LAGOS ASSEMBLY: TINUBU IS THE FACE OF NIGERIA'S DEMOCRACY

STORY BY: AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
EDITED BY: LEKE ONANUGA (PHD IJ VIEW)
PUBLISHED BY: august24online.com
SPONSORED BY: LAREDO SMALL CHOPS (08033024379)

Members of the 8th Lagos State House of Assembly resumed from a week-long
Easter holiday to celebrate the National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who recently clocked 64.

More noteworthy was the fact that even the opposition members from the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described him as a true leader worthy of
emulation and following.

Many of the lawmakers recalled their encounters with him as well as his
positive disposition to issues that affect the human race. They also noted his
love for Nigeria and his passion for the emancipation of suffering people.
The eulogy followed a personal explanation by Tunde Braimoh of how a
delegation of the House, led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, attended the
colloquium organised to mark the birthday in Abuja days ago.

While contributing to the celebration on the floor of the House, the Speaker
Obasa stated that it was important to celebrate Nigeria’s leaders while they
are still alive instead of waiting for their deaths to celebrate them.
Obasa said only people without understanding would disagree that Tinubu is
a worthy leader, who is selfless and pragmatic and whose works are visible
for all to see.

“He cleared the refuse in Lagos State, when he became governor in 1999. He
introduced the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), he
increased the monthly IGR of the state from N600 million to N7 billion and
introduced the Office of the Public Defender. Today, the economy of Lagos is
the fourth in Africa.

“We should continue to celebrate Asiwaju Tinubu in Nigeria. A lot of people
were at the colloquium in Abuja last week when he celebrated his birthday.
“We pray for good health and long life for him. We must not forget his wife,
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has been with him all through the years,” he
said adding that Tinubu remains a Yoruba leader and a bridge builder.
He promised that the House would pay the former governor a visit soon just
as he directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiu Abiru, to write a
congratulatory letter to Tinubu on behalf of the House.

In his comment, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni,
noted Tinubu’s courage in bringing democracy to Nigeria adding that this
must be celebrated.

Eshinlokun recalled that Tinubu was a financier of the Social Democratic
Party, SDP, in 1992 and that he later became a senator, but went to the
trenches for about seven years with the others after the civilian government
was truncated in the country.

Moshood Oshun from Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 noted how Tinubu
stuck to his zeal to see the birth of democracy in Nigeria despite having the
choice to denounce the struggle and continue to enjoy his life.

Oshun, who recalled the days of the military in Nigeria, said Tinubu staked
his life for the current democracy, spending his money, time and energy as
his personal sacrifice for a united and democratic Nigeria while many who
today pose as career politicians hid their heads while the struggle was on.
“There were more connected and richer people then who were not ready to
risk their lives and money because they could not tell where the struggle
would lead,” he said adding that for this reason, Tinubu should be
celebrated.

To the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, every circumstance
and struggle produce its own leader. Thus, the struggle to save Nigeria from
bankruptcy produced Tinubu.

“He fights radically and without sentiments. He studies people, identifies their
talents and nurtures the talents. We must follow his example as he rewards
loyalty and commitment, and we are all beneficiaries of his magnanimity,” he
said.

Also contributing, Gbolahan Yishawu described Tinubu as a strong and
mighty man that is meek and humble.

He emphasised that Tinubu is a leader that has touched many lives as well
as the first to start the idea of Independent Power Project, IPP, in Nigeria.
On his part, Bisi Yusuf said that Asiwaju Tinubu generates ideas where there
is none and that this has kept him on top. Tinubu, he said, led a common
sense revolution that took over Nigeria from the oppressors.

Another lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo, called Tinubu is a colossus, a special man
with courage and candour who brings solutions to problems.
Victor Akande, one of the PDP members in the House, said Tinubu is not just
a leader of the APC, but that he is a leader and godfather of Nigerian
politics.

“When he became Asiwaju, it means he became the leader of everything. He
has shown his disposition as a political leader in Nigeria. We will continue to
support him to lead so that we can follow.”

The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Muyiwa Jimoh, stressed that
Tinubu shows the direction in many areas including agriculture and that
many politicians have benefited from him.

He revealed that he would not have been a lawmaker if not for people like
Asiwaju Tinubu.