Tinubuphobia And Fasholamania

“An invasion’ of armed forces can be resisted, but nothing can stop the tide of an idea whose time has come” -Victor Hugo

The modern world is driven or powered by a body of ideas making up a constellation of ideologies that continue to affect and influence the cause and course of human life and character across social, economic, cultural, and even spiritual borders. An idea or ideology comes across as a notion, thought, impression, any product or services of intellectual pontification or action, memory and imagination in the highest and best conceivable format within the limit of a near perfect human wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the universe and the God-head. Ideas that bear fruits are products of originality grounded on ingenuity. We have witnessed different genres of world ages or eras, one giving way to the other but not totally disconnected from each other as the dynamics of one have often dovetailed into the other thereby contributing to its evolution, growth and continuity.

In other words, significant constituent elements of the ancient to the medieval and down to the jet age, the nuclear age and now the computer (internet) age in that order are still very much around playing significant roles in the sustainable growth and development or otherwise of each age through the natural processes of action, reaction, interaction, selection with sustained impact.

In all of these different times and periods, the role of certain individuals or personalities have made indelible impressions on our psyche to the extent that their actions and inactions make up, in the main, the history of mankind as currently recorded. Some of these great men and women long after they had gone have become deified if not immortalised by way of ideologies/ideas derived from their names and legacies metamorphosing into principles, mantras, philosophies that have also powered associations/organisations into movements and/or pressure groups and even political parties many of which brandish or parade aims and objectives that are laced with, in most cases, overt and covert social, economic, political and even rituo-spiritual activism, as the case may be.

From among these, at moderate and extreme cases, have emerged cult figures with loyal and fanatical followers or disciples who believe in them, for both negative and positive reasons. Living and/or dead human legends emerge serving as rallying points or symbol of faith, hope and essence of existence for the people thereby confirming the immortal quote of Harry Wordsworth Longfellow that Lives of great men remind us all we can make our lives sublime and departing, behind us foot prints on the sands of time.

From the immemorial to the present, we have had such men and women of outstanding pedigree in all aspects of human endeavours. They were personalities who knew and understood, quoting Leon Rosten that the purpose of life is to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have it make some difference that we lived at all.

Philosophies, theories, hypothesis and laws have originated from some of these greats vide their names, thoughts, speeches and deeds, for example, Christianity from Christ, Mohammedanism from Mohammed, Bonapartism from Bonaparte, Leninism from Lenin, Stalinism from Stalin, Marxism from Marx, Buddhism (Buddha), Confucianism (Confucius), Maoism (Mao).

Senghor invented negritude while Nkrumah derived existentialism.

It is apropos at this juncture to say categorically and without fear of opposition that the raves of the moment among these glorious concepts that have become invaluable Think-Tanks for the peace, progress, unity, stability and prosperity of the country, most particularly Lagos State and its environs are Tinubuphobia and Fasholamania. Both have come to be regarded as Mantras for the progressive and most activists.

What is Tinubuphobia? My own original idea, it is a derivation of the last name of the emeritus governor of Lagos State, Alhaji (Chief) Bola Ahmed Tinubu who governed the state from May 1999 to May 2007. For being strong, courageous and steadfast in the supremacy battle between the forces of traditional conservatism and radical progressivism over the control of Lagos and the South-West of Nigeria during the period as demonstrated in electoral victories and June 12 struggle; continuing the building of modern Lagos as evident in the framework cum ground works laid down by the action packed government of Lateef Jakande, 1979–1982; by initiating new policies and executing new programmes that were pro-people, and for being the last man standing in the ‘war of the conquest’ of the west by the rampaging soldiers of retroactive conservatism in 2003.

By far the most important of all his achievement is his discovery and installation of the incumbent, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, as the governor of Lagos State in 2007. Of course, a good leader must have an equally good if not better successor. Tinubu scores the full mark on this count.

In all these, the fear of Tinubu (this is where the phobia comes in) has become the beginning of electoral-political wisdom for the establishment politicians in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and other parties, even now.

If the actions and activities of Raji Fashola are anything to go by, then Tinubu deserves the respect and regards given to visionaries who, though, like all mortals will die, but whose visions live on long after them.

Fashola has done and is still doing him and everybody proud. As a vibrant concept or school of thought that drives radical yet positive progressive and democratic activities, Tinubuphobia deserves a place among the stars, the moon and the sun in the socio-political universe of Nigeria. The icing on the cake for the living legend is laying a solid foundation upon which Fashola is now building a new Lagos on the fast lane on a sound course and focus.

What about Fasholamania? For special effect is meant to refer to the craze, elated obsession or passion for the personality, action and activities of His Excellency, the governor of Lagos State from whose last name, the word ‘Fasholamania’ was coined.

