Make no mistake; Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a hero to many of his political scions. To those who have benefited from his chequered history of political involvement, it is time to pay back Tinubu’s years of toil in building political lackeys across the country.
Going for the presidency with such a mindset from his supporters is using the country to pay back for those yes-men he had helped to climb the political ladder over the years. Millions of people who were not privy to the charity to these few people will be made to pay through his continued political patronage and policies that may not be beneficial to the people.
From the 1990s, Tinubu took strategic and systematic efforts to prepare for his time. He was a leading voice in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He ran for Senate and won and became the Governor of Lagos state for 8 years. His days in Lagos as the superintendent of the vast resources of the state, availed him the opportunity to amass wealth and a large following of people of worth and brutes.
With the human and material resources at his disposal, it was time to build his empire. He started by placing his scions in strategic positions ranging from governors to appointees and managers of markets and parks.
As he consolidated, he expanded his empire by installing president Buhari. He pulled it off by engineering an alliance that saw Buhari who had cried in front of the World over many trials and losses he counted in his attempt to be called democratic elected president after a dent on his name for plotting a coup and becoming head of state in 1985.
Tinubu’s towering political stature almost had a reach to the continent that he is being referred to as Jagaban of Africa. Jagaban, a title given to him – Jagaban of Borgu – is a strong name in sound and in meaning. He is quoted as having referred to himself, “I am the Jagaban”.
Jagaban in Hausa expression means “a strong person who is unshakeable, a champion and a leader who others follow.” This explains why his house in Bourdillon Street at Ikoyi Lagos became the headquarters of political plotting and execution. The politics of Lagos state, South-west and across Nigeria was executed from Jagaban’s haven. He is called the lion of bourdillon. When the lion roared that it was his turn to be the president, Nigeria heard.
An activist turned political colossus, is being unmasked. The mane of the lion is shaven.
Behind the Jagaban lay a man whose genealogy is in question, whose source of wealth is in question, whose involvement in the drugs business is exposed, whose academic certificate is deemed fake and whose age and health status is in question.
Tinubu’s handlers protect him from public scrutiny of the above questions by shielding him from any direct interaction with journalists and otherwise the public but within the enclave of town hall meetings which he has come to embrace, Tinubu’s failing health manifests. He slurs his speech, rambles on words, and loses his train of thought. He staggers when walking unaided and is sleepy in events.
Tinubu is frail but his supporters have belief that he will be the next president.
A man of his political stature, the kingmaker should have protected himself rather than standing out to be grossly scrutinised. But, when a kingmaker is insatiable and instead of recognising his limitations, wants to stretch it, he is bound to lose his elasticity.
Tinubu’s strategies, though touted by his loyalists who pay homage to him with a song that goes with, “on your mandate we shall stand,” have a lot of holes.
The mysticism behind the man who listens to the song with the pride of a despot is being demystified. He is now a subject for laughter and comedy to the extent he said publicly of being afraid of going into the social media because he is thoroughly abused there.
Before now, though he is seen as holding Lagos state to ransom, abuse is not what will easily cross the mind of Nigerians and the youths.
In the midst of these, Nigerians do not need a king whose cognitive balance is in question; whose speeches need a specialist interpretation and who, having more baggage of using fake and fraudulent means, including using a photo of a former governor as his to advance himself, still insists on going the long haul of campaigns and to lead Nigeria.
The Jagaban may not win the election which will add pressure to rig in order to protect the lion. Rigging in itself is a disservice to his long years of activism. His failure will be catastrophic and the last long dirk to cut through the mask and unmake the kingmaker.
Tinubu has fallen from his exotic status. Although his scions rally to cover him, it is increasingly acknowledged that he is unfit to lead Nigeria at this time.