By Hakeem Adisa
That the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is gunning for the top job in the country is no longer rumours.
This certainly is the season of politics. And only the truly brave, the shrewd strategist and the robust tactician of the game like Tinubu could throw his hat into the political turf without much ado.
It is more than doubtful if anyone will contest the fact that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is eminently qualified to foray into the the presidential race field in the country.
Jagaban is no politician who will hide his ambition or nurse it secretly. For what purpose? He is qualified in all ramifications and all standards and met the criteria for seeking the plump office.
The big masquerade was unveiled from the innermost forest. That was after visiting the President, Muhammadu Buhari and briefed him about his ambition to succeed him.
With the coast signalling the clear weather, Asiwaju’s foot soldiers gathered together and formed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement (ABAT).
A fortnight ago at the Haven Event Centre in the GRA, Ikeja, ABAT was formality launched in furtherance of Asiwaju’s ambition.
The occasion was a political carnival of the octane rhythm. All political bigwigs in Lagos converged on the Haven to unveil the most political strategist of modern Nigeria.
The political gathering was attended by the incumbent governor of the Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, the Speaker House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
The Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila was also represented. Past Deputy Governors in the state, Senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members, the entire Lagos cabinet were there.
Other political topnotch included the Chairman of the ABAT Movement, Cardinal James Odunmbaku; Director General of ABAT, Oyinlomi Danmole; Deputy Director General, Kaoli Olusanya, pioneer SSG of Lagos, Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun, Chairman of GAC, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and Secretary of GAC, Alhaji Mutiu Are.
Door soldiers from the 57 local governments and Council Development Areas made the venue colourful, donning their branded tee shirts, caps, mufflers and the badge of ABAT.
The foremost Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM1) was also on ground to put icing on the cake of the biggest political movement launch so far. The reminiscence of what played out yesterday was the campaign train tagged Hope ’93 of the late MKO Abiola.
The size of the gathering; the quality of political top brass in attendance, the events itself and regale speeches that herald the take of the the movement were testimonies of the caliber of the politician being unveiled – the one and only Jagaban Borgu, Governor Emeritus of the state of Excellence-Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu!.
The Governor of Lagos State summed up the theme of the event and the political weight of Tinubu in his brief but pungent remarks that Tinubu is the best candidate that is eminently capable of effectively managing the human and material resources of the nation.
Sanwo-Olu said everyone must drum support for the Tinubu candidacy, for the best reason that his achievements in the past as the governor of the most populous state in Nigeria stands him out as the most qualified Nigerian to be president in 2023.
The Governor said Tinubu’s qualification rests on his outstanding and feasible demonstration of immense capacity in deploying a mix of genius and statecraft to nurture a city-state heading towards the precipice to a flourishing economy that has now become the fourth largest economy in not only Nigeria but in Africa.
Sanwo-Olu reverenced emphatically to the fact that the progress Asiwaju recorded in Lagos remains the most visible experimental canvass initiated by the APC National Leader on which successive governments have been building on till date.
The Governor said:“Our country is the most populous black nation in the world and the responsibility that comes with that is enormous. No doubt that the destiny of the entire black race is tied to the greatness of Nigeria. If our country must be great, we have the responsibility to choose the leadership that will bring about true transformation across every facet of our national life. Who is that rallying figure that should lead us in this journey?
“The answer is deeply connected to our mission and purpose here today. That person must be a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge builder, who has been tested and trusted. A thinker who must sustain the legacy our current president is leaving behind. That person is the reason we are inaugurating this Movement for the actualisation of his presidential ambition. That person is our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Let us tell the naysayers and those who are still in doubt that we are ready to work for the realisation of this ambition, because Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Number one salable candidate for the president. We will preach this gospel with diligence, dedication and high sense of commitment. Asiwaju is an unfolding success story our nation deserves at this time.”
While addressing the congregation, ABAT Chairman, Cardinal James Odumbaku, said the forthcoming general election presented another veritable platform for the nation to make the right choice to keep the country on the path of development.
Odumbaku noted that the Nigerians must get it right by electing a tested, trusted and credible leader with sterling track record to steer the ship of the country, saying that the movement believed Bola Tinubu remains the right man for the top job and the man who can berth the nation’s ship in Cape of Good Hope.
He said: “Tinubu is a tested leader to lead Nigeria out of the woods. We will work with passion to ensure he emerge as party candidate and also win the presidential election.”
In his turn, the former Deputy Governor of the state, Otunba Femi Pedro, said that as far back as 2003, he knew that Tinubu would have made a better president, even than former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said: “Quote me; come May 29, 2023 I will be at the Eagles Square wearing ‘Asiwaju is President’ cloth.”He stressed that Tinubu is the man that will transform Nigeria at this critical time.GAC leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi described Tinubu as “a genius” in statecraft, saying the APC National Leader is a salable article in the political market.
“We have to be prepared and determined, because the contest would be a battle of might and strength,” the GAC leader said.
The Movement’s Director-General, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole, said ABAT structure was different from other support groups set up across the country for the actualisation for Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
According to him the structure is tooted already in the 57 local government areas of Lagos.
These, he noted, are the foot soldiers, the support vanguard for the actualisation of 2023 for the Jagaban.
With the launch of ABAT, Tinubu’s presidential Ambition train is in motion now and the final destination is Aso Rock come May 29, 2023.
Hakeem Adisa is a political observer based in Lagos state.