The Yoruba race sure knows how to honour people with titles, most of them interpreting or depicting the person’s character, status in the society and in particular, in what the person has done for his tribe and the society in general. I remember the Aare Ona of Yorubaland that was given to Chief M.K.O Abiola.
Titles given to individuals by their people sometimes intoxicate, and bring out either the best or worst character endowments in the bearers. Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba that was given to Chief M.K.O Abiola; Ona kakanfo if I guess right, is a person who can never turn back from battle or a cause. This perhaps added vigour to the pursuit of his mandate in June 12, 1993 and his subsequent death. May Allah repose his soul.
Ahmed Bola Tinubu is another Yoruba elder of note. The title, Asiwaju, translated as leader or the way shower of his people,fitted him in everyway that can be considered as it is widely alleged that Tinubu’s wealth is enormous, especially from the eight years that he piloted the affairs of Lagos State as governor. His tentacles is believed to have been spread to all sectors of the Nigerian economy, including a fabulous hold on aviation, finance and media, just to mention a few.
Someone recently unveiled Tinubu when he wrote that the truth about him is that since 1960, seldom has Nigeria had a political aficionado who deployed the genius of the streets in the service of politics as Tinubu. He noted that scarcely can anybody have the misfortune of encountering him without becoming a captive of his financial influence. It was said that he is so rich that he can afford to loan the state some money. It is also believed that even the god of Mammon would be envious of Tinubu’s sagacity in deploying its monetary weapon.
Indeed, over the years Asiwaju Tinubu has been able to deploy such stupendous financial muscles to oil his political hegemony not only in Lagos but also in the party he belongs. But recently,Tinubu’s world seems to be crumbling. His ambition to vie for the highest political office of the land is daily revealing what some people in some quarters believe is the real Tinubu. In the exposé that is making the rounds, it seems the only way Tinubucan be Tinubu again is for him to re-establish his true self. But that is only a dream.
As it stands, someone recently alleged that even the names he bears are not his. Educational qualifications and institution he claimed to have acquired and attended are known to be fake. Infact, nobody living has claimed to have been his schoolmate at any level from primary school to university. The Lagos State governor for eight years, the Asiwaju of the Yorubaland has beenwithout route? Haba! It calls for many questions and more questions. This is why I sympathize for the man, like it is familiar with Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s enemies are at work and from the crescendo it has gotten, it is predictably true that whichever source or force that initiated the war against him or opens the pandora’s box on the hitherto voice to reckon in the Yoruba political hierarchy will stop at nothing until the purpose is achieved. The purpose, the picture is clear, will not only damage his image or further reveal his lack of it but also shred his political power base forever.
Why would a man that has held sway and held political power of the country at the jugular be so mindlessly treated? Is he not the Asiwaju again? If not, why was he considered good enough for the chieftaincy title? Has Asiwuju offended the gods of politics and of the lands? His latest travails that have to do with his health is more pathetic. It has been in the news that AsiwajuBola Tinubu has been on the down side of health for some time now, but recently he was reported as having a patch of urine at the buttock level of his dress. This, many have interpreted in many ways but the most authentic or potent diagnose is the one that he may be suffering from chronic urinary infection which makes him to drip urine without feeling.
The condition above can only be explained by medical parlance as caused by a certain malfunction of one or two organs of the body. It could be a temporary ailment or one that has evaded treatment or would dodge all manner of treatment. Whichever the case may be, Tinubu deserves our sympathy because ill-health is everyman’s portion that does not respect wealth or status. Sickness cannot wait for one to fulfil a lifetime and towering ambition before it strikes.
But some sicknesses would require one taking a break from some strainous and energy-sapping work in order to pay attention to the body. Governance is one very strainous and energy– sapping business that anybody that loves their livesmust listen to themselves before attempting the task. But it is sad that in Nigeria where individuals rather than the people send themselves to public offices, the decision can be unbended once taken. Such individuals often announce with glee “My people call me to go for them.” The air of importance they often attach to themselves with such claim is often nauseating. Those who “call” themselves to elective positions can always hardly listen to divergent opinion. It is always their decision or people die, in a do-or-die affair.
When Asiwaju Tinubu struck the said deal that proposed him as President Buhari’s successor as rumoured, he was perhaps in a sound health but that health has recently deteriorated leavinghim in the present state. Ordinarily, Bola Tinubu, even if the position was thrust at him should decline, giving health ground as his reason. But political decisions are not ordinary decisions in Nigeria. Such decisions are usually made with a heart of stone.
Hence, while I sympathize with the Yoruba chief about hiscurrent health condition as a natural phenomenon, it must be warned that Nigeria is bigger than having sickly presidents in perpetuity. That the country had to manage through eight years of keeping President Muhammadu Buhari, as unfortunate as it was, is a huge burden. The number of months and money lost inthe process can only be imagined, and adding a ‘sickly’ Tinubufor more years can be disastrous.
Haven’t we agreed that Nigeria needs a younger person for president? If this is again jettisoned, when then will the “not too young to run” matra by the incumbent President MuhammaduBuhari come to play in our politics? The one open fact now is, if Nigerians did not have pre-knowledge of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s ill health before he came on board, except by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo alone, did not know of Buhari’s, that of Tinubu is now known.
It is not as if Nigerians hate Tinubu’s Presidency but only that they don’t want to have another president that will spend more time and money in the hospital than in the service of the nation.
So assuming Tinubu was the man President Buhari was having in mind as his successor and not his vice, Professor YemiOsinbajo, he should quit that line of thinking now. It is now obvious that if by hook or crook Tinubu is pushed on, he will certainly get the seat but not the support of the people, because his time is running out. So long politically my chief. I wish you well. But should decide to push forward, your road may be very rough.
Discussion about this post