By Tunde Olaogun
There are different kinds of leaders; therefore, there are no “set” qualities that have to be present in all leaders. Rather, an effective leader draws from a range of personal qualities to help them deal with different circumstances and challenges.
In fact, part of growing strong as a leader is through expanding one’s personal qualities. When we are not strong in a particular quality, it is also wise to seek the contributions of others who are strong in that quality. After all, no man is an island of knowledge.
A well-organized person can help to complement the creative person, and a person with a sense of humour can complement the serious-minded person.
These are the traits and qualities the man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represents. His style of leadership is without a doubt of positive and momentous influence.
How and why did I come up with the assertion and position above?
Let me take you through a brief retrospective appraisal of the influence of the man Asiwaju on my person;
Many years ago, precisely during my formative years as a young boy, I was privileged to grow under the tutelage of the man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This was specifically during his second term in office as the Governor of the Centre of Excellence, Lagos; the period the foundation for the Lagos we are all enjoying today was laid.
Those years, interestingly, I was opportune to work directly with Asiwaju’s then Senior Special Assistant on General Administration, now an integral part of the Government of the State of Osun.
Considering the fact that my immediate boss was assigned with responsibilities bordering around General Administration and its likes, I had unhindered access to basically all cabinet ranking members, as well as other personal aides of Asiwaju.
The role of the cabinet ranking personality in question had administrative touches which will of course pass through my immediate boss either directly or indirectly.
This exposure made me be vast and conversant with the ways and ideals of Asiwaju; what he stands for, what he believes and what he represents.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a go-getter, a workaholic, an inventor, a leader of men, and a master planner.
Isn’t it worthy of mention that today, most of the cabinet members under Asiwaju are either Governors in their state, Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, members of the legislative arm of government or doing well in their various personal enterprises.
The experience I garnered was purely practical. I saw it all happen. I make bold to say that not many youths in Nigeria would have had a better practical governance experience than myself at that level.
Under Asiwaju, we saw the advent of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Internal Revenue Services (LIRS), and a whole lot of others.
We saw radical changes in the health sector of the state. He initiated Jigi Bola for the elderly. This is in a bid to ensure that the old ones do not lose their sight in their prime.
The construction of good and durable roads was also a core part of Asiwaju’s legacy during his tenure as Governor from 1999-2007.
He practically touched all facets of the economy with his team. No wonder it was easy to get a successor from his own team.
The Asiwaju that I know is not only a courageous leader, he is equally creative, very loyal, honest, forgiving, compassionate, intelligent, determined, fair in judgement and above all, very generous.
As we approach yet another election year, I wish to use this medium to beseech Nigerians home and abroad, not to only support Asiwaju on this noble course, but to importantly vote him massively to become President come 2023.
The prosperity we all clamour and yearn for will come with ease under his watch.
He has done it before. He will do it again.
Tunde Olaogun is a grassroots politician, a philanthropist and an environmental scientist resident in Abuja, Nigeria