JAGABAN: Nigeria Greatest ‘Game Changer’ @ 68 | By Abba Dukawa

Thomas Mann once declared that ‘the destiny of man presents its meaning in political terms ‘. That is to say, in our contemporary experience, it is difficult to make clear separations or distinctions between the politics of life and the life of politics.

Once again  our greatest undisputable Nigeria political strategist marks quiet   68 years birthday. Jagaban  Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu a founding member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and , he was elected as an  Senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District In 1992.  After  annulment of the June 12, 1993  Presidential Election he stood with   likely winner of the election and engaged the military for the very soul of Nigeria.

Asiwaju Tinubu became a founding member of the famous pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) suffered many arrests and detention, harassments and constant threats to his life.Despite the high risked of daring the  militarization of the Nigerian politics but did not give up the struggle. When the last military government set for restoration of democratic governance and the rule in the country. He returned to Nigeria to heed a call for all Nigerians to join in the National Reconciliation and Development. In 1999 elected Executive Governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Even his political foes believe that Bola Tinubu is a sagacious and dogged politician  in 2003, Alliance for Democracy (AD) considered an alliance with then President Olusegun Obasanjo, in order to have the president endorsed for re-election in return for the AD holding on to its six South-West states.

As an astute political strategist  Asiwaju survived the massive incursion of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the South Western States  as the lone re-elected Governor of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

His  refusal to enter the deal and it turned out to be his saving grace – he was the only AD governor to win his re-election as the PDP swept away the rest.  As as the lone AD governor puts him  on a regular collision course with the PDP-controlled Federal Government, especially on his creation of additional 37 Local Council Development Areas for Lagos States. In spite of   Obasanjo’s  administration deliberate  withheld statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds for almost three years Lagos state survived   until Supreme Court ruled that   Obasanjo’s  administration should release the seized statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds.

The Jagaban Borgu   actively involved in the creation of the Action Congress (AC) political party as recourse to the decimated Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was able won  back four of the states.

Based on Tinubu’s outstanding policies makes the  State an exceptional and the foremost   in the country  by ensuring the state generate more internally revenue without reliance more on  monthly  federation account allocation  In 2007 left Lagos state government house by making the state more self-relient state in the country by making the state generate more internally revenue without reliance on monthly  federation account allocation. Many described him as a dynamic and visionary leader, seasoned administrator, courageous fighter,  defender of the oppressed, foremost philanthropist, and man of the people.

After Jagaban Borgu left Lagos state government house in 2007, he, however, did not give up the struggle for strong and formidable opposition party in the country especially during the 2011 general elections. Because  After the parliamentary elections in 2011 shows that the People’s Democratic Party would retain the presidency, members of the two parties met to discuss the prospect of forging an alliance that would have a realistic chance of defeating the PDP’s  candidate, Goodluck Jonathan. But after collapse of the alliance talks between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has been blamed on Tunde Bakare, the CPC’s candidate for Vice-President for  refusal to sign a predated resignation letter irked the leaders of the ACN who decided to opt out of a planned “grand coalition” and go it alone.

Nigeria’s   political strategist not lose hope on having a  formidable opposition party in the country, in  May 2013 three major parties the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)  have  float a mega platform All Progressive Congress (APC) to oust the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

Without Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu self sacrifice there would not be All Progressive Congress at the centre in 2015 and 2019 despite his interest to governing the country but choice to support  and contributed significantly toward emerged of than General Muhammadu Buhari as APC Presidential candidate and used his resources in marketing him to electorate especially in  the SouthWest Geopolitical zone.

Tinubu is a man of many parts, whose political profile has now dwarfed his rich resume as a professional accountant and financial surgeon, boardroom guru, strategic economic planner and socialite.  There is no evidence to show that Tinubu was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. former governor is always bubbling with energy, zeal, enthusiasm and optimism. This may have been bedrock of his successes in his chosen fields of endeavor.