Lagos: Can Agbaje Demystify Tinubu?

By SOC Okenwa

The 2019 gubernatorial election in Lagos State promises to be a very interesting battle between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the vibrant opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Jimi Agbaje is the official flagbearer of the PDP in the poll while Jide Sanwo-Olu represents the APC. The incumbent Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was edged undeservedly out of contention for a second mandate by the Mandate Movement led ably by the strongman of Lagos politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His re-election dream ‘died’ the moment he fell out with the man that brought him into national limelight in the first place.

Governor Ambode had fought very hard to obtain the re-election ticket but the almighty godfather (Tinubu) had adamantly decided otherwise despite interventions from supreme quarters. In the APC state primary Sanwo-Olu predictably ‘defeated’ Gov. Ambode to clinch the nomination as the candidate of the ruling party in the upcoming election in March. Ambode, a gentleman in his own rights, went to the extreme by resorting to petty politics — name-calling and denigration — in order to score a cheap point but the Asiwaju gang were not impressed nor swayed to do his bidding.

Things came to a head when the incumbent Governor called a world press conference, out of frustration of course, where he sounded much like a toddler who was being weaned of breast-feeding by the mother! He had alleged that his opponent, Sanwo-Olu, was once caught spending fake Dollars in a night club in the States! And that the Tinubu protége had spent time in the past at Gbagada General Hospital where he underwent ‘rehabilitation’! Conclusively Ambode declared that his then rival had not what it takes to be the state’s Chief Executive.

Lagos is to Nigeria what New York is to America, Tokyo to Japan, Shanghai to China, Sao Paulo to Brazil, Bombay to India. Densely-populated (with more than 20 million struggling souls) Lagos is a mega city-state like Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, and states’ capitals like Port Harcourt and Ibadan. Cosmopolitan, rich (culturally and economically) and colourful Lagos remains the most viable state in Nigeria.

Since 1999 when democracy returned triumphantly to Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been ruling the state of aquatic splendour directly or indirectly. He governed for eight eventful years himself and handed over to Babatunde Fashola. Fashola, now a Super Minister in the embattled Buhari presidency, upon completing his 8-year stint, had handed over to the incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode — himself anointed by the godfather living in Bourdillon in Ikoyi, Lagos Island.

Today, things have terribly fallen apart to the extent that the godfather and godson are no longer speaking the same political language. The former claimed the latter had deviated from the ‘master-plan’ of Lagos (whatever that means). Between the ‘bride’ and the ‘bridegroom’ the only solution to their marital incompatibility remains divorce!

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For close to two uninterrupted decades Tinubu has effortlessly dominated the politics of Lagos state. The ‘Lion of Bourdillon’ has somewhat surpassed the late Molete demon, Lamidi Adedibu, the self-styled ‘strongman of Ibadan politics’ in terms of organisation, mobilisation and tenacity. His staying power reposes more on his ruthlessness, political wizardry and mafia-like command and control mechanisms of party structures under his supervision.

Like the late Adedibu Tinubu is said to be generous. Like him too he is reputed to be a power monger. Unlike him, however, Tinubu does not believe in the politics of using ‘amala’ and ‘gbegiri’ soup or stomach infrastructure (apology to Ayodele Fayose) to woo his supporters. He has his followers and these men and women, area boys and girls, are constantly empowered or motivated by the crisp Naira notes distributed often by the godfather —especially as elective season dawns.

Many of his detractors (in and outside Lagos) had conveniently accused him of many things (good or bad) but he has, thus far, weathered the storm. And still standing. The present challenge before the glorified executive Lagosian is to have his protége elected to Alausa government house and Muhammadu Buhari returned to Aso Villa, both of which are tall tasks indeed.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has boasted that this time around, after his failure in the past, he would spring surprises by terminating the Tinubu godfatherism in Lagos state. Jimi is sounding very coherent and eloquent in his determined effort to wrest power from the Tinubu grip.

Agbaje said recently that he parted ways with Tinubu over “differences in principles”. “I take exception to the rule of one man in a metropolitan state like Lagos” he declared. He had equally likened Tinubu to the biblical Pharaoh of Egypt who refused to allow the children of Israel to leave but kept them in bondage until God sent down 10 plagues that forced Pharaoh’s hand. “Pharaoh, you must let our people go!” he had exclaimed.

Who owns Lagos? Ordinarily this question should not be asked because we all know that Lagos belongs to Lagosians. But we live in extra-ordinary times, generally speaking, in Nigeria. The Tinubu conundrum in Lagos makes this poser even more significant given his inordinate ambition to continue commanding and controlling Lagos by proxy. Yet his case is not limited to Lagos alone. Tinubu wants to expand his ’empire’ by the conquest of other south-west states. At the federal level he commands considerable influence as the so-called ‘national leader’.

And when we seek to expand the question by asking who owns Nigeria(?) we come to the inevitable conclusion that Nigerians no longer pretend to own Nigeria! Ahmed Tinubu and the cabal in Aso Rock (misruling Nigeria on behalf of President Buhari) could lay claim (even with lunatic gusto) to being the proprietors of our dear nationhood. Nothing is wrong with that in this season of anomie where hunger is killing our compatriots in the midst of plenty.

As the gubernatorial poll in Lagos draws ever nearer the ultimate question to be asked is this: Can Jimi Agbaje demystify Tinubu? Does he have what it takes to take Lagos from Asiwaju and co? The answer is both yes and no! Yes in the sense that he could play or replay Otedola by reminiscing on how the old man rattled the Lagos political establishment as an underdog and governed the state against all odds. And by exploiting some political loopholes that could be exploited within the ruling APC party and the Tinubu crucial factor. Perhaps, who knows, Lagosians could very well have been sick and tired of the ‘Lion of Bourdillon’ and his godfatherism.

The late Sir Michael Otedola, it would be recalled, was elected Governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC), leaving office when the late Gen. Sani Abacha came to power by sacking the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government set up by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida following his criminal annulment of the June 12 presidential poll won by the late Bashorun MKO Abiola. Otedola had won against all expectations beating the favourite, the defunct SDP’s Yomi Edu. However, he won more because Dapo Sarumi and Femi Agbalajobi had decided to sabotage their party by joining forces with the opposition!

No, on the other hand, because it would appear very difficult (easier than a camel passing through the eye of the needle as it were!) to dismantle the Asiwaju guber structure and ‘mafia-dom’ in Lagos. Tinubu is reputed to be ruthless, smart and experienced politically. His domination of Lagos politics cannot be said to have been achieved without a dint of hardwork. He knows what he is doing, and what he wants. And above all, he knows what he is gaining by the perpetuation of the status quo.

From all indications the Tinubu formidable gang (masked by the Mandate Movement) can never ‘surrender’ or go quietly without a gruelling battle. It remains to be seen, therefore, if Agbaje and the PDP could give them a robust full-hearted fight and conquer their much-vaunted claim of ‘owning’ Lagos.

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