Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, born in Lagos on 29th March 1952, will be sworn in as the President of Nigeria today, Monday, 29th May 2023.
He is set to become the country’s 16th president since 1960 after taking over from Muhammadu Buhari, his immediate predecessor. He will also become Nigeria’s fifth president of the Fourth Republic.
Tinubu is known as the “godfather” in Nigeria’s political space due to his influence. He has held several positions that have elevated his impact in Nigeria.
This article will look at Tinubu’s journey and highlight the most significant parts, from his birth to his most influential position as President.
Early life and education
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was born in Lagos on 29th March 1952. Information about his parents is scarce. Tinubu is said to have spent his early days in southwestern Nigeria before moving to the United States of America (USA). According to reports, his mother supported this migration.
He arrived in the US in 1975 and completed his undergraduate studies there, first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago and then at Chicago State University. To overcome the initial difficulties of school, he had to take on jobs such as dishwashing, night-guard, and cab-driving.
Due to his brilliance, Tinubu had the rare privilege of partly teaching other students in his Faculty remedial tutorial classes during his first year at Chicago State University.
During his undergraduate years, Bola excelled academically, consistently making the Dean’s List and receiving prestigious awards such as the Outstanding Student’s Award, the University Scholar’s Award, and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance. His exceptional performance earned him the esteemed Summa Cum Laude distinction with a GPA of 3.54 out of 4.0.
In his final year at university, Bola successfully ran for and won the position of President of the Accounting Society, showcasing his leadership abilities and popularity among his peers.
Tinubu later graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management).
Life outside school
After graduating with honors and numerous accolades, Bola Tinubu embarked on his professional journey at renowned American firms such as Arthur Anderson, Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now known as Deloitte Haskins and Touche), and GTE Service Corporation, the largest communication and utility company in the United States.
At Deloitte Haskins and Sells, Bola gained valuable experience by contributing to auditing and management consultancy services for prominent companies like General Motors, First National Bank of Chicago, Procter and Gamble, International Harvester, GEC, and other Fortune 500 firms.
Equipped with his international exposure in financial management, Bola returned to Nigeria and joined Mobil Producing Nigeria, where he occupied a senior position.
Tinubu’s political life
Bola Ahmed Tinubu made his initial entry into active politics as a founding member of the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992, he was elected as a respected Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
During his tenure, he notably served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation, and Currency, a prominent committee in the Senate.
Following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Nigerian Presidential Election and the subsequent militarization of Nigerian politics, Tinubu became a founding member of the renowned pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Despite facing numerous arrests, detentions, harassment, and threats to his life, he remained committed to the cause, even going into exile to join NADECO abroad in advocating for the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria.
In 1998, Tinubu responded to the call for national reconciliation and development and returned to Nigeria. The following year, he began his two-term tenure as the elected Executive Governor of Lagos State, representing the Alliance for Democracy (AD) political party.
During his time as Governor (1999-2007), Tinubu’s exemplary performance earned him several accolades and recognition, including the Best Governor in Nigeria for Y2000 by the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce and the Y2002 Best Practices Prize for improving the living environment awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works and the UN Habitat Group.
He also received the Y2000 Best Computerized Government in Nigeria Award from the Computer Association of Nigeria. In recognition of his significant contributions to democracy, good governance, and national development, Tinubu was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by Abia State University.
He holds various chieftaincy titles and serves as a patron to numerous professional and social organizations.
As a skilled political strategist, Tinubu successfully navigated the incursion of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the South Western States of Nigeria.
Despite facing opposition, he stood as the lone re-elected Governor from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and engaged in frequent disputes with the PDP-controlled Federal Government, particularly regarding the creation of an additional 37 Local Council Development Areas for Lagos State.
A Supreme Court judgment ruled in his favor, compelling the release of the seized statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Tinubu played a significant role in the establishment of the Action Congress (AC) political party as a response to the weakened Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Through his adept leadership and persuasive ideas, he quickly transformed the AC into a credible opposition party to the PDP at the national level.
In 2013, Mr. Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) joined forces with the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and factions of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). This merger resulted in a powerful opposition party in Nigeria.
On 31st July 2013, the party received approval from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to become an official political party, leading to the withdrawal of operating licenses for the ACN, CPC, and ANPP.
The APC quickly gained popularity among Nigerian voters and successfully defeated the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections. The pivotal role played by Mr. Tinubu in the formation of the APC was acknowledged by several leaders within the party.
Tinubu’s journey to becoming President
In January 2022, Bola Tinubu officially announced his candidacy for the Nigerian presidency in the 2023 elections.
In June of that same year, Tinubu won the presidential primary of his party, securing over 1,271 votes and defeating his closest rivals, ex-minister Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Subsequently, in the presidential elections held in February 2023, Tinubu competed against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who were his main contenders.
Tinubu emerged as the victor, receiving 36 percent of the more than 24 million votes cast, according to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The opposition has raised concerns of possible irregularities, and Mr. Peter Obi has sought legal recourse to address the situation. But the class action has not hindered President-elect Tinubu from being sworn in as the country’s substantive president.
Source: The Independent Ghana