Fasholamania, as originally coined by a professional educationist, astute public affairs analyst and popular activist, Mr. Ezekiel Olukayode Salako, who is also the founder-president of Fasholamania Independent Support Movement Worldwide, the leading pro-Fashola, pro-good governance crusader group in Nigeria, is all about celebrating, encouraging, promoting and propagating the ideology and business of good governance as exemplified by the present government in Lagos State led by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). This is a welcome development.

According to Napoleon Hill, French sociologist, “three categories of people exist: those who want to make things happen, those who wonder how things happen, those who wait to see things happen.” Fashola, against the backdrop of his programme of actions/activities since May 2007 and the popular mass opinion easily falls into the first category. Never in the annals of government in Lagos State, nay Nigeria, has there been such a concatenation of events that focus on the welfare of the citizens and the environment.

The mania that has engulfed the majority of Lagosians is the Fashola administration style in Lagos State predicated on a new tradition of sustainable good government/governance founded on a morally sound and credible philosophy of public service, servant-leadership and loyal followship based on the principles of justice, equity, fairplay, intellect, integrity, pursuit of excellence, vigilance and fear of God.

Leveraging upon the strong foundation and groundwork as laid down by his former boss, mentor and predecessor, Fashola has made (still making) giant strides in the execution of the laudable programmes as contained in the manifesto of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

That the man is a catalyst, an actualiser, who possesses the gravitas factor to release the can-do-spirit in all of us, is in no doubt. An idea or society is not worth much until a man is found who has the ability, energy, and will to make it work.

And like Eric Sevareid, the Scottish writer, once said, “my observation about politics in many countries is that its practitioners fall into two groups: the boys in politics are those individuals who want position in order to be something; the men are those who want position in order to do something.”

Any discerning mind will agree that Fashola falls into the latter category where real men are to be found. If and where good leadership and service to humanity are about response and stimuli to yearning and aspirations of the governed matters, the current government in Lagos State as run by the governor and ably assisted by seasoned, competent and willing lieutenants, and appreciated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and acknowledged by most of the other governors, then more of ‘rascally’ Fasholas as President Goodluck Jonathan described South-West leaders, are needed as governors in the country.

However, as with all human societies, it is impossible to be perfect. What we have in this world peopled by mortals is a near-perfect situation. It is only in heaven that one can conjecture a paradistic administration, better still, best governance, an Eldorado. Up there, one can mentally register or picture a holistic federal government comprising the Almighty God as the Executive President, Jesus Christ as the Vice President, assuming that it is a presidential system being run.

Supposing it were a parliamentary, then God will be the Ceremonial President/Head of State with Jesus Christ as the Prime Minister. In both forms, the departed and home-based prophets alongside the angels come across as ministers, special advisers, governors, secretary to federal government, head of service, armed forces service chiefs, inspector-general of police, etc.

Evidently Fashola is attempting to run a near perfect administration measurable by advanced western nation’s standards. However, the controversial issues of alleged multiple taxation, non-provision of alternative accommodation for displaced traders and residents, using Lagos State resources to run election cases for sister’s states, the menace of area boys and the octopoid Alpha Beta as being canvassed by political opponents angling to take over the reins of power from May 29 need to be frontally and totally addressed during the second coming of the present government.

In all these, conventional wisdom dictates that you cannot rebuild without first removing. Every revolution in history has its sacrifice and consequences – from the bad to the good, the sweet and bitter, the joyful and sorrowful. Lagos State cannot be an exception.

In the final analysis, we should realise that ideologies and philosophies derived from human beings are borne of reputation which in itself, is a function of consistent conduct and legacy. Really great reputations have a vitality which enabled them to survive that on which they were originally grounded.

It is difficult to make a reputation but more difficult to mar a reputation once properly made-for so faithful and loyal is the public. The tempo of the rebranding and reconstruction of Lagos as is currently seen is the culmination of a dialogue or better still, efficient synergy between the dynamic forward looking forces of the two faculties – Tinubuphobia and Fasholamania – with the former having given birth to the latter.

Fasholamania is the in-thing, the happening, the force behind the ongoing visible transformational governance in Lagos State and even beyond. His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is proving to be an embodiment of a monumental taskmaster and gargantuan master builder to the admiration of all and sundry.

At this juncture, it would not be out of place or asking for too much if these new concepts of Tinubuphobia and Fasholamania woven around the two outstanding personalities are integrated into the academic curricula as case studies or courses in Philosophy or Sociology, better still, Political Science in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

This is to ensure the maintenance and sustenance of the dynamics of good governance for a better rewarding future in Nigeria and even beyond. Please let us all allow this positive governmental phenomenon to continue and be maintained and sustained in the interest of the past, present and future generations of Lagosians in particular, Nigerians and Africans as a whole.

•Prince Noah (System), is and independent mass media practitioner based in Lagos. Tel.: 08027246595 and 08152626337