One is regarded as the great sage,undisputed leader and reference point for all Yorubas.While the other strived for greatness and schemed his way to the very top of the political game by taking advantage of the choas and leadership vacuum created by the untimely death of the late MKO Abiola.This is where the similarities end.Awolowo faced tribulations, went to jail, failed in elections, won a few, but he imprinted his ideas and legacy in the country, and no single mortal has beaten him in the history of this country. His greatest achievement was in the area of ideas, and that was how he fashioned a family. Most families are born of biology but his issued from ideology. Awo inspired those around him with his oratory skills and vision,he introduced free education in Western Nigeria and he still regarded by some as the best President Nigeria never had.He was the right man at the wrong time and history will always be kind to him as a man who strived for the best for his people and is held in high esteem by his peers and disciples(Awoists)Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Yekini Amoda Ogunlere)was a child of circumstance from a very humble background in Iragbiji Osun state.Not much is known of his immediate family,he grew up nursing a dream to be great and looked up to the great sage but to actualise his dream he followed the footsteps of the late Moshood Abiola who met his untimely death in Abachas gulag.Nobody knows when and how exactly Bola Tinubu adopted the legendary Lagos name,but it was all part of the grandplan to fulfill his dreams.This is the reason why we are never going to see an autobiography of Bola Tinubu and the story of his rise from grass to grace because there would be too many gaps to fill.How do you fill the space of his childhood,what primary school he attended,what name was he known by,does he have any classmate,siblings?
Tinubu is more than happy playing the role of a kingmaker ,the power behind the throne like the great Sardauna of Sokoto.Rather than aspire for the Presidency he would rather have a picture of himself on a naira note,with the title Asiwaju of Yorubaland and continue with his tax collection from the various ACN governors who will be forever indebted to him.He personally ordered the sacking of a close relative of mine from the Lagos state judiciary for alleged corruption without any proof of wrongdoing while he was governor of Lagos,and refused to reinstate him after the courts ordered him to saying he had absolute power to do anything.This is a man that has been using his company ALPHABETA to collect billions in taxes from the Lagos state government over 12years and INFINITI in Osun for his war chest or is it election funds.He owns the best hotel in Lagos,just acquired an airline,has a radio and t.v station and Nation newspaper.Nobody can ever accuse the Late Awo of corruption,sheer greed or lust for power.
I have watched with keen interest the ongoing attempt by the Tinubu spin machine attempt to dismantle the Awo dynasty as a myth much to my dismay.Its a poor strategy by an experienced politician in his desperate bid to consolidate his hold on power in the southwest.That is why he has so far refused the usual courtesy visit to Ikenne country home of the Awolowos,because he reckons he is on par or even greater than the Awolowo dynasty.Imagine the scenario if Awo was still alive,he would have had to comply or risk political oblivion.
Tinubu has taken a huge gamble by taking on the Awolowos,a gamble that can either make or break his so called empire.It wasnt necessary and disrespecting a 95 year old woman showed lack of class on his part.
There is nothing the Yorubas hate as much as disrespect for elders,a scenario which can quickly turn the tide against him at a time when his star is shining so bright.My advise to the Lagos high chief is to pay a courtsey visit as an elder statesman to HID in Ikenne and make up with the Awolowo family.