Despite being one of the most influential political leaders produced by the Southwestern region, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s greatest shortcoming is the indisputable fact that he is driven purely by self interest.
He positions his godsons, family members and allies in key positions not in order to further the agenda of the people but merely his own business interests.
It came as a shock to not a few with only a bit of political savvy that Jagaban took offense to the AIT documentary that depicted him during the run up to the 2015 elections. It’s no wonder the wise man says it’s difficult when presented with a portrait of yourself and why some people find it difficult to look in the mirror. Word on the street now is Jagaban’s equity in Eko Atlantic City is approximately US$1 bln.
It’s a testament to the singularity of his self aggrandizement vision that his latest obsession is how to score big power moves in the new administration by placing his proxies in influential positions.
Sources within the All Progressives Congress say the lobbying for ministerial positions is probably the most intense ever in the history of Nigerian politics. Probably why the Presidency is having a tough time constituting a Federal Cabinet as Nigerians await for what is now termed “in the fullness of time”.
Meanwhile Nigeria is on fire as Boko Haram unleashes havoc due to the lack of direction from Aso Rock. The trail of death and destruction threatens to extend to other regions including the South West.
Indeed President Muhammad Buhari owes Tinubu a favour or two. No matter how much he says he is for nobody, he cannot forget how Tinubu helped him achieve a dream that has been recurring in his life for over two decades at the very least.
What a joy it would be for the people of the southwest if Tinubu would use the favour cards to advance the cause of the region and not his personal gain. We don’t need political appointments, we need security apparatus to be strengthened in the region before Boko Haram decides to take an excursion to say Ikeja Mall. We need electricity. Lagos deserves special attention as the commercial capital of this great country. We wouldn’t want Buhari to focus all his time and energy on his own region as his track record portrays him as always being mindful of the North East.
Tinubu could yet still be the Awolowo of our time and achieve his greatest and most noble dreams if he is also mindful of the region that birthed him and made him. In fact if he learns to put his fellow Nigerians first, he may be greater than the late great Awo still.