Lagos stands still for Tinubu @ 60

One of the many things that bothered  Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) until his death was Nigeria’s nonchalance towards their heroes.

The late legal luminary believed that heroes in Nigeria were celebrated only after they had died.  But that jinx could be said to have been broken as the weeklong 60th birthday event of Asiwaju Bolatito Ahmed Akanbi Tinubu snowballed into a glamorous display in his honour on Thursday in Lagos.

The birthday activities brought Lagos to a standstill on Thursday as Nigerian and Ghanaian leaders thronged the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere at the Centre of Excellence for the Jagaban of Borgu and former governor of Lagos State. The event could best be described as the first-of-its-kind to happen to a living hero in the country.  All roads leading to the venue, situated directly opposite the National Stadium Surulere, had the feel of the Asiwaju event as thecrème de la creme of the society drove through the traffic with sirens blaring but without making impact on the heavy logjam.

As at 9.30 in the morning, when the event organizers expected guests and even members of the press to have been seated before the arrival of the celebrant, road users going from the hinterland to Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos Island area had a serious bottleneck situation as the roads had become unpassable for vehicular movements.

Tinubu makes history as he turns 60

Commuters became stranded with many people waiting endlessly at the blue-colour LAMATA bus stops beginning from the Ojota/Ikorodu road area to Ojuelegba, thereby making transporters along the routes jerk up their fare by 100 percent.

From Ojuelegba, a stone-throw distance to the venue, Keke Marwaoperators hiked their fares to N100 as against N30 to N50 ordinarily charged for the distance.

But despite all odds, many eminent guests from within the country and Ghana found their way to the venue, which was heavily guarded by officers and men of the Nigeria Police and State Security Service.  Among the guests were the representative of  President  Jonathan, Chief Godsday Orubebe and the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Alex Zedaphia.  Nigeria’s Senate President David Mark was also represented at the occasion by former Governor of Yobe State and Senator of the Republic, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim. The first elected governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande was also on ground.

The six ACN governors and former governors: Segun Osoba (Ogun); Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti); Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano); Bisi Akande (Osun), Lam Adesina (Oyo); Chris Ngige (Anambra); Senator George Akume (Benue); former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State, Dr. Musa Adebayo Ayeni; Senator Biyi Durojaiye; former Attorney-General and currently ACN Chairman in Ondo State, Mrs Jumoke Ajasin-Anifowose and Chief Muraina Akanbi, were all on ground to do the Jagaban Borgu a great honour at 60.  Prominent religious figures were also present and they prayed for the celebrant.

They included the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Olanrewaju Ahmad; Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garba Akinola; National Missioner of NASFAT, Dr. Abdullahi Akinbode; Christ Apostolic Church General Evangelist, Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara among many others.

The Tinubu show was like an awaited opportunity for some of the governors’ works to be showcased. Members of the volunteer OYES that is, Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, came on display for nobody else but their governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whom they were said to cherish so much because of his impact on their lives.

Dressed in khaki uniform with lemon caps to match, the OYES members, a few among them bearing golden-colour flags marched around the field. The Aregbesola people added to the alluring displays at the occasion where Ifatiti and Wasiu Ayinde, Kwam 1, were on the band stand entertaining guests.

President Jonathan salutes Jagaban at 60

President Jonathan, in a three-paragraph personally signed letter delivered to the celebrant by Chief Orubebe, wrote on behalf of his family, the government and people of Nigeria that: “Given the symbolism of the attainment of the landmark age of 60, especially in a life such as yours that has been exceptionally eventful and fulfilling, there is great cause for thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

Ghana VP pays tribute

While paying tribute, the
Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, commended Tinubu for his total dedication and service to humanity, adding that, “it is from these sterling qualities that we continue to draw inspiration . The past has come and gone, the best is always yet to come.  Eventually, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years that counts.  Your sterling performance and achievements during your days as Governor of Lagos are sufficient testimony for all to see and cannot therefore be over emphasized,” said the Ghanaian Vice President John Mahama in his tribute.

Tinubu’s role in opposition politics –David Mark

The Senate President David Mark, represented by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim at the august occasion, would not want to be left out of the tribute galore as he told the mammoth gathering of many eminent people that Asiwaju Tinubu, who he said was celebrating a diamond at 60, had played a role in the nation’s opposition politics in a way that “showed us the lesson to build a strong democracy.”

Oshiomhole recounts Tinubu’s hands in his success

The Comrade Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole was the first to mount the podium among the six governors of ACN.  He came in an unusual appearance; clad in agbada, made of the turquoise blue aso ebi generally worn at the occasion. Oshiomhole seized the opportunity of the event to publicly appreciate Bola Tinubu’s role on how he regained his governorship mandate.

