The looming battle for Lagos and imminent fall of the Tinubu political dynasty

Bola Ahmed Tinubu The man the myth.

The Wikipedia page of Bola Ahmed Tinubu puts his date of birth at 29 March 1952 which clocks him at 69 this year. It says his mother is unknown in the first paragraph, but at the end of the page paradoxically says his “mother” Abibatu Mogaji died at the age of 96. It also says that his secondary school is unkown. It goes on to list his education and places of initial employment culminating in a stint at Mobil Oil Nigeria.
Over years serious doubts have been expressed on the veracity of the background and indeed education of Bola Tinubu . However, what will appear to be the closest unravelling of the myth behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s past can be found in Yinka Odumakin’s gargantuan piece titled “ Portrait of the tiger Ambode rode”. In that piece which has not been rebutted till date Odumakin punctured deep holes in the alleged age of Tinubu, background, character and his bonafides as a progressive and true democrat. The series on Tinubu’s past was set to continue with a startling revelation on what happened to Funsho Williams- the Lagos PDP gubernatorial candidate who was assassinated under mysterious circumstances; until it was rudely truncated by the intervention of a prominent South West Lawyer, who probably feared disastrous consequences for his prized client. In deference to entreaties from this lawyer, Odumakin demurred but remained unshaken with a promise to return to his stirring earth-moving penmanship at the appropriate time.
Such is the myth of the background and character of Bola Tinubu that has been kept hidden, but surely all will be finally unravelled should he embark on his rumoured presidential odyssey.

His Political empire

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has led a chequered political existence, he was at first a foot soldier in Social Democratic Party, (SDP), until he morphed into a pro-democracy activist of some sorts with the emergence of National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO). His short stint as a Senator in 1993, coupled with his association with the Alliance for Democracy, (AD), giants like Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo propelled him to become Governor of Lagos State in May 1999. As Governor he is credited to have propelled the state to meet its growing population by public reforms. He was however ruthless in his pursuit of power and quickly dispensed with his AD dinosours and reformatted the party into AC/ACN. Along the way he dealt ruthlessly with his deputies, Femi Pedro and Kofo Bucknor Akerele through impeachment and cemented his reputation as the political generalissimo of Lagos. He had his way amidst howls of protests and installed Babatunde Fashola in 2007. He did the same in 2015 with the installation Akinwunmi Ambode, Babajide Sanwoolu in 2019 and was a party to Muhammed Buhari's presidential quest success in 2015, and an Emperor was born.
Since his emergence as Governor in 1999 and his short lived romance with the Lagos political elite and royalty, Tinubu has since brushed them aside to become the political numero uno in Lagos. The so called unconstitutional ruling party elders forum he created, the Governors Advisory Council, (GAC), is but an assembly to rubber stamp Tinubu's decisions on who gets what in Lagos State. Ocassionally tokens are thrown to the subservient Lagos elite and their offsprings, by which they become dumb and deaf to the Emperor’s excesses.
Tinubu’s political empire reached its zenith in 2011 when he held sway in practically all the south west through elections and Court heists.
However, since 2015 it appears the proverbial law of diminishing returns has set in. Oyo State was lost to the opposition PDP and his political opponents have set up beach-heads in Ekiti, Osun and Ondo States. Osun State was lost but retrieved with force of arms, while Ogun State was secured on a song and a prayer to a rampaging Ibikunle Amosun. Asiwaju was routed like a minnow in Edo state and his political hatchet man Adams Oshiomole was humbled by an erstwhile godson Godwin Obaseki.
This political descent for Tinubu was recently best summarised in the recent Pulitzer worthy 2020 article by Eniola Bello titled “The Tinubu Conundrum” The article aptly analysed Tinubu’s travails and likely descent into political oblivion after being used by the Abuja cabal.

His Business Empire & Soldiers

Asiwaju just like a Mafia Don has built an army of soldiers who do his bidding whether or not they believe in it, so far as there is political and economic benefits are asured. The list of his soldiers is endless and includes clergy, royalty, judiciary, the civil servants, the legislature, security service officers, amongst others too numerous to mention. Several prominent and not so prominent persons have been bought and compromised to the detriment of Lagosians to ensure the Tinubu empire continues. In Lagos he has ensured a long list of his original team members are in key positions, Tunji Bello/ Dele Alake/ Sunday Dare continue to hold sway as the information communication captains; Hakeem Muri Okunola Lagos State Head of Service is the civil service arrowhead; Yemi Cardoso/now Senator Tokunbo Abiru/ Moruf Oseni/ Wale Edun are the financial and money market managers; Seyi Tinubu is the undisputed outdoor advertising guru, Fola Tinubu/Dayo Mobereola are transport enforcers ; Tayo Ayinde/Hakeem Odumosu/Musiliu Akinsanya aka Mc Oluomo are in charge of the deadly security enforcement unit; Saheed Elegushi/ Gbolahon lawal are the royal hatchet men and prime and waterfront land custodians and the list is endless too numerous to mention but they are known.
Tinubu on the other the hand is the chief real estate operator in Lagos State using a vast number of lawyers, estate agents to manage properties worth billions of Naira on what is arguably the richest real estate portfolio in Nigeria all at the expense of Lagosians.
Other assets all acquired through the rape of the Lagos treasury, include the monthly 10 to 15 percent cut by Alpha Beta Consulting on Lagos Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), this revenue collection consultancy was signed by Tinubu immediately he became Lagos Governor in 1999 and had Gboyega Oyetola his nephew and now Osun State Governor in charge then, The private jets, the shares in First Bank , Polaris Bank and Wema Bank, Television Continental (TVC) and The Nation newspaper, a collection of radio stations, all add up to the business empire of Bola Tinubu.

