By Moses Adeniyi
As a leading figure in Nigeria’s political landscape who has remained at the top front of national political discourse, the consideration of former two-term Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the scale of political settings of the Country is one which comes with in-depth of analytical dissection. Recent realities trailing his aspirations to run for Nigeria’s number one seat of political authority, has brought newer questions of insights into the subject of his role in the political landscape of the Country. Questions of his competence, the value of his contributions to nationhood and nation building courses, his antecedents in politics, and personal profile, among others, have majorly featured significantly in questions bordering around his aspirations for the number one citizen seat of the Country.
While these are critical questions to ask, the question of his leadership posture seems to be more of a subject to put to test. This is particularly important as the Country is now at a corridor where the competence of leaders to man critical public offices has become important. Tinubu is now 70 and questions of his competence to rule the Country is not what can be left out of the perusing parameters of the analytical conformation of discourse.
However, since the Country is now at a time where producing leaders of robust competence has become sine qua non, stakeholders within the political landscape have found in elaborate justification, the potency of a character in the political landscape who has produced leaders, who in their capacity have leveraged on the breeding floor to prove relevance across spheres of authorities in the Country. The character of Tinubu in the landscape has undeniably recorded the grooming of personalities who by the strength of their performance have proven capacity of commendable leadership.
Hence, the strength of the ability to identify from the crowd hidden leaders, bringing them to fore through leveraging platform to maximise their potentials for public good has been one exceptional ingenuity notable of Tinubu in the Country’s landscape. How he manufactures the process that brings even failing political characters to the fore of breakthrough into the landscape has been a subject which has left many flabbergasted. It is reminiscent that the processes that culminated into even the All Progressives Congress which brought in President Muhammadu Buhari (who had previously lost elections consecutively) on board in 2015, owes huge credit to his posture of coordinating efforts and strategies to bring forth productive ventures within the political landscape.
Perusing the elaborate estate of support which he enjoys in the South has been a question that has been thought-provoking for many. From Lagos to other States of the South-west, the robust bank of political support he enjoys which may apparently put many to concern, cannot be far-fetched from the leadership prowess of reproducing and making leaders. Giving himself as a pedestal on whose back others have risen to the forefront of political relevance, his tentacles of influence rose from Lagos the State of Aquatic Splendour, in a crescendo to the South-west and other parts of the Country. His influence in the north has recently been proven as the vibes over the 2023 Presidency began to gather cloud. The momentum which gathered around some of his visits in the strategic consultations recorded so far, has given reflections to the teeming support his influence is evoking in the northern part of the Country.
One would then have to give searchlight to the depth of the impact of how selfless leadership can produce loyalty, credence and unbroken estate of confidence. That there would be oppositions to an ambition to become a president are incontestable, but the strength of the estates of loyalty from blocks of supporters which have risen by the strength of years of commitment to raising figures of relevance would have to play out without doubt when most needed.
Tinubu since his emergence as Lagos State Governor in 1999, has maintained a steady relevance in Nigeria’s politics. A number of figures who served under his cabinet have been at the forefront of political leadership in the Country – a record that has earned him recognition, according him a profile of capacity for leadership grooming.
During his tenure as Lagos State Governor, (1999 to 2007) Tinubu was credited with a profound master framework which laid a path for the steering course of a developmental roadmap for Lagos State which has remained the 5th largest economy in Africa.