MKO Abiola and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
By Aderemi Saheed Yussuf.
As I was aquiting myself with the issues of the day via Facebook, I stumbled on an article of Femi Fani-Kayode that says ” Peter Obi will not last 5minutes with Tinubu and Atiku on a national TV debate. Truism, I decided to disregard the messenger and did proper digestion of that message.
It got me thinking that this may be a replica of June 1993 National debate between the Late Basorun MKO ABIOLA of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Basiru Tofa of National republican Convention (NRC)
Penultimate the national debate, many Nigerians had always presumed Abiola to be an International Thief Thief just like the way Tinubu is being refered to as BaThief.
To some, the glasgow university degree and the ACCA professional qualification of MKO was believed to be bought with his money like honorary doctorate degree.
The popular songs by Fela Anikulapo Kuti (ITT) was another image blunder for MKO Abiola. I could remember the dou had an encounter in 1985 when the African pillar of sports hosted the golden Eaglet for winning the maiden edition of the Kodak under 16 world cup at the National Stadium. Fela played his popular lyrics to the admiration of the teeming fans who had no choice than to start bouying and stoning MKO Abiola.
The teeming fans were just like the present OBIDIENTS who had forgotten the contribution of Abiola to their first love-soccer.
This was the image of Abiola before that much-talk-about debate. The debate took Abiola back to management Accounting classroom and lectured his opponent on the theory of managerial economic and investment appraisal. Ibrahim Tofa had no option than to be attentively.
To this end, many Nigerians became convinced that Abiola must be exceptionally brilliant. He was not just a money-bag but an Accountant whose anticedents transformed the International Telecommunication company who had almost moribund before Abiola stepped-in and became the chairman.
Between MKO Abiola and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they are both Accountants that knew their onions……
The dou are both Accountants that had paid their dues in various professional and corporate governance capacity. They are proportionally accepted by Nigerians that admired excellence. Abiola was a highly detribalise Nigerian, loved by Christians and Muslims. He had the records of having built churches and donated to churches. Same with Tinubu, though not really a lover of sports like Abiola but he has help so many sports men and women including Kanu Nwakwo heart foundation. Tinubu, highly detribalise too!!! Married a Christian and a pastor with the redeemed Church. Just like MKO. Tinubu has lifted so many people to high cadre. He had crowned so many kings. He has moved his commissioners back to govern their states.
He was among the pro democracy group that fought for the return to civilian Administration. He was an advocate of the sovereign national conference. He is a believer of restructuring.
Obviously, the Nigerian populace, most especially the Nigerian youths who are at the receiving ends of this economic situation,they are of the opinion that Bola Ahmed Tinubu sold President Muhammad Buhari to them, hence, he is to be blamed for this predicament we found ourselves.
Ironically, MKO Abiola had the history of masterminding the coup that ousted General Buhari out of Dodan baracks while Tinubu masterminded re-enthronnent of Bubu back to the government house at Aso Rock. The common characteristics between both MKO and Tinubu is they are both powerful and influential people who would part with their resources to achieve whatever they want within the corridor of power. They are both strong-willed no matter whose oz is goorde. They are not imperfect but highly intelligent. They have the wherewithal to change the political narratives and landscape of the political elites across the board.They are both visionary leaders.They are political gladiators whose trade mark is god-fatherism.
Lastly, I want to believe the youths whose objectivity is their watchword would have enough to learn from this coming election if eventually another debate is organized.