The battle for Lagos

As 2023 looms there are several forces warming up to dislodge Tinubu from Lagos and set his political and business empire in perpetual decline. The numbers are growing daily and its reported to include but not limited to Ibikunle Omolaja Amosun FCA, Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Atiku Bagudu, Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, Nasir El Rufai, Muiz Banire SAN, Fouad Oki, Jide Adediran, Kadiri Obafemi Hamzart, Yinka Odumakin, Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, Shehu Malami SAN, John Kayode Fayemi and Akinwunmi Oladapo Ambode FCA and a host of others.
The plan being hatched is to seize the political machinery of the Lagos APC from Tinubu and his cohorts or at best insist on a sharing formula which does not favour him as numero uno. If Tinubu refuses he will be forced out of the party.
Having successfully sacked the Oshiomhole led National Working Committee of the party, efforts are in top gear to see to it that no Tinubu's minion becomes the national chairman of the party. Femi Gbajabiamila Speaker Federal House of Representatives, one of Tinubu's puppets has been rendered impotent, and have been told to shape up or be removed.

The Justice Forum group in conjunction with the APC National Executive is also planning to team up with the Fouad Oki group to make a power grab during the upcoming local Government elections in order to dilute the grip of the Tinubu group on the political structures in Lagos State. Multiple law suits and public demonstrations will be deployed to thwart any attempt to deliver the 57 councils into Tinubu's kitty by using the usual selection process of GAC members and party leaders.

There are apparently at least 14 different groups who have begun clandestine meetings to close ranks to form a formidable single group across the 57 local governments and LCDA’s toward this goal.
Crowd Funding for all these various group activities is underway and the thinking is that with Tinubu and his cohorts dislodged from Lagos the coast will be clear to install a new power equation in Lagos.

Conclusion

Bola Tinubu is not the last godfather around. There are still a smattering of godfathers in Nigeria's political landscape such as James Onanefe Ibori, Kashim Shettima, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and others still operating under the radar, but Tinubu is the loudest and lousiest of the lot, the situation in Lagos appears to be one of the most perverse. Since 1999 Tinubu and his chameleonic political structure have held sway decimating all opponents including the Lagos PDP who still remains embryonic despite the several opportunities to wrest power from Tinubu .
However, from all indications it appears the sun is about to set on Tinubu’s 20 year reign and permanent retirement now looms very clearly in the horizon.

Ayodele Fayokun
Alimosho,
Lagos.

Ok

Is Tinubu still relevant in APC? What a great country rule by unfortunate people!

Tinubu is longest serving governor in Nigeria. 21 years and counting!!!!

op from your write up it shows Tinubu has grown from just a man to become an institution and I don't think any man born of a woman can dislodge his dynasty in Lagos.

Xscape1993:
Is Tinubu still relevant in APC? What a great country rule by unfortunate people!

When your boy has been the Vice President for 8 years, & future President JAH willing with life for 8 years how can you not but be relevant in Nigerian politics? Even Adams Oshiomole is still very relevant, political season hasn’t started yet, it is still a couple of rainy seasons away, when it starts all these your tik tok talk will be silent whispers.

Xscape1993:
Is Tinubu still relevant in APC? What a great country rule by unfortunate people!

Work add so that you can be as relevant as he is.

capitalzero:
Tinubu is longest serving governor in Nigeria. 21 years and counting!!!!

What about Convict Records Chief Executive Officer James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State? Disgruntled Lagosian sponsored article by Bode George & Pdp, a fruitless endeavor as usual.

It's really imminent because all these years, EFCC didn't know who Tinubu was. But because of his presidential ambition, they are beginning to know him.

Sai Baba

EFCC has come calling.Let sleeping dogs continue to sleep.

Tinubu is a puppet emperor... of Lagos state.

A pure Hausa Fulani slave.. yet some oduduwA descendants worship him.

He has no say of his own ... everything he owned belong to his master and can be taken at anytime .. he’s loyalty is in doubt

He’s a nobody in the scheme of things ... just another slave with royal bead.

