Bola Tinubu

Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu (born 29 March 1952), is a Nigerian politician and the current national leader of the All Progressives Congress.[1] He had previously served as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.[2]

Chief

Bola Tinubu
Tinubu in 2011
12th Governor of Lagos State
In office
29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
DeputyKofoworola Bucknor
Femi Pedro
Preceded byBuba Marwa
Succeeded byBabatunde Fashola
Personal details
Born (1952-03-29) 29 March 1952
Lagos, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
(2013 to present)
Other political
affiliations		Social Democratic Party
(1992–1993)
Alliance for Democracy
(1998–2006)
Action Congress of Nigeria
(2006 to 2013)
Spouse(s)Oluremi Tinubu
OccupationAccountant, politician

Background

Tinubu was born on 29 March 1952 in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. His mother, Chief Abibatu Mogaji, was a trader who eventually became the Iyaloja of Lagos.

He attended St. John's Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children's Home School in Ibadan, South West of Nigeria. Tinubu then went to the United States in 1975, where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois, and then at Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Tinubu worked for the American companies Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells, and GTE Services Corporation.[3] After returning to Nigeria in 1983, Bola Tinubu joined Mobil Oil Nigeria, and later became an executive of the company.[4]

Early political career

His political career began in 1992, when he joined the Social Democratic Party where he was a member of the Peoples Front faction led by Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and made up of other politicians such as Umaru Yar'Adua, Atiku Abubakar, Baba Gana Kingibe, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Magaji Abdullahi, Dapo Sarumi and Yomi Edu. He was elected to the Senate, representing the Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic.[5]

After the results of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections were annulled, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition, a group which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of Moshood Abiola as winner of the June 12 election. Following the seizure of power as military head of state of General Sani Abacha, he went into exile in 1994 and returned to the country in 1998 after the death of the military dictator, which ushered in the transition to the Fourth Nigerian Republic.[6]

In the run-up to the 1999 elections, Bola Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo.[7] He went on to win the AD primaries for the Lagos State governorship elections in defeating Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu, a former Minister of Works and Housing.[8] In January 1999, he stood for the position of Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected.[9]

Governor of Lagos State

When he assumed office in May 1999, Tinubu promised 10,000 housing units for the poor with little achieved.[10] During the eight-year period of his being in office, he made large investments in education in the state and also reduced the number of schools in the state by returning many schools to the already settled former owners.[11] He also initiated new road construction, required to meet the needs of the fast-growing population of the state.[12]

Tinubu, alongside a new deputy governor, Femi Pedro, won re-election into office as governor in April 2003. All other states in the South West fell to the People's Democratic Party in those elections.[13] He was involved in a struggle with the Olusegun Obasanjo-controlled federal government over whether Lagos State had the right to create new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to meet the needs of its large population. The controversy led to the federal government seizing funds meant for local councils in the state.[14] During the latter part of his term in office, he was engaged in continuous clashes with PDP powers such as Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Lagos State senator who had become minister of works, and Bode George, the southwest chairman of the PDP.[15]

Relations between Tinubu and deputy governor Femi Pedro became increasingly tense after Pedro declared his intention to run for the gubernatorial elections. Pedro competed to become the AC candidate for governor in the 2007 elections, but withdrew his name on the eve of the party nomination. He defected to the Labour Party while still keeping his position as deputy governor.[16] Tinubu's tenure as Lagos State Governor ended on 29 May 2007, when his successor Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress took office.[17][18]

Corruption

In April 2007, after the elections but before Babatunde Fashola had taken office, the Federal Government brought Tinubu before the Code of Conduct Bureau for trial over the alleged illegal operation of 16 separate foreign accounts.[19] In January 2009, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cleared Tinubu and governors James Ibori of Delta State and Obong Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State of charges of conspiracy, money laundering, abuse of office and official corruption in relation to a sale of V-mobile network shares in 2004.[20] In March 2009, there were reports that a plot had been identified to kill Tinubu. The Alliance for Democracy called on the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, to conduct a thorough investigation.[21]In September 2009, however, there were reports that the British Metropolitan Police were investigating a transaction in which the Lagos State government made an investment in Econet (now Airtel). Tinubu said the transaction was straightforward and profitable to the state, with no intermediaries involved.[22] The Federal Government rejected a request by Britain to release evidence needed for further investigation and prosecution of the three Nigerian ex-governors in a London court.[23]

