The latest concoction about Jagaban is that he confessed in Yoruba language at an event recently that he stole money in the course of his rise to stardom and opulence. This is another tale by PDP moonlight jesters. Asiwaju Tinubu, I have advised before, should ignore some of these charlatanistic clowns instead of making spirited efforts to defend himself. If anyone is so gullible to believe such yarns, good luck to the person.
Now to the copyrighted literature referenced in the first part of this serial ending today: Asiwaju Tinubu, an accountant, auditor, consultant, democrat, patriot, politician, activist, pacifist and reformer all rolled into one, the third ex-civilian Governor of Lagos State, and indeed an eminent member of the illustrious Tinubu clan of Lagos.
Youthful Bola attended Richard Dalley College, US and subsequently, Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois, US, from where in 1979 he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and management.
Upon qualification, the young professional cut his teeth in accounting at the American-based accounting firm, Arthur Anderson. He later served at Deloitte Haskins and Sells and GTE Services Corporation, both in the United States of America. Before leaving the USA he did a stint at Fortune 500 Group of Companies to which he was a consultant.
A momentous chapter in his professional career opened when, on his return to the country, he joined Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) as Senior Auditor. Sufficiently grounded in economic and financial management, having participated in various local and international management courses, seminars and workshops, he in no time at all rose to the post of Audit Manager and eventually became Mobil Producing Nigeria’s Treasurer. His Mobil years were signposted by such unmistakable landmarks as prudent financial management, aggressive corporate think-tank intended to reorganize the company’s financial system and treasury activities, as well as integration of staff development, business improvement, cost-saving and fraud detection/prevention programmes.
Obviously a charitable and pragmatic grassroots person who sees community service as a veritable vehicle for social development, he functioned largely as the fountain-head of many financial contributions in aid of community development and featured prominently in numerous community development programmes.
A founding member of the now extinct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the Third Republic, he was in July 1992 elected to the senate from the Lagos West Senatorial District having polled the highest number of recorded votes in the nationwide senatorial election. His rising political profile received a boost when he became the Chairman of the Senate’s Appropriation, Finance and Banking Committee, the most prestigious committee of the National Assembly’s Upper House.
Following the fresh militarization of Nigerian politics late in 1993, he, a dyed-in-the-wool democrat, became a founding member of the celebrated pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition of Nigeria (NADECO), which mobilized like-minded democrats at home and abroad (the United Kingdom, United States, Canada , etc.) for the restoration of democracy and disannulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. An active, vocal and valiant apostle of democracy, he was arrested, detained, persecuted and driven from pillar to post. Propelled by self-preservation instincts, and being himself a fierce lover of personal freedom, he finally fled the country when it became obvious that he was a marked man. Abroad, he joined forces with other NADECO chieftains in pressing for the return of the country to democratic rule.
In response to the call by the military administration of General Abdulsalam Abubakar for all Nigerians living abroad to come home and contribute their own quota to the process of national reconciliation and development, Asiwaju Tinubu, bearing no grudge or malice against anyone, returned home and placed himself at the service of his fatherland. On the ticket of the incipient Alliance for Democracy (AD), he contested and won the January 9, 1999, gubernatorial election in Lagos State. Later on Saturday, May 29, 1999, he was sworn in as the third civilian governor, and the 12th Chief Executive, of the State. Asiwaju is married to elegant and stylish Senator Remi and they have children.
As I round off this intervention, there are spins doing the rounds that this emerging South West leader dismembered both the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organization, for his own ultimate political ascent. Time will tell. For now, I do not know how that could have been possible considering the sophistication of the people involved in the two establishments.
Egbon, the sky is just your take-off pad! Those who are unhappy with your divine-ordained mentoring role and summit attainment in this geopolitical zone on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can either commit hara-kiri or seek civilization from those who know—certainly not PDP elements who have grouses about their much-maligned oppositional giant who carries on like an Aztec king.
Concluded
Ear health alert: A must read!
About a month ago, I went to the oldest and best Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) hospital in Nigeria where a surgeon did an excision on my daughter’s ear. Please avoid the use of biro covers, cotton buds, keys or any other object in the ear; it could be lethal. The wax in the ear is a divine protector that should not be cleaned off—it is not dirt. Also avoid the use of ear-piece: it will cause cumulative and collateral damage ultimately via hearing impairment.
As much as possible, stay away from loud speakers or noisy environments and generally avoid noise levels exceeding 85 decibels. Equally avoid water entering the ear: the underage can use cotton wool lightly soaked in Vaseline to keep off water while bathing. This should be done under adult/parental guidance. Finally, never go to any doctor who is not an ENT specialist for any intervention if ear challenges arise. The damage could be unimaginably disastrous and costly because of the complex nature of the ear that easily results in complications.
Kindly disseminate these tips. I was alarmed by the gory ENT cases I saw cutting across all ages! When we are in good health, most people don’t know what it means! Always praise the Lord’s name most especially for divine health.
Please note that apart from the complex and delicate nature of ear surgery, the cost of any operation could be benumbing. It is better, therefore, to foreclose such an eventuality by being proactively cautious.