‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so’ — Charles de Gaulle

The high-pitched political temperature in the country is subsiding. And its being feverish initially was a consequence of the avoidable quagmire in the National Assembly and the broad perception that President Mohammadu Buhari is politically apathetical; and added to this is the widely held notion that his government is quite slow in bringing about the desired change that Nigerians are yearning for. Many mischievous politicians also tried to create, in the public domain, a phantom frosty relationship between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the President, using the wrangling that arose from the leadership elections in the National Assembly as plank.

The public waited with baited breath to know the feelings of Asiwaju. To them, he needs to dispel or confirm the rumour making the round on the concocted cold relationship between him and the President. That opportunity, since the new Federal Government’s inauguration, presented itself when the two great men met at the Presidential Villa one evening during the month of Ramadan in company with some other invited party leaders. At the end of that day’s Ramadan break, Tinubu was the cynosure of all eyes and the pressmen feasted on him for news. He spoke eloquently; calling on Nigerians to be patient with the PMB government whilst also reiterating his confidence in the president’s style of governance. And just three days ago, the duo met again within the same Presidential Villa precinct and the smirking of Pull-Him-Down (PHD) politicians that saw him as the greatest threat to pursuit of their ambitions in the corridors of power ended in shame.

Their pastime of PHD suddenly becomes a nightmare, especially coming at a time that PMB met warring Honourable members and subsequently held a meeting with Asiwaju, which culminated into seeming denouement on the House of Representatives crisis with the emergence of Hakeem Gbajabiamila as House Majority leader. Obviously, any continuing recalcitrance against party position, after the meeting with PMB by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara group, could end dismally. The public is watching how far Bukola Saraki could go with his Senate-Presidency that he got through subterfuge and his continuing subversion of party directives/position.

The reading of this column is that the trust reposed in PMB needs the political sagacity of an Asiwaju and it is good that the public has seen through their last meeting that there is a solid synergy between the duo despite the treacherous antics of envious politicians.

The meeting earlier in the week of these great Nigerians and the way it doused the political temperature in the land, without sounding immodest, confirms yours sincerely’s strongly held position that Tinubu remains the most-sought-after politician and perhaps, the most influential one of the progressive hue in contemporary Nigeria.

There are two very recent examples to buttress this fact from notable personalities that should know. Prince Tony Momoh, accomplished journalist and former Minister of Information, in a recent interview titled: ‘How Tinubu lured five governors out of PDP’’ that was published in the Vanguard newspaper edition of July 27, 2015, underscores the political significance of Tinubu, unlike emptily lousy others, to the birth of this new dawn where he said: ‘…That is why we can never underrate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the success that we achieved in the 2015 election that produced this government. Tinubu is an excellent crowd mobilizer, very highly proactive and exceptionally digital politician. He was the one who knew how he wooed the five governors of the New PDP and brought them into the APC. You cannot underrate Tinubu’s contribution to the success of the emergence of this government. We should give kudos to Tinubu because of his role in the influence that brought the PDP governors into APC. He wooed Saraki and Atiku and he knew how he went into the PDP and played all those games. I would tell you that two politicians that should be respected most in Nigeria today are Tinubu and Bisi Akande.’

Another sampler: Colonel Sambo Dasuki, immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), in an interview titled: ‘Dasuki denies maltreating Buhari after 1985 coup,’’ that was equally published in the Vanguard newspaper of July 23, 2015 also disclosed the undeniable political importance of Tinubu where he said: ‘I pleaded in 2011 with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN and CPC.’ He further stated: “In the belief that Yoruba and south-westerners are never religious fanatics, especially regarding politics, me and my group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari. When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.” Four years after, these covetous ‘other elements’ surprisingly but expectedly embraced the Tinubu option and the rest is now history.

It is understandable if some people are begrudging Tinubu but they need to acknowledge the fact that he towers above not only the politically resentful people but also his treacherous associates. The political ignoramuses might deride him; the grovellers of hitherto never-do-well centrist governments are used to impugning his character, but that is the man still standing like the rock of Gibraltar. Asiwaju has the power and tactics of political liberation; he is imbued with a rare economic skill, being a shrewd accountant with vast international experience. This man of unquantifiable goodwill has an uncanny nerve for discovering a talent, which was reflected in the membership of his mostly well-endowed cabinet team, which he assembled during his eight-year rein as governor of Lagos State.

Indeed, Charles de Gaulle was right by saying: ‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men and men are great only if they are determined to be so.’ Tinubu is a successful determined political risk taker of our time. The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others remain political jellies. His often-talked-about political superiority complex does not mean pride, although it might appear to be so in the eyes of the mischievous among politicians and the so-called pretentious technocrats turned overnight politicians that want to see it so. Tinubu feels a higher esteem over the obstacles he desires to surmount and he is blessed with the rare courage of overcoming them, with enough energy reserved for any eventuality. It is with this kind of uncommon valor and acuity that he deployed in handling the devilish rascality of politicians/friends/associates that strive futilely, on a daily basis, to bring him on his kneels. PMB should always read between the lines so that these envious political zealots will not keep Tinubu and others that are truly for him away from the seat of power.

This column is particularly elated that notwithstanding the indignant blackmail of political buccaneers against Tinubu, he is still waxing stronger within the nation’s political firmament as a dependable torchbearer of the progressives across the federation: And more importantly, Asiwaju has proved to be a truly loyal ally of the PMB administration through his recent unflinching public assurance to Nigerians that with a bit of patience, this government at the end of its allowed ‘honeymoon’ will deliver on promised positive change.

SOURCE: THE NATION