The feeling of success is a special one and this feeling becomes magical when someone achieved his lifetime ambition against all odds in life. For president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu becoming the President of the largest democracy in Africa is a rare case of a lifetime ambition.

In the 2003 election as a dogged politician, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu refused to support the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) an alliance with then President  Obasanjo PDP,  for re-election in return for the AD holding on to its six South-West states. The AD governor’s actions cost them their gubernatorial seats. Tinubu’s refusal to be part of the deal turned out to be his saving grace as he remained a  lone re-elected Governor of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) due to the incursion of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the South West.

As the lone AD governor Tinubu was in a regular collision with the PDP-controlled Federal Government, especially on his creation of additional 37 Local Council Development Areas for Lagos States. Despite Obasanjo’s administration’s deliberate withholding of statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds for almost three years Lagos state survived until the Supreme Court ruled that Obasanjo’s administration should release the seized statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds.

As recourse to the decimated Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the southwest Jagaban was actively involved in the creation of the Action Congress (AC) political party and was able to win back four of the states to AC control. Despite leaving office in 2007, Ahmad Bola Tinubu did not give up the struggle for forming a formidable opposition party in the country, especially during the 2011 general elections. After the parliamentary elections in 2011 showed 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.

I’m the same year,  the president-elect looked for alliance talks between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which failed as the alliance talks failure 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.

After the collapse of the 2007 alliance unrelentingly with his immense political influence led to the merger of opposition parties in 2013 three major parties the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have floated a mega platform All Progressive Congress (APC).  This grand merger led to the wrestling of power from the then-ruling PDP in 2015 – a rarity in Nigeria where incumbents are not often defeated.

Without the self-sacrifice and leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, there would not be the All Progressive Congress at the centre in 2015 and 2019. He abandoned his desire to seek the country’s top job and instead choose to support and contributed significantly toward the emergence of then  General Muhammadu Buhari as APC Presidential candidate.

Toward the ruling governing party’s presidential primary election, President Buhari’s associates have tried to downplay the former governor’s influence in the 2015 election,  aspirations were flagging, and he reminded Nigerians that he was largely responsible for installing President Muhammadu Buhari.

Even though there is seemed to gang up against him before the APC  convention, the president-elect stood his ground, poured out his mind, and fought to win the presidential ticket. On Picking a  running-mate Tinubu, picked former Borno state governor Kashim Shettima. The action also generated a lot of controversies. This decision drew the ire of many Christians who say it went against the tradition of mixed-faith tickets for the presidency. Going by his antecedents and political sagacity, Tinubu is not just the Jagaban of Borgu, but the Jagaban of contemporary Nigerian democracy and politics and he is an “outstanding politician who has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s democracy.

The incoming President won the election at a critical stage in our nation’s history. As  Buhari administration poorly implemented economic policies have borough bout unbearable hardship to millions of families, difficulty to businesses, a huge debt profile, widespread insecurity, unemployment, and inflation.

The job of the president-elect ran the easy job, due to daunting challenges. on nation’s debt burden at the last count, Nigeria is neck-deep in debts hovering around N44.06 trillion in September 2022. However, if the N23.7 trillion CBN loan is securitized, our debt stock could amount to about N77 trillion in June 2023 just some days after the swearing of President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The incoming administration needs to put all necessary policies to bar federal and states government from borrowing and in the case where the borrowing needs borrowing will be used to fund projects that generate revenue from which debt can be repaid. Another area of great concern budget underscores fiscal deficit expansion and the upward trajectory in public debt. Fiscal sustainability will remain a concern as government revenue will be eroded by personnel costs and high-interest payments on debt.

The incoming administration is to take over on the heels of unemployment which has been projected the country’s unemployment rate will hit 37 per cent in 2023. Nigeria’s inflation rate reached its unprecedented in January 2023, hitting a record high of 21.82%. This represents a 0.47% increase when compared to the 21.34% recorded in the previous month, Nigerians are languishing in extreme hardship; daily survival has become an uphill challenge and what people are going through now in the country is reaching the highest apogee since the late 80s.

