It is indeed very difficult to deny the notable involvements and landmark contributions of Asiwaju’s struggles in recent political evolution of this country. His investments in human capital development are all too glaring, that even his bitterest opponents cannot easily deny them.
At the launch of a book titled “Politics that Works”, written by Senator Babafemi Ojodu, one of the Speakers at the event, put it clearly, that, “Asiwaju Tinubu will remain prominent in Lagos and in Nigeria for a long time to come because of his record of service to the people”. In the words of the gentleman, Asiwaju Tinubu’s mentorship structure has raised a lot of people. “From Vice President to Senators, Governors, Ministers and even Royal Fathers”.
Right from the time he entered into politics, after a successful and prosperous career at Mobil Oil Plc, it has been stories of progressive political struggles, financial support for men and worthy causes and institutions. He was a member and one of the financial backers of The Primrose Group that once dominated Lagos Politics. Testimonies about his compassionate support and generosity have come from all quarters.
The former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in a birthday message to Asiwaju Tinubu, acknowledged that it would be difficult to rival Asiwaju’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development. The former President described Asiwaju Tinubu as a patriot, politician and leader. “You have contributed so much to the advancement of our nation’s democracy and nurtured many individuals to greatness”, he said.
Also, in a tribute to Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari described him as one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s democracy. He praised him for his selflessness in serving the country especially in making life better for Nigerians. In an article titled “Asiwaju and 21 Years of Democracy in Nigeria”, Tunde Rahman, former Editor with This Day Newspaper, dwelt on some of Asiwaju Tinubu’s roles in the twenty-three years of the present democratic experiment in Nigeria.
Surely as he affirmed, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains one of the patriots who stood up for justice against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election believed to have been won by late Chief M. K. 0 Abiola. The history of the peoples’ struggle for the de-annulment of the June 12 election will certainly not be complete without a large space devoted to the courageous roles played by Asiwaju Tinubu who had to flee into exile to avoid persecution by the Abacha military junta.
As Rahman rightly recalled, while Asiwaju Tinubu was in exile, he became a strong motivator and rallying point for the patriots involved in the struggle at home and abroad. He did this at a great financial and social cost to him and his family members. Yet, he remained committed to the struggle until the collapse of the Abacha regime. As Governor of Lagos State, he left indelible footprints with a team of tested technocrats and experienced managers that he put together.
The team laid the foundation of a modern Lagos. They fashioned out a master plan and engineered most of the innovations that spurred the unprecedented development and prosperity being witnessed in Lagos State today. Recently, at the launch of the Dangote Fertilizer Plant, Governor Sanwo-Olu remarked on the untiring effort of Asiwaju that led to the Free-Trade Zone habouring the Fertilizer Plant and other big economy projects, which are today, impacting positively the socio-economic fortunes of the State.
It is instructive to note that nearly all men and women who had tutelage under Asiwaju Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State and worked with him in laying the foundation of modern Lagos are today holding top leadership positions at different levels in the country.
Tinubu as Governor was not only a devoted and innovative administrator, but he was also a constitutional activist. Tinubu as Lagos State Governor challenged the Federal Government on many constitutional issues. It is on record that the Lagos State Government under him did file as many cases at the Supreme Court and won all the cases. Perhaps the most remarkable creation of 37 additional local councils in the State.
It was remarkable because the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the new councils and affirmed them until the National Assembly had done its part by listing those councils in the constitution. The fact that the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are alive and well today and that many States have since created their own Local Councils is no doubt a credit to astuteness and progressive political sagacity of Asiwaju; much more, it is a validation of his ability to midwife sustainable development of this nation of ours. These 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas constitute the basis for accelerated rural development in Lagos State. Thanks to Tinubu’s vision and courage.
“You have
contributed so much
to the advancement
of our nation’s
democracy and nurtured
many individuals to
greatness”
Asiwaju’s ingenuity, creative and innovative abilities were laid bare when the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld revenue allocations to Lagos on account of the creation of those additional councils. Asiwaju was forced to look inward, devising ingenious means of funding the new councils and running the State.
Such resourcefulness birthed the innovations that moved the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600 million monthly in 1999 to around N25billion and over N30 billion monthly today.
Nothing indeed can be taken away from Rahman’s conclusions, especially in his attempt at interrogating
Asiwaju’s wealth of ideas, courage, creativity and innovation; as well as his astuteness as a pathfinder, leader and administrator.