Tinubu’s Doctoral Award: Tribute To A Managerial Wizard

The enigmatic Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is by every indication, a veritable icon, who reminds one of the allegory of the elephant and the blind men, which I believe is so popular, that we need not belabour ourselves with the task of expatiating upon.


One is here referring to his multidimensional personality, qualities and abundant talent, which singles him out of the crowd and unfold a legend of uncommon class and stature.

Of course, this multidimensional personality is unravelled in Tinubu, the political general, strategist and tactician; Tinubu, the humanist and philanthropist; Tinubu, the orator, philosopher and thinker; Tinubu, the visionary leader and Tinubu, the organiser, administrative wizard and born manager of men and resources.

At this juncture, I cannot but stress, with all respect, that the aspect that most tickles my fancy is, Tinubu, the managerial icon and administrator.

This is because his extra-ordinary stature as a visionary leader and legend is largely a function of his remarkable acumen as an administrator and talented manager of men and material.

It is against this background that one cannot but commend the governing council of Fountain University, Osogbo, over the recent conferment of Honorary Doctorate in Administration on the iconic legendary leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Indeed, Tinubu’s greatness can only be properly grasped when one considers the gargantuan hurdles that were strewn in his way and the incredible height of success he was able to attain in spite of the daunting odds.

In this respect, one remembers the second tenure of his administration, when the presidential alpha and omega of that period, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, deliberately withheld the local government money accruable to Lagos State from the Federation Account.

The mischievous vision of the power octopus of that time was that by starving the Tinubu administration of the much needed fund, the multifarious development project envisioned to transform the state will not only be aborted, but even salaries of the local government workers will remain unpaid.

This, according to their expectation, will lead to mass uprising of Lagosians and the civil service in particular and the eventual rejection and demystification of the ACN leader, who the People’s Democratic Party’s cabals, particularly Obasanjo, held in awesome dread.

The end point of their scheming was to create a leeway for the PDP to make a dominant foray into the governance of Lagos State.

It was, however, a tribute to the remarkable administrative acumen of this acclaimed Lion of Bourdillon, that he was able to rise above the situation to bequeath a legacy that was to usher in a significant watershed towards the evolution of modern Lagos.

Asiwaju’s heroic triumph can be further appreciated when one equally remembers the certificate scandal and allegation of drug deal levelled against him during his first tenure as governor, all of which turned out a malicious fabrication by political detractors.

That he was able to surmount these crises which raged with unabated ferocity in the bid to nail his political coffin and yet achieve a resounding success by projecting Lagos to a height hitherto unattained in the annals of its existence, is an eloquent statement of his organisation acumen.

And even the fact that Asiwaju steered the affairs of Lagos State when the fire-eating Bode Georges, Seye Ogunlewes and the Asorobis were at the height of their drunkenness with the federal might, which they were only too ready to unleash in the bid to uproot Tinubu out of the way, speak volumes of the enigmatic stature of this illustrious son of Africa. As a born manager of men and resources, it is already a historical fact of common knowledge that the discovery of our indefatigable action governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, was creditable to no less a person than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is therefore by this token, right and proper, to infer that the remarkable success being celebrated today about Fashola’s governance of Lagos State is not only creditable to Fashola, but also to Asiwaju who, in the first place, discovered him and gave him the opportunity to showcase his talent.

But on this, it needs be stated that Fashola’s discovery is not just an isolated case but rather in tune with Asiwaju’s propensity, not only to attract the best crop of talents, but also to motivate them to give their best. Herein therefore, lies the secret of his resounding success and landmark achievements during the glorious era of his governance of Lagos State.

And even beyond this, the fact that the ACN was able to extend its tentacles from its early hold only in Lagos State to mount a progressive dominion over the entire southwest including Edo State, was indeed a tribute to the organisation wizardry of this rare gem.

There is equally no gainsaying the fact that these sterling qualities supplies the reason for the discovery of such distinguished personages like Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, among others.

It is unfortunate that a prophet is without honour in his own country. On this, it is utterly disheartening to note the unabating war of bitterness and bad blood being mounted by the very kinsmen of this political incarnate of Awo, who felt threatened and overshadowed by his soaring fame and influence.

The regrettable aspect of it is that this bunch of spent forces, who have outlived their usefulness and only wallow in the imaginary illusion of old glory, are the same people who are always quick in priding themselves as progressive.

Ironically, these are also the same bunch, who are always quick in lamenting the state of disunity among the Yoruba and are ever always confessing their utmost concern to find a solution. What a lamentable paradox!

Lest I forget, on the other front are the custodians of the Federal might, who are presently poised to take their pound of flesh on Asiwaju, whose presence gives them acute fears and nightmares and who, at all costs, must therefore be exterminated from the political space.

On this, my appeal to President Jonathan is to watch it because Nigeria cannot afford to risk another civil war or a variant worse than Boko Haram.

And once again to my Asiwaju, I say kudos for a deserved honorary doctorate to the administrative genius, superb organiser, iconic motivator and manager of men and resources. For you, it is forward ever and backward never until your eventual realisation of a vision of a virile and progressive Nigeria.

•Kunle Ademoye, a former member of Lagos State House of Assembly, writes from Lagos