FORMER Lagos State two-term governor and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been given thumbs up as an authentic Yoruba leader for his incredible political prowess and unmatched achievement of taking a regional party into the centre-stage of Nigerian politics, with accompanying landmark developmental projects across many states of the country.

  This is only akin to the halcyon sixties era of the late sage and Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, the Asiwaju of Owo.

  Chief Fasawe gave this commendation during an interaction with an audience of younger generation of Nigerians at his Owo country home.

  He said: “There is no need to hide a good product. Tinubu has paid his dues and perfected the art of returning the Yoruba political wheel back onto the national track just after eight years an illustrious and proud Yoruba son (Olusegun Obasanjo) handed over the mantle — a feat only few people would have anticipated. 

  “What he started in a little way years back with just one state (Lagos) in his kitty has now grown into an empire of immense proportion across the nation with the support of other progressive leaders across board i.e., Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, current and former Progressive Governors, Senators and Members of House of Representatives and Houses Assembly, etc. 

  “For this, he (Tinubu) deserves kudos and encomiums.” 

  Fasawe noted that today, the APC, which has Tinubu as National Leader, is Nigeria’s main opposition party with strongholds all over the country — “all thanks to Tinubu’s purposeful audacity and analytical sagacity, as an adept manager of human and material resources,” he said. 

  “Recently, he (Tinubu) even acknowledged his successor, giving him a pat on the back although he laid the foundation of that success. 

  “He is no doubt the modern day Awo of Yorubaland, a pivotal and champion of good governance, welfarism and communal development.”

  Asiwaju Tinubu is an experienced political warhorse that has fought many battles on the side of the progressives, dating back to Chief Awolowo’s days and the democratic struggle against military dictatorship — as NADECO chieftain and now a leading opposition politician.