Tinubu has been widely perceived as the "Godfather of Lagos",[24] leveraging his political capital in the mega city-state to influence regional and national affairs. His role in pulling the strings of the mega city-state was exposed in The Lion of Bourdillion, a 2015 documentary film highlighting Tinubu's political and financial grip on the city-state. Tinubu filed a N150 billion libel suit against the producers, AIT,[25] and the documentary stopped airing on 6 March 2015. Nonetheless, antecedents such as his overbearingness on successors such as in December 2009, when there were reports that Fashola and Tinubu had fallen out over the issue of Fashola's re-election in 2011, with Tinubu preferring the commissioner for environment, Muiz Banire.[26] And a similar scuffle in 2015, over Fashola's successor pitting Tinubu against him who threw his full weight behind Akinwunmi Ambode,[27] who later succeeded Fashola and was himself single-handedly ousted from office by Tinubu replacing him with incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu,[28] all goes to show his unprecedented influence in the city-state.[29] During the 2019 election, a bullion van was seen entering Tinubu's residence on Bourdillion Road in Ikoyi, with Tinubu claiming "I keep money anywhere I want".[30]

Politics

In 2007, following the landslide victory of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 2007 elections, Tinubu was active in negotiations to bring together the fragmented opposition parties into a "mega-party" capable of challenging the PDP.[31] In February 2013, Tinubu's negotiations in creating a "mega opposition" party became paid off with the merger of Nigeria's three biggest opposition parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the new PDP (nPDP), a faction of serving governors of the then ruling People's Democratic Party[32] – into the All Progressives Congress (APC).[33]

In 2014, Tinubu supported former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari, leader of the CPC faction of the APC – who commanded widespread following in Northern Nigeria, and had previously contested in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections as the APC presidential candidate.[34] Tinubu initially wanted to become Buhari's vice presidential candidate but later conceded for Yemi Osibanjo, his ally and former commissioner of justice.[35] In 2015, Buhari rode the APC to victory, ending the sixteen year rule of the PDP, and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate.[36]

Tinubu has gone on to play an important role in the Buhari administration, supporting government policies and holding onto the internal party reins, in lieu of his long-held rumored presidential aspiration.[37] In 2019, he supported Buhari's re-election campaign defeating the PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar. In 2020, following an internal party crisis which led to the removal of Tinubu ally and party chairman Adams Oshiomole, it is believed the move was to scuttle Tinubu's presidential prospects ahead of 2023.[38]

Personal life

He is a Muslim.[39]Tinubu is married to Oluremi Tinubu, the current Senator of the Lagos Central Senatorial District.[40] His nephew, Adewale Tinubu is the CEO of Oando Plc. His mother, Chief Abibatu Mogaji, died on 15 June 2014 at the age of 96.[41] On 31 October 2017, his son Jide Tinubu had a heart attack while in London and was later confirmed dead.[42]

Titles

He holds both the chieftaincies of the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of Borgu kingdom in Niger State, Nigeria.[39]

