
* His Daughter To marry,
* But First Of All
* Remove The Womb
Having said this, I strongly and sincerely believe that this error or mistake, even though a costly one at that by the Asiwaju , he does not deserve to be humiliated and disgraced by the same people whom he helped to come to power. Let me warm that Asiwaju as a political war horse and shall bounce back very soon.
THE SELLOUT
One of the factors working against Asiwaju is that right now, he seats over a divided house. Some of his hitherto political sons and stooges seem to have deserted him. Most of them are eager to please the powers that be at the center, and now is the right time to sift the weat from the chaff among the so called political sons and daughters of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Another factor propelling this sellout against him is that probably unknown to him, many of his former loyalists have some ought against him and they only see their betrayal of him as a payback.
An example of his former loyalist who have bottled up some offences against him is the former Governor of Lagosians State, Raji Fashola. Since the last general election, when Tinubu blocked Fashola’s choice of his successor in office and, the campaign of calumny mounted against Fashola by the agents of Lagos State government to stop him from being appointed a federal minister is just one of the many issues that have created a division in the once united political Kingdom of the Lion of Bourdillon.
Many of these former sons are more than happy and ready to take their chances of building their own political empires, even if it is at the expense of rubbishing the man who once was their political mentor and alter ego.
THE REDEMPTION
I must say that what I want to prescribe here wouldn’t be easy for Asiwaju Tinubu to do. This reminds me of the saying, easier said than done. But not withstanding, it is doable, even though hard. What should this great leader do in the face of this herculean task before him? As it stands now, the Lion of Bourdillon must rise up and fight the battle of his political life, else he would be swept aside like over used rag by this satanic band of enemies surging towards him.
A wise man said that no matter how long you have gone the wrong road, when you realise it, make a U-turn, that’s turn back. So, in this case, Asiwaju should pull out of this marriage of convenience, inspired by lust for power at the expense of everything good which he stood for. The very progressive ideologies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which made the majority of the Yoruba people to pitch tent with Alliance for Democracy at the inception of this democratic experiment. Even though he may pay some price for doing that, it would be worth it. For a man of his status, it would be better to go down fighting than to stand still and be taken a prisoner of war.
General Obasanjo did it during Jonathan,s era and it payed off for him. That action was the secret that has kept General Obasanjo relevant and an Aso Rock insider in Nigeria’s political space today.
THE FINAL WORDS
If you help a man to come to power and he suddenly turns against you, saying I don’t want or need you again, wisdom demands that you walk away from him and his camp. Then, realign yourself, find another platform where you can pitch your tent and remain relevant. Who knows, that your new camp and platform might just be the new thing waiting to happen. A crown does not abide in a family forever – . Our history and events of recent past has proved this to be true.
Raph McJulius Enechi is a Prophet, Poet, Author and The Senior Pastor of THE BALANCED CHURCH, Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached on Email : [email protected] 
