The world of politics is like a perilous gulf bordered by storms. Several men sail into the turbulence, like desperate pirates, seeking floating and buried treasures. Very few, however, emerge with burnished pearls from the ocean floor.
In the expansive universe of Nigerian politics, the latter navigate the coast like sea-hardened sailors; armed with fetching meekness and staunch resolve, they persevere, holding course until they chance on floating and buried treasures.
Oftentimes their fortitude yields handsome results as observable in the affairs of Nigeria’s most illustrious magnates and power brokers.
Natives and beneficiaries of this political paradise are mostly born to privilege. Sometimes, they aren’t. But one uniting factor of their circuit is that their lives are governed by a sense of loyalty to clique and entitlement to the spoils of Nigeria’s economic and political enterprise.
These men flaunt a canny ability to trade and batter anything for everything and vice versa. Ultimately, their passion and focus are on the bigger picture. Every dispensation flaunts its fair share of these national factors, or business and political superstars if you like. And some of them that are very well-heeled have found a knack for reemerging as the prominent factors, business and political game-changers in successive administrations.
For instance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had Andy Uba, Aliko Dangote, Jim ovia, Yar’Adua had Ibori, Dahiru Manga; Goodluck Jonathan had Haruna Momoh, Diezani Alison-Maduekwe, Kingsley Kuku, Kola Aluko; and now, President Muhammadu Buhari has Tunde Sabiu, Mele Kyari, Mamman Daura, Bala Wunti, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu and so many others
Interestingly, however, with the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s new president, Adewale Tinubu, the self-effacing but very successful Group MD/CEO of OANDO Plc, is gradually unfurling as the country’s new Mr-Fix-It. Wale is a nephew of President-elect Tinubu. Although not a politician, he put his all into the campaign by lobbying the private sector to support his uncle.
The OANDO boss was also one of the first to congratulate the president-elect. In a statement issued, he wrote, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory in the 2023 Presidential elections; this is a testament to his stature as a visionary, iconic, and resilient leader. Under his leadership of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the president-elect will deliver on his promise of ‘Renewed Hope’, poverty alleviation, and economic prosperity all underpinned by justice, peace, and national unity.” He wished Asiwaju all the best, stating that he looks forward “in particular to the youth and the private sector playing a central role in supporting his efforts to build a progressive, safe and secure future for our great nation.
Wale’s influence in the incoming administration will be far greater than his robust public profile suggests. Those who understand this power play like prominent Nigerians, indigenous and international oil firms, and big corporations are already falling over themselves and courting him for access and favours from the incoming administration. Since he issued that statement and a picture of him andTinubu and his running mate, Kassim Shetima, emerged, word of Wale’s growing influence has gone around.
The son of Alhaji Kafaru Tinubu (Tinubu’s late uncle), an influential police officer, lawyer, and Second Republic Federal Commissioner of Health, who died in October 2013, Wale has always been very close to the former Lagos State governo,. It was also through Wale that Tinubu met Babatunde Fashola who, years later, would become Tinubu’s chief of staff and successor as governor of Lagos.
Speaking about his fortuitous meeting with Tinubu, Fashola recalled, “I was a senior associate at the law firm of Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe, and Belgore, where I was practising. Wale Tinubu, his nephew, came to join the law firm then. He was always mentioning ‘Uncle Bola’ and one day, he said: ‘let’s go and see my uncle.’ We got there and went out to lunch with him. That was when I could say we formally met. ”
Until now, Fashola may be regarded as the biggest beneficiary of Wale and his uncle’s relationship. But many more will benefit when Tinubu is eventually sworn in as president.
An oil and gas mogul, Wale is the founder of Oando Plc., Nigeria’s largest oil and gas company and one of Africa’s leading energy solutions providers. In an industry where he has spent the last three decades and is a major domo, the incoming president will sound out Wale on who becomes the Group Chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. Already, the name of Onamofe Boyo, Wale’s friend, partner, and Deputy Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC is being mentioned in powerful circles as the likely successor to Mele Kyari.