His words: “His help was invaluable at every stage of the struggle to reclaim our stolen mandate.  As usual, he did not spare any efforts.  More important than his goodwill and material assistance was his inspiring encouragement.  He kept boosting my courage and helped sustain my resolve,” Governor Oshiomhole said, particularly acknowledging Tinubu’s efforts in the struggle for good governance, true federalism and political pluralism in Nigeria.

Aregbesola’s majestic outing generated loud ovation

As for Aregbesola, it was time to recount the history of how Asiwaju Bola Tinubu started out in politics.  “Realists will describe it as happenstance but others, especially from Africa, will say it is destiny, but our paths crossed fortuitously in 1989.  That was when he came to our group, the Alimosho Chapter of the Primose Circle, then under the leadership of Chief Dapo Sarumi, to seek our support for his senatorial ambition and engaged us for a mutually beneficial relationship. Twenty-three years down the line, upon deep reflection, I have no doubt that our meeting was divine.

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an enigma, a leader of leaders who bestrides the Nigerian political firmament like a colossus.  Indeed, he is a colossus.  Asiwaju came to us as a successful professional with Mobil Oil Nigeria Unlimited.  His charm provided the elixir and charging current that galvanized the Primose Circle to record unimaginable political exploits.  Of all the political groups that dissolved into political parties in Lagos State, it is beyond dispute that the Primose Circle was the most successful and that success was largely due to the influence, sagacity, perspicacity and political leadership of Asiwaju,” Governor Aregbesola said.

Gov Fayemi speaks

The Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Kayode Fayemi who opened his own angle of the tribute with an Ekiti dialect amidst cheers from Ekiti people present in the Stadium, appeared to be so overwhelmed by Tinubu’s very huge achievements that he probably did not know from where to start.

His words: “Is it the Asiwaju’s famed generosity, both of spirit and with his God given material endowment that one should talk about?  Since the day of MKO Abiola, it is doubtful if any Nigerian citizen has touched the lives of fellow citizens – rich and poor, high or low, plebeian or patrician, Christian, Muslim or traditional believers  more than our Asiwaju.

“That I am governor today, after three years of explosive legal battle is a tribute to God. The good people of Ekiti and the indefatigability of the Asiwaju Spirit, the spirit that would go to any length to fight for justice, secure freedom and give oppression a bloody nose occupied a prime place in that struggle,” Governor Fayemi declared.

The Amosun tribute

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State referred to Tinubu as theAsiwaju of the universe, saying, “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu must be a very lucky man because Nigerians do not celebrate their living heroes but  today, from across the country, we are all gathered to pay homage to a dogged fighter, grassroots mobilizer, bridge builder, hardworking thinker, genuine democrat, kind man and philanthropist of no mean repute, devoted family man and loyal friend”. He  added that Tinubu was the architect of what has today become the New Lagos and that “he is the epitome of the positive change that true professionals have brought into our nation’s politics.  A mentor par excellence, he can identify talents from afar and nurture them to realize their full potentials.  That is why I call him a leader’s leader,” Governor Amosun said.

Ajimobi eulogizes the leader

Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi refused to be hindered by the problem at home and sped to the main-bowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium to do his party’s national leader an honour. Ajimobi, who eulogized and prayed for Tinubu in the traditional way requesting the congregation to say ‘Aseee’ (amen) after him, opened his tribute by saying that it was by no means a coincidence that Mother Nature donated Tinubu to Nigeria.

Tinubu, multi-faceted leader -Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) normally has a popularity that shines him out among others.  But for the Aregbesola colours, Fashola would not have been outshined by any other governor at the occasion.  The lead MC, Alhaji Aremu Gawat must have helped him to catch up when he veered into a deliberately manufactured ovation that ushered the young, energetic governor of the Centre of Excellence unto the podium.

Believing that there was nothing he would say about Asiwaju that had not been said by anybody, the ever egalitarian governor started his tribute by going poetic: “I asked myself: ‘who can hug an elephant?’  An elephant is so huge that if you must hug it, you are forced to decide which part of it you want to hug.  This is the dilemma that confronted me.

“The man is so multi-faceted, that it is practically impossible to capture his essence in a tribute limited by space.  This is perhaps the most compelling reason why Asiwaju ought to write his memoirs and why I have been imploring him to do so.  That way, he can bare those enigmatic fascinating characteristics that make him so quintessentially him,” Fashola said and, having later regained consciousness of which angle to talk about in his tribute to the man he described as “my leader”, Governor Fashola quickly added that “the part of the ‘elephant’ I would like to ‘hug’ is Asiwaju the public servant and servant-leader; perhaps the least-referred-to part of this elephant, but the one with which I am most familiar.  Everybody knows and speaks about Asiwaju the consummate politician, “theJagaban of the universe”, but comparatively, few seem to know or even acknowledge his exemplary servant-leadership skills.

“In my view, and I have always said it, his greatest achievement was to re-chart the developmental course of Lagos State and set it on its course of pride,” said the Lagos State governor.