Except, perhaps, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, no other Nigerian politician has been cruelly maligned as the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Since his emergence as a major pillar of progressive politics, Tinubu has had to live with many callously cooked-up stories that are clearly meant to disparage his person. The recent damning documentary that was aired by the Africa Independent Television, AIT, in the run-up to the 2015 general election is, possibly, the height of all lies and propaganda being peddled to tarnish his image.

Tinubu’s bashing has so much become a calling that many who never really know the man bear false tales about him; sometimes authoritatively claiming to have ‘evidences’ to back up their unfounded claims. Some just hate him out of vicious envy and shameless jealousy. They couldn’t just fathom how it is possible for a Nigerian politician to tenaciously hold on to his political beliefs and principles in a polity that parades fewer men of principles. As far as his adversaries are concerned, there is nothing good about Tinubu. Unfortunately, they are dead wrong. Today, many speak glowingly about how Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has been able to transform Lagos State. That Fashola has performed well in Lagos is an incontrovertible fact. However, one indisputable reality that some don’t just want to hear or speak about is that it was Tinubu that laid the foundation of the modern Lagos that has so much thrived under Fashola’s able leadership.

No doubt, the eight years spent in office by Tinubu, Fashola’s predecessor and Governor Emeritus, set the pace for the birth of this modern Lagos. The Tinubu administration laid a solid foundation for the new Lagos that has now become a model for good governance in Nigeria. It was Tinubu’s government that set up enduring institutions such as KAI, LASTMA, LASAA, LAMATA, to mention just a few. This is aside putting in place a creative and ingenious template that has institutionalized governance in Lagos State. It was the Tinubu administration that began the systematic fixing of the state’s infrastructure. The complete regeneration of the Lagos Island Central Business District took place under Tinubu’s watch. Many roads across the state such as Kudirat Abiola Way, Lawanson-Itire road, Ikotun-Ijegun road, Ikotun –Igando road, LASU-Iyana Iba road, to mention just a few, were rehabilitated and expanded by the Tinubu administration while a comprehensive programme for resuscitation of public schools in the state was also put in place.

Perhaps, more importantly, the Tinubu administration put the state on the trail of economic independence as it shored up its revenue base. Tinubu inherited a failed economy from the Marwa administration. But, by the time he was leaving office in May 2007, his administration had increased the state revenue base from a meagre N600 million to over N8 billion. That the administration survived the Obasanjo onslaught was mainly due to its rich revenue stand. BRF’s performance so far is a vindication of the precise political mast and sound aptitude for human judgment of Asiwaju Tinubu and the defunct Action Congress, AC, leadership that recommended him to Lagosians.

It is partly because we have not been able to replicate same at the federal level that our nation has for long been at a critical crossroads. While Lagos remains politically and economically stable today, same cannot be said of the PDP-led government at the centre. Unfortunately, today, mischief makers and incurable Tinubu haters disparage this architect of the new Lagos, but mischievously celebrate the Lagos model of people-oriented governance put in place by the same man. While not acknowledging Tinubu’s contribution to the Lagos project is impish, stereotyping him with corruption is rather puckish. After they have failed to pull him down politically, it has now become the pastime of professed Tiubu’s bashers to stigmatize him with the unproven label of a corrupt politician. These days, every prime property in choice locations in Lagos and other parts of the country is owned by Tinubu. Indeed, according to the tale bearers, the whole of the Lagos economy is now under Tinubu’s control. He owns every new hotel and eatery in town. All shopping malls in Lagos belong to him. Tinubu has now become such a mysterious money bag that ‘owns’ what Dangote, the popularly acclaimed African Richest Man could not boast of. The truth of the matter is that a check with the Corporate Affairs Commission would easily reveal that most of the business interests that are being falsely linked with Tinubu actually have nothing to do with him. Corporate organizations such as First Nation Airways Support Services Ltd and Oriental Star Restaurant and Hotel Ltd widely linked with Tinubu, investigation reveals, do not have anything to do with the man. A scroll through the lists of directors showed that these are corporate organizations with well defined profiles. The lie represented by linking these companies to him is enough to convince any rational and sensible person that, the hues and cry about the ownership of choice holdings are nothing but lies manufactured from the innermost recess of hell. If the man is as corrupt as he is being tagged, it is difficult to understand how none of the anti-corruption agencies, under the control of the PDP-led federal government, have not been able to pin him down to any financial crime. Being a leading opposition figure, in the past sixteen years, if the man is actually as corrupt as he is being painted, he ought to have been behind bars by now. It is an open fact that Obasanjo and Tinubu were not the best of friends. So, if the Obasanjo government could not nail Tinubu on alleged corrupt tendencies, it goes to show that something is actually missing in the whole jig saw.

However, there is a fact we should not ignore. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that proverbial man with the Midas touch. He is a national brand that every business wants to associate with to become an instant success both in government and in the private sector. The belief is that the name would sell their business anywhere in Lagos and beyond. A classic example is the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Central Business District; a public-private partnership arrangement by Ibeju Lekki Local Government. Yet, the man has no link of any sort with the plan. It is the same principle that has defined his political leaning. In 2003, when the Alliance for Democracy, AD, lost all its controlled states in the south west, except for Lagos, the only smart option for Asiwaju Tinubu was to jump ship and move to the ruling PDP. He could have made instant gains.

That is the natural path in African politics because playing opposition politics in this clime is hazardous and unattractive. However, such choice is for men with blatant opportunistic disposition, not Tinubu. Those that are privileged to know Tinubu are conscious of his unquestionable patriotic zeal and uncommon commitment to the emancipation of the downtrodden. As for those who peddle unsubstantiated falsehoods against him, like it is often the case at weddings, the onus is on them to come up with the body of legally acceptable proofs or shut up forever!