See also

References
  1. Onyirioha, Nnamdi. "This is Tinubu's place in APC - Presidency makes clarification". Legit.ng. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. "Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-1999-2007 – BabaJide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State". Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  3. "My Profile". Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  4. Barnaby Phillips (February 20, 1999). "Lagos hopes for change". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  5. "YORUBA LEADERSHIP: THE CAP AND THE SHOES FIT ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU". NigeriaWorld. May 4, 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  6. Jide Ajani (October 10, 2009). "They labelled me military mole in NADECO for nothing — Bucknor Akerele". Vanguard. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  7. Duro Onabule (March 14, 2008). "Acceptable face of godfatherism?". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on February 26, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  8. DURO ADESEKO (December 20, 2008). "Why the military toppled Shagari". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  9. Olusola Balogun (October 25, 2009). "PDP's insatiable thirst". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  10. RAZAQ BAMIDELE (February 16, 2007). "Lagos govt wasted eight years fighting FG – Rasak, PDP senatorial candidate". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  11. GABRIEL DIKE (July 3, 2007). "Build on Tinubu's legacy in education, Fashola urged". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  12. FEMI BABAFEMI (June 29, 2005). "New road opens up Ijegun community". Archived from the original on December 31, 2006. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  13. Olusola Balogun (September 6, 2009). "One-party state: Who will stop PDP?". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  14. "New local councils for Lagos". Therichnetworth. December 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  15. Tolu Olarewaju (June 17, 2004). "Pains, anguish of Ogunlewe/George Army on Lagos roads". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  16. CHRISTIAN ITA, DENNIS MERNYI (July 8, 2007). "Ugwu, Madueke, others face hurdle". Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  17. OLUSOLA BALOGUN (June 14, 2009). "2011: South West politicians to watch". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  18. RAZAQ BAMIDELE (October 13, 2006). "The making of Lagos AC". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 4, 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  19. Ise-Oluwa Ige (25 April 2007). "FG Drags Tinubu to Conduct Tribunal". Vanguard. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  20. Atika Balal (11 September 2009). "Vmobile Sale - Ibori, Tinubu, Attah Cleared of Money Laundering". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  21. REMI ADEFULU (March 30, 2009). "Tinubu: AD wades into alleged threat to life". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  22. "$38bn Vmobile scam: Metropolitan police lied – Tinubu". The Sun Publishing. September 16, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  23. Ise-Oluwa Ige (September 10, 2009). "FG, UK at loggerheads over Tinubu, Ibori, Attah". Vanguard. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  24. editor (0201-03-05). "Tinubu: The Flawed Progressive". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2020-07-05. Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  25. "Lion of Bourdillon: AIT fights back". web.archive.org. 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  26. "Fashola, Tinubu Split Over 2011". Daily Champion. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  27. "Nigeria's poster boy for good governance caught up in corruption allegations". African Arguments. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  28. "Ambode vs. Tinubu". Ambode vs. Tinubu. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  29. "Former Lagos governor Ambode feels the wrath of the kingmaker". The Africa Report.com. 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  30. Published. "Bullion vans: I can keep money anywhere I want, says Tinubu". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  31. GOBERT EMERSON Jr., TAIWO AMODU and DURO ADESEKO (April 11, 2009). "Mega party, mega confusion". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  32. "Amaechi, 4 other PDP govs, nPDP join APC". Vanguard News. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  33. "Update: ACN, ANPP, APGA, CPC merge into new party, APC - Premium Times Nigeria". 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  34. "Buhari wins APC presidential primaries". Vanguard News. 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  35. "Buhari formally presents Osinbajo as APC presidential running mate | Premium Times Nigeria". 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  36. "Muhammadu Buhari's Presidential Victory in Nigeria". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  37. "Tinubu meets Buhari in Aso Rock, speaks on 2023 presidential ambition". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  38. siteadmin (2020-06-24). "EXCLUSIVE: APC Leader, Bola Tinubu's Presidential Ambition Crumbles, Unable To Visit Aso Villa As President Buhari Recognises Victor Giadom As Party's Acting National Chairman". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  39. "Would-be successors to the ailing Nigerian president are circling". The Economist. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  40. "Senator Oluremi Tinubu: The Change that was Expected is not the Change that is being Experienced Now - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  41. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. "My son, Jide died of cardiac arrest - Bola Tinubu - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 3 November 2017.
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