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For those who are familiar with the political history of Nigeria it comes as no surprise that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is contesting for the sit of the presidency. There is no Nigerian that has earned the motivation to run for the office of the presidency at this point of our democratic history more than Asiwaju . He has been playing an active role in the political development of Nigeria for almost 40years. Of all the major activist of democracy pre 1999 he was one of the very few who switched from activism to politics. As a politician he was contended to be an opposition and he grew opposition politics patiently until Nigerians felt they needed the opposition. In his years of activism he invested his personal resources into democracy, he put his life in danger for democracy, at a point he went on exile for democracy, by all count he his a hero of democracy, history bear witness to it. If this does not motivate an activist or a politician to run for the presidency then what exactly will? I imagine something must have motivated Joe Biden to contest for the presidency at age 78, Nelson Mandela at 75, Winston Church hill 65 and of course Franklin Roosevelt contesting on a wheel chair and it is of course worthy to note that this old men were some of the best leaders in the history of mankind. Indeed it is in the destiny of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to run for the presidency you cannot separate the struggle of a man from his life.

The aspiration of Asiwaju Ahamed Tinubu is good in his own merit because by reason of it Nigeria will be witnessing one of the most robust political and democratic competition since 1993. Thanks to the political sagacity and intellectual disposition of Asiwaju. It is so because Asiwaju is in a class of his own. He is the singular most famous, intellectually inclined and connected politician home and abroad within his own rank without a military background, all that he has achieved in fame, status, wealth and power was through, diplomacy, politics, strategy, intelligence, personal agility and the grace of God absolutely no military background.

Secondly since 1999 those who have ruled Nigeria are beneficiaries they are no activist of democracy in the real sense of it, it is going to be extremely worth a while to have a democratic activist has the president of Nigeria. Historically more often than not activist who transform to politicians seems to do well as leaders because they are able to marry their penchant for social justice with the ability to make people achieve result especially on issues of conviction. The struggle for democracy forges in them a high revere and esteem for the concept of democracy, of note is George Washington and the likes of Thomas Jefferson whom were activist against colonialism until they become revolutionaries and then politicians to lead there country into greatness, Nelson Mandela was himself an activist against apartheid until he became a politician, Winston Churchill was also an activist against the NAZIs until he was elected to lead the fight against them. Nigerians at this stage will do well to enjoy such class of personality in power.

Thirdly since 1999 no law maker has ever become the president of Nigeria, Lawmakers also make good presidents because they have the grasp of how law drives governance . One of the surest evidence that our democracy is indeed flourishing is when lawmakers transform easily to presidents and not just having retired military has president or people anointed by retired generals as presidents. Asiwaju was once a senator in the federal republic and once a governor, all his political offices were mandates not appointment, this experience is very consequential in governance. As an opposition leader, law maker and a principal officer in a legislative assembly I can relate with this!

Apart from his deft financial intelligence and capacity Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is among the few politician and economist who strongly believes that the Nigerian economist have abandoned aggregate demand for so long and it is rightly so because since 1983 Nigeria financial leaders and mangers especially at governance level have not only been focusing on supply side of economics but have been proffering supply solutions(with little or no result to show in real terms) . Some of us rightly believes our problem is it with the aggregate demand side . Any one curious enough to have been following Asiwaju’s speeches, papers, interviews, documents and books will know too well that Asiwaju believes in the core classic economics of production and the strengthening of demand side of micro and macro economy. His book titled Finacialisim : Water from an empty well is a resource power house and master piece offering solution and insights to financial and economic progress for Nigeria and the world beyond. I recommend the book for all those that are aspiring for political and public office in any part of the world.

What Asiwaju Ahmed Bola is bringing to the table is a strong and robust political asset, that is wide enough to tilt the democratic political culture of Nigeria in a new positive direction .

Now that the struggle has led him to the path of destiny , conviction leads towards fate!

Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola
Minority Whip KGHA 2011-2015
Founder African Reading Project