•Raji is Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, Lagos State.

HzRF:
Stories
He went to Court over the issue and AIT didn't bulge

So why d story

vicadex07:


Mumu, did u bother to digest the point he was making.

Your so hell bent on being foolish...maka why

If the PDP had considered Tinubu corrupt, why didn't they jail him for the past 16yrs he has been in the forefront of opposition against them. Even the Obasanjo led government had nothing on him whatsoever.

vicadex07:


Mumu, did u bother to digest the point he was making.

Your so hell bent on being foolish...maka why

If the PDP had considered Tinubu corrupt, why didn't they jail him for the past 16yrs he has been in the forefront of opposition against them. Even the Obasanjo led government had nothing on him whatsoever.

WombRaiders:


Tinubu's drug past is already an embarrassment to Buhari

The Buhari camp planted this story in the Daily Beast http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/27/nigeria-s-next-leader-s-ties-to-a-heroin-ring.html

Any top US envoy attending Buhari's inauguration has been ordered to avoid contact with Tinubu.

Tinubu has been used and discarded any dissenting voice from him will lead to a reopening of all his corrupt acts

Eshinwaju:


in ur dreams.....

WombRaiders:


Why is Tinubu paying hungry writers like the one referenced by OP?

If he is clean then why does he need to launder his tarnished image?

Agbereo people deserve an Agbereo leader so I am not surprised that a criminal like Tinubu is the defacto head of Yoruba politics

HzRF:

If u are pained
U can go and die

Eshinwaju:


that is why eboes are rushing to go to no mans land

vicadex07:


You were there when they were planting the stories abi Hmmm....

You were also there when the envoys were ordered to avoid Tinubu...hmmm...interesting

Just continue displaying your foolishness.

You people said worse with all your useless postulations before the elections about how Buhari will not win and how he will never rule a united Nigeria...now your eye don clear.

Now about all the aforementioned matters, your eye go soon clear once again and you will forever be declared stupid till all eternity

Useless, brainless Tanoids

Eshinwaju:


that is why eboes are rushing to go to no mans land

WombRaiders:


Buhari has no more use for Tinubu and the cabal has already moved into take over Buhari govt

Amaechi is more tolerable to Buhari than tinubu and the north even though he has no political value but for the sake that Amaechi owes his freedom to Buhari's emergence

Osunbade will remain in Aguda House as the most ceremonial vp whose role will be limited to representing Buhari in any of the numerous sycophant book launches and events in the South West

The north has selected fashola to spite Tinubu and also because fashola is highly subservient and will do whatever Buhari tells him to do just as Tinubu controlled him like a spaniel on a leash

Buhari will bypass Tinubu

vicadex07:


That's because they are plagued by useless and greedy leaders and the followers are sychophants who blame others but themselves and their leaders about their woes.

vicadex07:


Congrats on your useless speculations.

Like always, before and after the general elections, you will soon be disgraced and proven to be foolish yet again. Mark my words and read my lips.

May 29 is just 9 more days, be patient to see events unfold and learn why Tinubu is called the Jagaban of Nigerian politics and the machaveli of Africa.

vicadex07:


Congrats on your useless speculations.

Like always, before and after the general elections, you will soon be disgraced and proven to be foolish yet again. Mark my words and read my lips.

May 29 is just 9 more days, be patient to see events unfold and learn why Tinubu is called the Jagaban of Nigerian politics and the machaveli of Africa.

vicadex07:


Am not pained, am only highlighting your stupidity for nairalanders and the world at large to see. You people have just started your wailings. You shall continue with more intensity come may 29th.

It shall not be well with people who have determined in their heart that Nigeria will fail. Can I hear a loud amen!

vicadex07:


That's because they are plagued by useless and greedy leaders and the followers are sychophants who blame others but themselves and their leaders about their woes.

HzRF:

Who is wailing
Itz u that is wailing
I made my comment u carry ur stupid sef And start churning out rubbish
I didn't use ur money to buy data

Lolz what a fool
Come may 29th itz gonna be another joyous day in my life and itz u that will have course to wail

If in ur deluded mind u Can believe Tinubu is holy itz ur cup of tea
Why are nw so pained that I choose nt to

Eshinwaju:


they still think yorubas play......their type of aimless politics......I laff in Chinese....chingpongchingpongching...

vicadex07:


Kini oloriburuku yi booku spaci fun

O tun ti fe wa iro tabua ti yoo pa.

Oloshi eda ti ko mo oun to fe fi igbese aye re se.

WombRaiders:


Ibos are at the root of all your problems

You people are either collectively clueless in dealing with your numerous ibo problems or are too lazy to find out why ibos are progressing in your land

Yoruba are now like Arabs who blame ibos for all their failures like the way your goat farming Arab master blame Israel for everything

Lest I remind you we were discussing why Tinubu Is currently paying writers to launder his image that Hausas are using to sideline him from buuari's govt

vicadex07:


Na u you go withdraw money on behalf on Tinubu go pay am abi

I laff at your stupidity. All your assertions in this thread are mere speculations which will soon be proven to be false.

Going buy your logic, I must also be paid to launder Tinubus image on nairaland too abi

Your eye will soon clear

WombRaiders:
Tinubu's drug past is a lie as well abi?

Useless sycophant

Lanretoye:

How on earth does someones drug habit affect nigeria?,that is personal and not political.