My own now is how to convert my Nairaland likes to raw cash, ground no come level again.



Goat don dey sweat profusely

favor914:
When your boy has been the Vice President for 8 years, & future President JAH willing with life for 8 years how can you not but be relevant in Nigerian politics? Even Adams Oshiomole is still very relevant, political season hasn’t started yet, it is still a couple of rainy seasons away, when it starts all these your tik tok talk will be silent whispers.

My faithful servant, i have a gift for you

aremuforlife:

Work add so that you can be as relevant as he is.

Thank you for defending me my loyal minion, One ororo for you and ya family

Tinubu ruling all 36 states since 1999

Another epistle about Tinubu from upper Iweka people.

They always wish to have a leader like Tinubu in their region

Smiles

EFCC just dusted the criminals file

Obalatule:
Thank you for defending me my loyal minion, One ororo for you and ya family

Givers never lack. Tepa mose owo re

In order for APC/ACN to be great Tinubu must go. I would rather ACN pulls out of APC and starts all over again to make it a genuine national opposition. If they don't pull out, they need to spend the next 4 years after 2023 remaking their image, because the Northern caucus has not done a good job at all

I don't know who knows Seyi's Muslim name is it Idris.. don't know his face look familiar ...Anyway that might be Lagos incoming Governor, you can see Gov Sanwo Olu ensures him and his deputy drives the same Range Rover, E get why, they are both enjoying their terms, hopefully after eight years they for don Bellewise enough to had over to "Baba so e pe" Seyi .

aremuforlife:

Work add so that you can be as relevant as he is.

Work add bawo?

Monogamy:
Another epistle about Tinubu from upper Iweka people.

They always wish to have a leader like Tinubu in their region

Yes.... definitely a coward chestbeater using a Yoruba name.

Asgard13:
Tinubu is a puppet emperor... of Lagos state.

A pure Hausa Fulani slave.. yet some oduduwA descendants worship him.

He has no say of his own ... everything he owned belong to his master and can be taken at anytime .. he’s loyalty is in doubt

He’s a nobody in the scheme of things ... just another slave with royal bead.

Good one

What of OUK

It is high time.

They have been saying this since 2007.

Wake me up when Jagaban influence collapse.

LegendHero:
They have been saying this since 2007.

Wake me up when Jagaban influence collapse.

Will wake you wen Tinubu will run for Apc primaries

Because he must contest!

No excuses

Asgard13:


Will wake you wen Tinubu will run for Apc primaries

Because he must contest!

No excuses

By the way, how’s Peter Obi political life going?

I heard he’s queuing up behind Atiku for 2023, I hope he get it right this time around.

Jagaban says hi to him!

LegendHero:


By the way, how’s Peter Obi political life going?

I heard he’s queuing up behind Atiku for 2023, I hope he get it right this time around.

Jagaban says hi to him!

Peter has never been a noise maker.. so he don’t need your Jagaban hello..

He has the right to contest post or chose any option

Unlike your Jagaban that was slapped by Alimodu sheriff in the presence of his master without a wimp and had his Muslim muslim Vice presidential ambition cut by a saraki of nobody

Now queuing behind buhari and sacrificing his people just to get a piece of Apc primaries

Which is not yet sure

Heard Efcc has open his file since November and he’s subtly pleading with buhari in Yoruba language

Anyways

Tunde saibu is saying hi from aso villa... tunde is yet to consider a date for him to visit buhari since 2019

Maybe you’re not inform ..

Stay on peter .. is great.

Asgard13:


Peter has never been a noise maker.. so he don’t need your Jagaban hello..

He has the right to contest post or chose any option

Unlike your Jagaban that was slapped by Alimodu sheriff in the presence of his master without a wimp and had his Muslim muslim Vice presidential ambition cut by a saraki of nobody

Now queuing behind buhari and sacrificing his people just to get a piece of Apc primaries

Which is not yet sure

Heard Efcc has open his file since November and he’s subtly pleading with buhari in Yoruba language

Anyways

Tunde saibu is saying hi from aso villa... tunde is yet to consider a date for him to visit buhari since 2019

Maybe you’re not inform ..

Stay on peter .. is great.

I don’t like reading epistle very early in the morning.

I just hope Peter Obi get his chance under Atiku in 2023. At least that will compensate the Nyamurris for their effort of diligent online wailing.

LegendHero:


I don’t like reading epistle very early in the morning.

I just hope Peter Obi get his chance under Atiku in 2023. At least that will compensate the Nyamurris for their effort of diligent online wailing.

Same here..
Hoping Tinubu get a chance in Apc primaries to compensate his silences and loyalty to Hausa Fulani lords
Even in the face of all killings of his people by his master

Not to chicken out at last minute
Or
Step down

Tell him no excuses in 2023

Will only confirm him a fool..