National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By: Okosun Dennis
It was galaxies of guests that gathered at the Oriental Hotel on Wednesday in Victoria Island during the presentation of a book on the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
An overwhelming presence of personalities poured encomiums and accolades on him for being a builder of men and inspiring young youths to climb to the apogee of their careers.
The book: “The Iconic Bola Ahmed Tinubu: An Inspiration to African Youths” is authored by Oki Samson, Publisher, Trek Africa Newspaper and Abayomi Oyelami, Editor, Trek Africa Newspaper. The two young men carefully chronicled Bola Tinubu’s dexterity, humane characteristics and zest to carry along with the best and most talented youths while encouraging them to take sensitive positions.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, member, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), congratulated the authors for their foresight and their capacity to shoulder such a huge task of writing such an iconic book on a man whose political ascendency galvanized into being elected as the next President of Nigeria.
Describing Bola Ahmed Tinubu as s “Consultant-General at winning elections”, observed that he has raised men, a fighter and doer of things; a leader of leaders that is difficult to find and when they come, people may not know but would rather engage in barrages of accusations against him.
“I am one of his disciples. Since I met him, my life has changed. With his election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has come to fix the broken walls in the country.
On his part, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Surveyor Ayodeji Amodu called on Nigerian youths to be calm and believe in the governance that Tinubu will enthrone, admonishing them to have a rethink that Nigeria will be built together with everyone inclusive.
Adumbrating, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood what the youths needed; the tenacity at which the youths needed to be inclusive in government. He is a man that believes in the youths and ensure that a lot of them were employed into the Civil Service in 2004. You can see the LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch. These were people met to be street urchins, but employed them enmasse and can see what they been able to bring to the table.”
While eulogizing Tinubu for his exemplary contributions to the development of the Nigerian state, the former Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Hakeem Odumosu said any book written or anything said about Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not more than what he has done.
“Since my first encounter with him as a young commissioned police officer about 30 years ago, his spirit of forgiveness, a virtue, I have learnt from him as a quintessential leader, is golden. I have vowed to work with him and remain loyal till the last day,” AIG Odumosu (retd) reiterated.
However, in his admonition, the Executive Secretary and CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun didn’t hide his impression about the man chronicled in the book by the young authors.
As one of the guest speakers, he noted that he was brought under the tutelage of Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he met him 21 years ago as a young youth.
“As a man that projects into the future, he is a visionary leader. He is not only an inspiration to the youths but to every Nigerian.”
As a former Minority Leader in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr Balogun took guest on a memory lane on how they passed a lot of “iconic legislations.” As a Governor then, he entertained various divergent views and opinions. With a large heart and not being vindictive, he came with lot of ideas and visions.
With many traditional rulers represented during the book launch, the calm ambience presented an atmosphere for inspirational statements and comments about Tinubu such that came from the representative of the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Olalekan Anthony Fasesin who said that the traditional institution would continue to support every laudable project that brings unification to the country and encourage other youths to aspire.
In his contributions to humanity, the Special Adviser on Special Duties and InterGovernmental Agency, Hon Mobolaji Ogunlende commended the authors for their excellent job, adding that they were already replicating what Tinubu did by “grabbing the bull by the horns.”
“The generation behind us will see these excellent work you have done. For Nigeria to be better, everyone has a role to play. Therefore, change and take responsibility of your community.
Advising the authors to leverage on the online version of the book, he regretted to mention that due to the fact that the new generation are not reading enough of books, such soft edition would avail them the opportunity to access the book easily. “Tinubu has set a template, a foundation for the youths,” he added.
In a separate interview with the authors, Samson Oki, one of the authors said the inspiration to write a book on the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was birthed in 2015 during the presidential campaign train of President Mohammedu Buhari at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
“As a reporter craving for news, I stood close to him. I also realized that throughout the during of the campaign, he didn’t sit down. He looked stressed out and engaged. At a point, two chilled can coke were brought to him. He held it momentarily, opened one of it and gulped it.
“He took the second and did the same. From there, he moved straight to the podium to address the crowd. I thought about his personality and got inspired. He is rich, well connected and had lots of influences, yet, was so much committed. With his antecedents in government and how he has carried the youths along, I saw him as not only a role model, but a mentor and an inspiration to the African Youths.
“This is a book for the youths. Tinubu is an enigma; a person the youths can look up to for drive and inspiration. He is a man every youth should emulate. He carries everybody along – people of different culture and ethnic backgrounds – provided the person is talented. He is astatue and not biased.”
Similarly, Abayomi Oyelami, the co-author added that Tinubu’s dexterity, astatueness were the driving force. “We actually started writing in 2018 and we are glad that in 2023, we have officially unveiled the book.
“It is a mentorship book that looks critically at the man Tinubu; the life style, personality and the dexterity he has displayed in ife. Everytime I was writing this book, I remembered the story of the June 12 Presidential election annulment. This was a time the media was gagged but the name: Bola Ahmed Tinubu kept recurring. That was my first impression about him.
“He, with others, started Radio Kudirat – in honour of late Kudirat Abiola. I saw him as a man to be studied and people can learn from because in a true democracy, free press is a key component and that is why I like to say that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a person both the youths and the media can learn from. Tinubu is, indeed, a leader. Let us learn from him,” Abayomi reiterated.
Dignitaries present at the book launch included the Alade Okin of Oriade, Ogun State; Iyaloja General, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, represented by Mrs. Folashade Ogungboye; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) represented by Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of NIDCOM Lagos; Commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Hakeem Ajasa Bamgbola; Executive Chairman, Coker Aguda LCDA, Hon Rasaq Ibrahim Olamilekan, Convener, Asiwaju Distinguished Ambassadors Movement, Aarebinrin Hon. Folashade Olabanji-Oba.
Others were the former FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, ACM Olusegun Ogungbemide represented by ACC Esther E. Uzoma, FRSC Unit Commander Lagos Island; Bishop Dr. Osaze Williams from Republic of Liberia; HRM Oba Oloyede Adeyeoba Adekoya, Arujale Ojima of Okeluse, Ondo state; Hon. Hammed Oladipupo, Council Leader, Itire-Ikate LCDA.
Also present were the Sarki overall, Alimosho LGA, HRH Sarki Ahmed Kuraja; Chief Executive Officer, Badinson Security, Mr. Matthew Ibadin; President, Evolving Women in Politics, Hajia Dr. Fatima Bello; National Treasurer, Evolving Women in Politics, Olori Aderonke Erinle; veteran Nollywood actor, Bose Joseph; foremost June 12 activist, Comrade Awa Bamiji; CEO of Lillie’s Trend, Margaret Adewunmi, Amb. Tosin Sanusi.