All these happened under the All Progressive Congress corrective administration.  Because those in power do not feel for Nigerians in this kind of abject unfold hardship. Why in the 21st Century  Nigerians are still talking about daily survival in normal circumstances there is no reason for Nigerians talks or cry about food prices beyond their affordability. In October,  a report by Global Hunger Index was jointly published by the German-based Welthungerhilfe and Dublin-based Concern Worldwide. Nigeria ranked 103 out of 121 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, a position that signifies the nation “has a level of hunger-stricken country which is serious. inflation reached unprecedented heights; workers purchasing power declined precipitously.

Nigerians expect the new president-elect to have a team of competent people by ensuring that round pegs are put in round holes and that he should immediately roll out his economic blueprint, which should be in line with the National Development Plan. Urgent needs to tackle issues surrounding the fiscal and monetary policies to quickly arrest the dwindling economy of the country.

Another urgent matter for the incoming government should give accelerated attention to is the currency redesign policy notes because it has disrupted both consumption and production, particularly in the informal sector, the disruption has to be addressed quickly to halt the economic decline and hardship on the nation. This economic situation, in itself, requires not just tinkering but massive reengineering.

President-elect Ahmad Bola Tinubu should critically review agricultural policies because the current policy has not achieved much success that can boost the economy and reduce poverty in the land. Let you and your team remain focused on the objective of birthing the Nigeria of our dreams. Nigerians pray that Almighty God will help you to fulfill the progressive mandate mandated to you by the  Nigerians, as well as you and your Vice President-elect’s plans to improve security.

Finally, May Allah,  guide you to what is good for the country and good for us.  make them a means for our safety, and make them a means for our wellbeing. Safeguard our country and bring ease to the Nigerians from that which they face from suffering.

Abba Dukawa, a Public Affairs commentator, wrote in from Kano State.

The post When the kingmaker wears the crown first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Farinu, an Oyo-born politician, was the former state chairman of the defunct Action Congress (AC) which later transformed into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) until 2010 when he handed over. Until his death last Thursday at the age of 93 years, he remained a leader of the Progressive family in the APC while Adelere was a Second Republic lawmaker who represented Iseyin state constituency in the old Oyo State House of Assembly under Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was also, until his demise last Friday, a political leader from Oke-Ogun axis of the state.

Akintola (SAN), in a condolence message contained in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday by his Personal Assistant, Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi, regretted that the duo of Farinu and Adelere died at a time contemporary political class needed to tap more from their wealth of experience and democratic virtue having made their mark as true disciplines of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“Both leaders would be sorely missed by all and sundry in view of the fact that they were instrumental to the success recorded during the reign of the previous governments steered by the Progressive. They were devoted disciples of the Great Awo, associates of Chief Bola Ige, supporters of both Chief Kolapo Ishola and Alhaji Lamidi Adesina- all of whom had occupied the Agodi Government House at different times and impacted positively on the lives of the people.

“Obviously, the two of the saw it all and played their parts very well. This informs the preponderance of tribute and condolences which have greeted the news of their respective passing unto glory since few days ago. With discipline, selflessness, commitment to democratic principles and service to the people as their goal, both Baba Farinu and Adelere were able to weather the storm as they demonstrated good leadership qualities throughout. May God grant them eternal rest.

“And as we are mourning their demise, it is imperative for modern day politicians particularly those of us in the APC to take our time to learn from the enviable records these great Progressive leaders and Awoists with a view retracing our steps and prioritizing the original progressive ideology in our political activities as only this would help build our democracy and also afford the masses an opportunity to enjoy mellifluous good governance and life abundance.

“In conclusion, we use this opportunity to commiserate with the Oyo APC family and family members of the departed leaders. We ask God almighty to grant us all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and also restore normalcy in our party as we warm up to reclaim power in our dear state in 2023 having blown away our chances in 2019 general election”, Akintola added.

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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.

The post JAGABAN: Nigeria Greatest ‘Game Changer’ @ 68 | By Abba Dukawa first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post JAGABAN: Nigeria Greatest ‘Game Changer’ @ 68 | By Abba Dukawa appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.