By Kola Odepeju
Since growing up and witnessing presidential electioneering campaigns, never have l seen a presidential candidate that has been much vilified like the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Even if Tinubu had stolen or killed the goats of his detractors, the vilifications cannot be more than what we are witnessing daily from his haters and their agents. Whereas he did none of these. Of course the only thing that remains now is to send him to the guillotine. For what? For simply expressing his interest to run for the number one position in the country; a right, that’s guaranteed by our constitution for every free born of this country and even for a nationalised citizen.
*But before we crucify this democrat*, there’s need to pulse a bit and reflect on the good he has done for this country. A known fact to many people though, still worth remembering ourselves again – especially because of those that were toddlers or yet unborn in the nineties during the dark era of military dictatorship. Of course it was Tinubu and others who put their lives on the line for our country to have the democracy we are enjoying today. Majority of the political gladiators who are vilifying Tinubu today and whose followers are maligning and blackmailing Tinubu on social media were no where to be found when Tinubu and others were fearlessly leading the battle to free the country from the brutality of the military in the nineties.
Without the ilk of Tinubu Nigeria could still be in the wilderness of military dictatorship by now. We must not forget that Tinubu it was who – with his hard earned wealth – substantially funded the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the pro-democracy organisation that was in the forefront of democratisation struggle in the 90s. Thank God we are all living witnesses to that era today.
For historical purpose it’s germane to tell the younger ones and our children how ruthless late General Sanni Abacha was. Abacha had no respect for anybody. Criticise him and get crushed by his killer squad. Not even our revered and reputable scholar, Professor Wole Soyinka would have been spared by him had he (Soyinka) not run to exile. Abacha and his killer squad killed and maimed innocent and patriotic elements of this country who dared to call for de-annulment of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election won by late chief Moshood Abiola of blessed memory and also those who were courageous enough to challenge his dictatorian rule.
Abacha didn’t spare intellectuals. He killed and tormented them. Many of them had to run out of the country for the safety of their lives. Of course one of the most respected writers in Africa and environmentalist, fearless Ken Saro Wiwa didn’t escape his bestiality. And likewise others. He turned wives to widows and vice-versa. He killed and maimed students and other young people who demanded for de-annulement of that election; adjudged to be the freest, fairest and most credible in the annals of presidential elections in this country. In fact, this writer also had a close shave with death in Yaba, Lagos, during the popular One million man match in support of de-annulement of June 12 organized by our late leader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi also of blessed memory.
To assert here that *Press Freedom* was utterly suppressed under Abacha is a statement of fact. He detained journalists, dealth with editors and sent many of them away from the county while many who couldn’t find their ways out went underground where they courageously did surreptitious publications. Of course great journalists and writers that have made invaluable contributions to the development of journalism in this country like Messrs Bayo Onanuga, Dele Alake, Babafemi Ojudu, Dele Momodu, Segun Babatope, Diran Malaolu – to mention just a few – would have been sent to early graves by the dark goggled dictator had they not exiled themselves from the county then. Above short history is important to mention like l said earlier so as to let the younger ones know what the country went through under Abacha
*Before we crucify Tinubu* we must not forget that he had every opportunity to serve under the late maximum ruler, late Gen. Sanni Abacha as he was offered overtures to come aboard that government but he refused and insisted on validation of the *June 12 Mandate*. Had Tinubu had pecuniary motive for insisting on restoration of *June 12 Mandate* he would have accepted the overtures by the Abacha Junta then and leave Chief M.K.O. Abiola and the masses in the lurch. But he opted instead to embrace the principle of *good name is better than silver and gold* which is the goodwill he’s still enjoying till date.
*Before we crucify Tinubu* it’s also imperative to remind ourselves of the good he did for humanity as the governor of Lagos state. The transformation Lagos witnessed under his administration cannot be overemphasized. For lack of space one cannot mention them all here, but a few really deserve to be mentioned. These are; using his creativity to shore up the IGR of the state from a paltry N400m or thereabouts to billions, creation of more local governments to bring governance closer to the grassroots (a bold step for which he was punished by then president Olusegun Obasanjo through withholding of statutory allocations to Lagos for two years), employment of more than two thousand youths into the civil service, massive road infrastructure development, encouragement of education through his *One Day Governor Program* and *scholarships* to students from indigent backgrounds, delivery of good health care system amongst others. All these are facts that are not disputable.
What’s more? *Before we crucify Tinubu* we must also remember the countless number of people he has lifted to the top. It’s a known fact today that God has used Tinubu for many people to achieve their own good destinies too. We all know them so needless mentioning names here. Majority of these people who are also using their talents to contribute to national development today would have been relatively unknown but for Tinubu. Of course Tinubu is a perfect example of the manifestation of a Yoruba proverb that; *”Bi ori kan ba sunwòn, a ran’gba”* i.e if a single head succeeds in life, it will definitely extend to two hundred more.
As a concerned Nigerian, l have always wondered why we run our best down and engage in *Pull Him Down* attitude; especially when it comes to political contests. This attitude has no doubt denied us the opportunities to have our best to lead us which is the main reason that’s responsible for our underdevelopment so far. We showed this ugly attitude to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, likewise Chief M.K.O Abiola; both of blessed memory. Now another opportunity has come for us in Asiwaju Tinubu and rather than learn lesson, it’s still business as usual. And the unfortunate and most worrisome thing about this whole scenario is the fact that Yorubas have always been the ones leading all these unslaughts against their own.
*Let us not crucify Tinubu yet. Before *we crucify him* it will be better to give him the chance to use his God-given talent to help the country. No doubt he has gotten what it takes to lead this country to a great height; talking of intellectual capacity, financial management capacity, governance experience, the right exposure, vision and above all, blood of kindness is flowing in his vein. Thus this is another opportunity for us in this country. We must not bungle it.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless Nigerians-Amen!
Kola Odepeju, newspaper columnist and social commentator, writes via [email protected]
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