Yesterday, when Jagaban called himself a DEMOCRAT, some children of yesterday and a few hypocrital elders said “Tinubu of all people”. While we may pardon the little children, the foolish elders deserve some tips from Tinubu’s past and present political landmark!
TINUBU started his politics in 1990 after a successful career at Mobil 🛢. He was a member the PEOPLES FRONT a Shehu Musa Yaradua Political Movement which was merged together with PSP of the Shinkafi Group to form SDP. Tinubu was a kitchen cabinet member in the Yaradua Group.
Although, PFN and PSP factions polarised the SDP, however, Jagaban played collective politics which made him a rallying point in most activities of the SDP. He contested and won a Senatorial seat in Lagos. He was the choice for Senate President but as this was going on, the pendulum of presidency fell on the SW, although it was just a possibility among other options, and since SW cannot have both positions simultaneously, Tinubu jettisoned his SP ambition.
Abiola was neither from People’s Front nor PSP, he secured the SDP Presidential Ticket 🎟 with support of many stalwarts including Jagaban in the Jos Primary. And when IBB annulled the general election won fairly, freely and peacefully by Abiola, the People’s Front supported the Annulment but Jagaban opted out from this Shehu Musa Group and stood for declaration of the remaining 16 states results. Even when Yaradua and OBJ drafted the idea of INTERIM GOVERNMENT, Jagaban opposed the idea and stuck totally with MKO.
OBJ had formed a group that met regularly in his Ota farm with the aim of selling INTERIM GOVERNMENT to IBB. OBJ thought June 12 election should remain annulled and an interim government which according to reports will be headed by OBJ conduct another election within 6 months. Yaradua supported this because OBJ assured him of victory at the poll. TINUBU became the Public Enemy of this Group as he began to mobilize people in support of DEMOCRACY exemplified in June 12.
Jagaban became the Military Junta Enemy and was marked for destruction. Although, OBJ was dribbled by IBB when he announced Shonekan as Head of ING, the ING didn’t last more than 3 months and Abacha came in. Tinubu was always with Abiola. People like General Diya secretly sent information to Iyaloja his mother to ask him to run away but Tinubu refused. But when his house was bombed in Ikoyi, he ran away to Benin Republic. Again, he narrowly escaped assassination in Benin 🇧🇯 and he ran to Europe 🇪🇺. It was a tough time for Democrats. Many were butchered on the streets, in their homes etc. From Europe and America, Tinubu ran and financed(among other prominent people) NADECO which was formed mainly to defend June 12.
Upon his return, Jagaban was the preferred candidate for Lagos Governor. He never stopped fighting for Democracy. In fact, Atiku was a beneficiary too. When OBJ molested him, Lagos was his first Dubai where he came for sanctuary! But Ojo oore pe….
Jagaban’s first work in Lagos was the Kudirat Abiola way which stands today GIDIGBA like Iroko Tree 🌳 many years after its construction. He created many new cities within Lagos. Accommodated ALL TRIBES in his cabinet, built Millennium Schools, reformed the Transportation system, sanitation and produced a MASTER PLAN for development of Lagos.
Tinubu against all odds, created new LCDAs for easy governance in Lagos,bringing government closer to the people. Yes, OBJ opposed him for 8 years, yet TINUBU ensured that Lagos didn’t miss Federal might.
And when Nigeria was rigged by the PDP, Tinubu engineered her recovery through an unprecedented democratic siege which he placed on PDP until the PDP lost power in 2015. Yes, when the all comers attempted to destroy the APC and GMB, he became the last man standing that ensured a Next Level in 2019.
In blackmail, fake news and falsehood wars waged against the APC, he has stood like a LION in the jungle, roaring at intervals and protection the cubs.
JAGABAN the DEMOCRAT and the BROOM REVOLUTION Maestro, long may you live.