The name, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a not a new name in the polity of Nigeria, Africa, and the western world. It’s a name that exists in the corridor of politics, government, democracy, leadership and humanity.

The man behind the name is an individual many regard as an enigma, a tactician and complete politician due to his effective and visionary style of leadership prowess that strives beyond politics, economy, academia, humanitarian, and the society at large.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the leader that many Lagosians’ regard as the pathfinder of the New Lagos initiative that Lagosian’s currently enjoy .
The continuous developmental plan of the New Lagos cannot be mentioned without the person of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the architect and pathfinder of both human capital and man power development in Lagos and beyond.
His developmental plan of Lagos raised a new crop of unknown followers and politicians emerging from the southwest and southeastern state with effective exemplary leadership styles when opportuned to serve in government.
Many followers of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that were with him during his years as governor of Lagos state have risen to become Governors, Ministers, several National and State House of Assembly members, Kings and first class traditional rulers, Business moguls to mention a few; the likes of the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, current minister of works, Babatunde Fashola, minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Speaker of the House of Representative, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, former Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, present Governor of Lagos, Ondo and Ekiti, Babajide Sanwo olu, Rotimi Akeredolu, Kayode Fayemi and many others would not fail to acknowledge Asiwaju Tinubu as the man who discovered their inherent positive leadership qualities, polished them and gave them the opportunity to serve in different capacity where they all proved their worth to earn a greater recommendation and referral.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an honored and revered friend of all, a man with friendship across bound, honored with several academic, humanitarian awards and traditional titles across all the six regions of Nigeria with a prominent and revered title of Jagaban-Borgu by the Emir of Borgu Kingdom.
It is no news that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has positioned himself as a future president of Nigeria due to his years of followership under the tutelage of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.
His role in NADECO can not be under-mentioned, as he was among those political and social activist that fought against military rule and suppression of democracy in Nigeria. He, alongside the likes of Professor Wole Soyinka, Olusegun Osoba, was among those from the Yoruba extraction who went on exile when the military rulers were after their lives for speaking out for democratic rule to be installed in Nigeria.
Asiwaju Tinubu is one of the few detribalized Nigerian who believe in a united Nigeria beyond ethnic and religious differences, his visionary leadership style helped him build leaders across all regions of Nigeria, that’s why the likes of Chief Joe Igbokwe, Ben Akabueze from the southeast region wouldn’t defy the odd of a man like Tinubu.
In building leadership, Asiwaju has done more than can be expected of an ordinary politician with the quest for power but rather than cling to power, he is a firm believer of shared rotational policy where each region and locality is positively represented and made to be a part of the decision making process of the people.
There is no doubt, Asiwaju will be a good president for Nigeria if there is a general will of the people to give him the mandate but that is the least expected largesse a politician should expect from the masses, rather it is a pointer for more work to be done to convince the general electorate.
Unfortunately for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as consistent and prepared that many have seen him to be building his vision for a shot at the presidency in 2023, not minding every form of criticism and shades thrown at him, his inconsistent followers are the major hurdles and challenges that he has been made to face.
These set of followers are individuals he personally discovered, groomed, and empowered for leadership while he was governor of Lagos state, now that the tide is turned, many of these individuals are presently standing tall to also take from the table he dearly wants to have, and bent of frustrating his ambition.
The same party, All Progressive Congress (APC), that he strived so hard to form as a leader of the defunct Action congress alongside other leaders of CPC and ANPP has found him unworthy of having the ticket of the party without a run for his money and a political turf for him to show his political sagacity and connect.

His immediate protégé that never had the singular might of holding a political office in their respective local government but presently occupy offices in the presidency are those who have stirred the hornet of political differences and disagreement just to propagate their own personal interest without minding the years of preparation that Asiwaju have put in building this vision which everyone will definitely be a part of it when its finally achieved.
Now is the turn of the South to produce the next president, it is unfortunate that majority of the electorate are still doubtful of a southeastern candidate due to past events and history while it is also expedient of the Southwest to fill the void and support the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed and correct every anomalies of the Buhari led administration.
The inconsistent followers of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are certain they can’t win the party ticket, all they want to do is to frustrate the visionary developmental agenda Asiwaju is bringing to governance at the national level.
He has been denied un-waivered access to party officials and mercenaries neither does he occupy a party offices that is recognized in the party constitution but his large arm of supporters and increasing followers are spreading the message of a renewed Nigeria under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
If we can reason beyond ethnic and religious differences and work together to make this vision a reality, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a president will bring the fresh aura we earnestly desire into leadership and governance in Nigeria.
The northern oligarchy are not bent on retaining power in the region but if the south cant align on a consensus candidate, its obvious the northern region will feeds on the lacuna to produce another vibrant and election worthy candidate who will take governance back to the region for the next four years.
Therefore, it is expedient on the entire people of the South to come together as a region and present a formidable candidate who will be able to earn the trust of Nigerians across party, ethnic and religious line.
The southwest and southeast should be able to provide a viable candidate across party line and stand against the scheme of selfish and greedy northern cabals who are bent on the continuous entrenchment of poverty, unemployment, insecurity and inflation on the general masses while they enrich their pockets and that of their cronies at the expense of the general masses.
A vote for the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu both at the upcoming Party primary and 2023 General election is a vote for a Renewed Nigeria where every Nigerian will be part of governance without the thought of ethnic or religious difference.

Michael Reuben is a Journalist, Political and Security analyst, a member of Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management.
He can be contacted through maildavies2002@gmail.com