One of the most discussed and known areas, where Nigeria’s political juggernauts live, is Bourdillion . Lots of singers and well to do individuals have always appraised the name in their mouths, either to criticize what's happening there or, to appraise the man who controls the territory. However, the salient question is, where is Bourdillion? Bourdillion is an area in Ikoyi, in Lagos state. What makes Bourdillion unique, popular, special and well known is that, it happens to be the habitat of a giant political juggernaut as far as Nigeria is concerned, in person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Jagaban of Borgu kingdom).
In furtherance to the above, it will be apposite to state it expressly that, this write up isn't meant to address Asiwju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a saint, but beyond that sentimental and subjective feeling. He is not just a fish that swims in the ocean, Tinubu is the ocean, the big fishes swim in him. A former governor of Lagos state (May 1999- May 2007) and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Jagaban has created a niche for himself in Nigeria’s politics. A time some people claim to come from the Asiwaju Political School of Thought.
To state it expressly, decisions in SouthWest politics and Nigeria as a whole, majorly pass through his table in Bourdillion, and that makes Bourdillion an unofficial headquarter of Southwest politics. Moving further, whenever people express that they are going to Bourdillion, lots of individuals tend to assume that they are going to see Asiwaju, whom some people refer to as "Jagaban Borgu".
Also, Tinubu isn't an accident of history in Nigeria’s politics, he has been part and parcel of the struggle so far. As a former member of NADECO, he fought along great minds in order to restore democracy in Nigeria. He fought battles, both from the known and unknown foes, the internal and external forces, the seen and unseen, and one of the apex of this was when he was governor of Lagos state and the allocation of Lagos state’s local governments was suspended, as a result of creation of LCDA’s which the federal government had asked him to revoke. Not withstanding , he still reimbursed the local governments without delay in salary.
To this end, the assertion on Bourdillion being the Mecca and Jerusalem of SouthWest politics should be properly harnessed. Why is it so? How could a home of an individual be the headquarter of SouthWest politics? The answer isn't far fetched, it's where sensitive decisions are formulated. Lots of big decisions are made in Bourdillion. Asiwaju holds virtually all his political meetings in Bourdillion, and not all individuals possess the effrontery and audacity to go there. It is a sacred place where, even individuals whom desire to contest for political offices, majorly in the All Progressives Congress visits. In fact, individuals from other political parties visit Bourdillion, either for endorsements, financial support, or crucial meetings and discussions. Political actors like, former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has been pictured time without numbers visiting Bourdillion, also, when the former governor of Oyo state in person of Oloye Rashidi Ladoja was impeached and faced intense political pressure from Baba Adedibu, he stayed in Bourdillion for sometime before things come to normalcy.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu isn't a product, but a brand and an empire. Tinubu has bred leaders who has also bred leaders. He works with the best of brains and to this extent has made him transmogrified beyond regional politics. The likes of vice president Yemi Osinbanjo, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, Babajide Sanwo-olu, Hakeem Muri Oluokun, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon. Arole Fancy, Gboyega Oyewole, and host of others have all passed through his mentorship. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu being a political school of thought on his own is not about the size, but the spirit and capacity in the size. In as much as I am not addressing Jagaban as a saint, it is significant to celebrate a man who has not only created a name for himself in Nigeria’s politics but in Africa as a whole, and a man who has conjured water out of stones.
Nice write up more knowledge
ReplyDelete