Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

“All trees grow in the forest but the oha tree singles itself out”- Igbo proverb.

Each year, on every March 29th, I normally write a piece to celebrate my Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose birthday falls on that day. Asiwaju has become a huge institution and a working history of sorts. It would have been different for me to do this yearly ritual for any other person because one would be bereft of words to do this. But not for the great Asiwaju whose greatness and ceaseless potentials unravel by the day. He is a history who replenishes his stock each day by his deeds and actions.
When the theme is on Asiwaju, one will not lack words to describe this veritable leader of men whose meteoric rise and success in everything he does has fanned equal degree of envy and passion among friends and foes alike. When talking or writing about Asiwaju, one faces not the blight that comes when one is discussing a liability, for Asiwaju draws immeasurable excitement from all sides of the discourse at every point in time.
I know that I am not alone in this passion. I know that millions of Nigerians in every nook and cranny of the country looks at Asiwaju in the very same passion I see him. I know that many Nigerians who have not even met Asiwaju and who have not physically tapped his deep reservoir of personal charm, are equally glued to this passion about a man that makes history at every minute of the day.
Asiwaju is an enigma and institution that has come to bestride the Nigerian political space like a huge Colossus and his imprimatur dots the Nigerian space such that the history of Nigeria cannot be complete without what Asiwaju says or does today. Asiwaju remains my Leader, as he is to millions of Nigerians. He remains the lodestar in the Nigerian firmament. He rides the Nigerian space like a measured star and his actions and deeds have made positive marks and added rich themes to the country’s political map.
Few years back a good friend of mine, Barr. Ben Alika sold an artwork to me which bears the photograph of a young beautiful girl I suspect could be his daughter. Beneath the photograph is a quotation with the title, “Reasons why people will follow you as their leader”
1. The leader knows where he is going.
2. The leader cares.
3. The leader can be trusted.
4. The leader stands for something always.
5. The leader can be depended on.
These five reasons roundly fitted Asiwaju’s personality as a Leader that is massively followed by Nigerians from all shades and parts of the country, as further expatiated thus;
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows the way. He knows where he is going. He knows his destination. He knows what lies ahead of him. This is the first and greatest attribute of a Leader. A leader that does not know his way and direction stands the chance of getting lost and the fate of his followers is worse. A Leader that knows his ways can never mislead his followers. A Leader that knows his destination can always lead his followers to the Promised Land. Asiwaju has scored tremendous success as a Leader because he knows where he is going and that is why he remains my Leader.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu cares. This attribute is rare among Nigerian leaders and that is why they have very brief leadership histories. But Asiwaju has stayed so log, with incredible success, in leadership position because he, like the Biblical Good Shepherd, cares for his people and his followers. He feels their pulse. He shares their tears. He shares their joys. He stoops down to care for even the least among his followers. He brings himself down to attend to the needs and welfare of his followers; even the destitute on the street. With such very great feature, Asiwaju remains my Leader.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be trusted. Trust is an essential quality of a good leader. His followers will always repose implicit confidence that they are safe with him. He will neither betray nor trade the interests of his followers. He rather suffers betrayal of his followers than betray them. He has a large heart to take the varied characters of his followers but he is as constant as the northern star. In rain and in sunshine, he is unchanged and amidst the storm and the tempest, he has become a repository of trust and confidence among his followers. That is why Asiwaju remains my Leader.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu always stands for something. He does not change with changing years. He is a stickler to principle and discipline. He does not waver or float like a weather cock. He chooses where he stands on any issue and let opinions and issues form around his choice. Asiwaju does not sit on the fence on any issue. He takes a stand and damns the consequences. That he gets vindicated at each turn of Nigeria’s history has served him in good stead as a leader; my Leader!
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be depended upon. He is a solid rock for those who follow him. He is a sure bet to take on any issue since he happened on the Nigerian space. He is a great tree on which most Nigerians lean. He is the compass that points the way for Nigerians in very many issues. With him as your Leader, one takes minimum risks.
With the foregoing, one can see why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become an enigma on whom many Nigerians take their bearing. It is easy to see why the Asiwaju school of Leadership has the greatest and most potent students in Nigeria today. I am told that wherever there is a problem, it is whoever that provides the solution that becomes the Leader. That is why Asiwaju has emerged naturally as a Leader with an intimidating wide space, with such a present and future potential that no one else
can imagine. It is why the man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become such a great institution he is today. Petty envy and outright jealousy of those that feel dwindled by his greatness can only add to his aura.
Happy Birthday, my Leader and many more years of fruitful service to the nation.
t and future potential that no one else
can imagine. It is why the man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become such a great institution he is today. Petty envy and outright jealousy of those that feel dwindled by his greatness can only add to his aura.
Happy Birthday, my Leader and many more years of fruitful service to the nation.
ys repose implicit confidence that they are safe with him. He will neither betray nor trade the interests of his followers. He rather suffers betrayal of his followers than betray them. He has a large heart to take the varied characters of his followers but he is as constant as the northern star. In rain and in sunshine, he is unchanged and amidst the storm and the tempest, he has become a repository of trust and confidence among his followers. That is why Asiwaju remains my Leader.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu always stands for something. He does not change with changing years. He is a stickler to principle and discipline. He does not waver or float like a weather cock. He chooses where he stands on any issue and let opinions and issues form around his choice. Asiwaju does not sit on the fence on any issue. He takes a stand and damns the consequences. That he gets vindicated at each turn of Nigeria’s history has served him in good stead as a leader; my Leader!
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be depended upon. He is a solid rock for those who follow him. He is a sure bet to take on any issue since he happened on the Nigerian space. He is a great tree on which most Nigerians lean. He is the compass that points the way for Nigerians in very many issues. With him as your Leader, one takes minimum risks.
With the foregoing, one can see why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become an enigma on whom many Nigerians take their bearing. It is easy to see why the Asiwaju school of Leadership has the greatest and most potent students in Nigeria today. I am told that wherever there is a problem, it is whoever that provides the solution that becomes the Leader. That is why Asiwaju has emerged naturally as a Leader with an intimidating wide space, with such a present and future potential that no one else
can imagine. It is why the man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become such a great institution he is today. Petty envy and outright jealousy of those that feel dwindled by his greatness can only add to his aura.
Happy Birthday, my Leader and many more years of fruitful service to the nation.

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