Not alot is known about the Asiwaju of Lagos prior to his sojourn to the United States to further his education and prepare himself for his political future.
Ahmed Bola Tinubu first came to our attention when he contested and won a Senatorial seat under the defunct Social Democratic Party with the likes of his mate Tokunbo Afikunyomi and erstwhile friend Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro popularly known as Koro on the island.
After the shortlived third republic and proscription of political parties by late despot Sani Abacha following the June 12 debacle,Tinubu pitched his tent and sponsored NADECO and Afenifere from Abroad.A situation which made the group which metamorphosed into Alliance for Democracy indebted to him.
Tinubu seized his opportunity on his return from exile and captured the heart of Lagosians and Yorubas in general by creating a siege mentality while whipping up ethnic sentiments all the way to the Alausa government house.
Here was a man who saw an opportunity to further his political career and at the same time build his own political dynasty following a vacuum created by the suspicous death of MKO Abiola.It should be noted that Tibubu is the first and only prominent politician in Nigeria without a godfather.
He consolidated his hold on southwest politics with the help of his diciples and journey men who looked up to him for leadership and he did not disappoint.
Tinubu defeated an astute politician in the late Funsho Williams and helped his party Alliance for Democracy make a clean sweep of the southwest states much to the astonishment of PDP.
While his colleagues in other southwest states were consequently rigged out by PDP for years later.He managed to tighten his grip on Lagos,this was no fluke.
HOW HE TIGHTENED HIS GRIP ON LAGOS
Tinubu managed to hold on to Lagos for two reasons
He planted all his men in every nook and cranny of Lagos state from the house of assembly down to the motor parks with his style of grassroots politics called Jeunsoke.A grassroots man who knew what made Lagos tick and financed his project through tax collection by ALPHA BETA his tax collection company.
He later formed his own political party called the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN)with him and his supporters from Alliance for Democracy which later became a graveyard for politicians.
Tinubu is a born survivor and has the ability to sniff out and nullify any threat to his dynasty and he was able to rise to the top by his gift of the garb and oratory skills with ability to pre empt an opponents next move like a good chess player.
Ask his two former deputies Kofo Bucknor Akerele,Femi Pedro and even the much loved incumbent Babatunde Raji Fashola who stepped out of line before being put in his place.You betray the Asiwaju at your own peril and risk political oblivion.
The jury is out on his noble intentions if at all,but the pressing question is
Is Bola Tinubu satisfied with being a Kingmaker or his he a King in making?
Only one person has the answer to these questions and that is the Are Ona Kakanfo in waiting.