Erstwhile Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had much at stake as they contested the February 25 presidential election.
Tinubu: Tact Laced With Patience
LAST year, on the occasion of his 70th anniversary, Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, made some incisive remarks about Tinubu’s politics and leadership qualities. Speaking as someone who had worked closely with the former Lagos State governor, Akeredolu portrayed Tinubu as “a leader of leaders and a living legend.”
The Ondo State governor and former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), noted that Tinubu’s resilience and commitment helped him no small way to create “standard in party politics and investment in political leadership.”
Those who know how Tinubu navigated the Southwest geopolitical zone from the opposition to collective dominance would easily acknowledge Akeredolu’s apposite description. The Alliance for Democracy (AD) upon which platform all the six states’ governors emerged, was challenged by internal dissention and conspiracy.
At the end of the day, the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took away five leaving only Lagos on the opposition corner. It was from that poor score line that Tinubu began rebuilding the broken walls. And instead of exasperation, decided on expansion to enlarge the coast of the political structure.
That could explain why Akeredolu said of Tinubu: “Your human capital development is alluring just as you have made personal sacrifices and deployed your political experiences for the benefit of the Country. And today, you are still standing tall, desirous to offer more.
“Jagaban, you remain a Leader of Leaders; a living legend bestriding our political firmament like a colossus.”
