By Iyoha John Darlington
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
The legendary Nostradamus probably reincarnated in me during the historic run-up to the 2015 general elections in my article titled “Asiwaju Nourishing Vipers In His Bosom” which was published by both local and foreign media some eight months ago. In a swift response and reaction Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos State APC publicity secretary got it all twisted and severely criticized that piece accusing me of wanting to fell the holm oak – the Asiwaju of the Yoruba race. Upon my soul, my intentions were not only misjudged, misrepresented but ultimately misconstrued!
There is no denying Tinubu’s place in history for he has doubtlessly become an iconic figure today in Nigerian letters. He is an astute politician, a political strategist, a tactician who has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle. Tinubu began his political career following his election as a senator in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic. His daring exploits began in 1993 when the election that would have brought late Abiola to power was annulled by the self-styled evil genius, ex-military president, Ibrahim Babangida. Nigerians on June 12 went out and voted en masse for the above-named uncrowned winner. That was the election in Nigeria that for the first time succeeded in cutting across ethnic and religious divides but, IBB, as he is fondly called had it annulled like a marriage of convenience thus the sovereign wishes of the Nigerian electorates were ultimately bastardized.
At this period under sad review, it became clear that the military was not ready to relinquish their hold on power in Nigeria and Tinubu along with other Nigerians embarked on pro-democracy struggle with the military authorities under the auspices of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) many of whom were killed during Abacha’s reign of terror. It was all in a …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
