Tinubu Vs Code Of Conduct Bureau —Kunle Ademoye

The recently announced readiness of the code of conduct Bureau, to commence trial of ACN leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the allegation of multiple foreign accounts, which he kept during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, should ordinarily not have elicited an eyebrow, considering the dictate of the rule of law, which in other words, assures of justice in accordance with the laws of the land, and to which our nation, Nigeria, is supposed to be a signatory.

However, the issue over which tongues seem to be wagging right now, is the curious coincidence; coming in the wake of the recent Ikuforiji – EFCC encounter; which further lends credence to the suspicion of a systematized arrangement, already perfected by the cabal in power, through their cronies towards a massive clampdown on the progressive and opposition forces.

This is why progressive forces all over the country, need to be on guard, because whatever affects this son of Africa, and pride of the black race, also affects the progressive bloc as a whole, considering his status as a foremost arrow head of the progressive forces.

The import of this alert notice should not be lost on the discerning, considering the fact that the reactionary oppressors, wherever they hold power anywhere in the world, are always conscious of their shortcomings, and are ever desperate to employ every measure, ranging from the subtle, to the vicious, to perpetuate their hold on to power.

The Nigerian context is therefore no exception, as amply attested to, in the multifarious political battle of intrigues and conspiracy, Asiwaju has had to contend with, over the years.

In this respect, one remembers the certificate palaver, and the allegation of drug running levelled at various times, against him. There was even the funny case of a national newspaper, which came up with the story of an armed robbery attack at the Bourdillon Street residence of the ACN leader. In the end, it turned out a fabricated stuff that was better told the marines. There was yet a concoction to the effect that the ACN leader was questioned and consequently disallowed from attending the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama of America; on allegation of drug deal; all of which turned out false.

And only a week ago, these bunch of wild tale spinners would not let go, as they went to town with another spurious claim that this distinguished leader and statesman had link with al-Quaeda.

Equally disgusting is the viciously orchestrated conspiracy this man faces in the hands of fifth columnist Awoists, who had outlived their usefulness and are jittery of the man’s immense fame and influence and had out of sheer envy, continued to vilify the man, for no just cause, instead of praising him for his marvellous feat in unifying the Yorubas, and restoring their collective sense of pride and self-esteem.

There was also the deliberate deprivation of Lagosians by Olusegun Obasanjo, of the Local Government fund accruable to the coffers of the state during the epoch making tenure of Asiwaju in the guberntorial saddle of Lagos State. The ultimate aim of this, just like the other instances earlier cited, was to frustrate and demystify the man. Ironically, rather than this being the case, his political fortune which was a product of his incredible string of success in governance and as a political leader, continued to increase in leaps and bounds.

Just recently, I was in Ghana, to witness the African Leadership Award bestowed on this outstanding leader of men, and I could not but marvel at how Asiwaju is popularly celebrated in Ghana, and also how his fame spreads through the entire Africa. All the people I interacted with from the political topshots in Ghana, and even the taxi driver on the road, spoke in glowing terms about the man.

And of course, even back here in our native Nigeria, our compatriots in other tribes like the Igbos, or Hausa-Fulanis among others, equally speak of him in glowing terms, and indeed look forward to a leader who would accomplish the unifying feat amongst them, as Asiwaju had done for the Yoruba.

But beyond the geo-political zone of the South-West, there is no doubt that Asiwaju’s stature transcends the entire Nigerian landscape considering his stature as the arrow head of the progressive forces in Nigeria, as well as the rallying symbol of the political opposition.

In fact remove Asiwaju, and there wouldn’t be much left of Nigerian politics, as politics would have been stripped of its colour and the hope for a better Nigeria fizzled into oblivion. This is why the teeming number of progressive Nigerians especially the downtroddens should pray and never waver, in their support of Tinubu, who in the contemporary Nigerian politics, represents the last hope for the common man.

Indeed, the multifarious travails of the Great Awo who happens to be Tinubu’s role model, in the hands of these same oppressive reactionary forces in power, throughout the turbulent annals of his political struggles, further serves to accentuate the need for all the forces of progress, to rally towards a total and unflinching identification with this committed man of the people, and the last hope towards a virile and better Nigeria.

It’s of course common knowledge, even to today’s children of the kindergarten age, that every conceivable machination of the most diabolical order, was brought to bear in the vicious attempt to nail Awo, the enigmatic Nigerian hero.

They range from accusation of treason, for which the man was sent to a ten year jail term, to allegation of financial profligacy, embezzlement and mismanagement of fund; for which he was tried at the Coker commission of inquiry. Even during the Shagari era, they came in with a supposed expose of a vast expanse of land owned by Awo in the Oniru land in Victoria Island, all in the bid to paint the man in bad light.

But today, Awo’s name remain immortalised in ever-green memory; just as Asiwaju has succeeded in making an indelible footprint on the sand of time and registering himself in the affectionate memory of Nigerians, both among the living, and generations to come.

It is heartening to note that even the ACN leader, an illustrious son of Africa, and pride of the black race, not only remain unfazed, but saw it as a welcome development, which at the end of it, will put a stop to endless spell of political mudslinging and malicious speculation by the forces of anti-progress bent on nipping his soaring fame and influence. Such is the stuff of a great mind.

And just as the Great Awo, in an unusual show of courage told the trial judge minutes before the pronouncement of judgement, during the famous treason trial: “blessed be your judgement sir”, the teeming number of progressive Nigerians attune in empathy, as Asiwaju’s spirit rings out in similar stoic defiance “blessed be thy judgement, ye jurors of the code of conduct”.

•Ademoye, a former member of Lagos House of Assembly, writes from Lagos.