Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu state, compared Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s presidential contender, to a transformational mentor rather than a godfather.
Nnamani, who implied that he finds it hard to stop talking about his former coworker, added that Tinubu’s unusual mentoring style, particularly while he served as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, was significantly responsible for the development the state has seen since.
This was said in a statement that the former governor of Enugu State, who is currently the Peoples Democratic Party’s senatorial candidate for Enugu State, made public on Wednesday in Abuja.
He characterized Tinubu as a great mentor who, in his position as a political mentor, consistently steered a number of mentees from different states from political boyhood to political manhood.
Nnamani remarked that Tinubu has constantly shown himself to be a skilled politician, the best political leader, and a mentor who has nurtured political titans while erecting the essential bridges and paying his dues.
Before discussing the leadership and mentoring philosophies of the governors from the class of 1999, the federal lawmaker said, “I want to first shed some important insight on what political leadership and mentoring is all about, in contrast to godfatherism, which has been the norm for teeming youths. We must realize that good leadership calls for a range of skills.
JUST IN: Court annuls the Zamfara PDP governor election Primary.
Thomas Paine once said that a good leader knows when to take the initiative, follow others, and back off. Competent leaders who develop a shared vision for the future and talk about how to achieve what is necessary while also taking into consideration what is desired generate successful strategic plans for the now and the future.
In order to include individuals and groups in the decision-making and policy-enactment processes, a competent leader builds support for their plans.
“Local, state, and federal governments need political leaders who can transform contradictory opinions and competing interests into laws and practices that advance equality and opportunity for all, just like how various organizations require different types of leaders suited to their needs.
“People are said to follow a leader who will lead them in the direction they desire, but a capable leader will also lead them in the direction they ought to go.”
Nnamani continued, “I can’t help but feel that when Tinubu and his Transition Working Group started what will be regarded as Nigeria’s largest political reform, which elevated Lagos State to one of the largest economic centers in Africa, the majority of residents of Lagos State did not envision the city as it is today after living through three decades of military rule, during which they personally witnessed a collapsing health system, collapsing school buildings, poo-filled streets, and other conditions that make it difficult to.
“The city boy significantly improved the quality of life for residents of Lagos State through his bold reforms in the fields of health, education, justice, public works, and infrastructure, all of which we have examined recently.
“In his role as a political mentor, Tinubu has helped countless mentees from different states transition from political youth to political adulthood.
a quality that governors from the class of 1999 and Tinubu both possess. Numerous leadership positions are held by Tinubu’s former students in Nigeria.
Without mentioning our very own Anambra Son, Ben Akabueze, whom Tinubu influenced in his appointment as the commissioner for economic planning and budget in Lagos state after seeing his accomplishments as the CEO of NAL Bank Plc, we cannot discuss some of his mentees who he has been nurturing from political boyhood to adulthood (now Sterling Bank Plc).
“Ben Akabueze, a well-known chartered accountant who worked for Tinubu, advanced through the ranks to become the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Sunday Dare of Oyo State served as Tinubu’s special media adviser while he was serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Youths and Sports.
“Rauf Aregbesola, who worked for Tinubu as the commissioner for works in Lagos State and served as governor of Osun State for eight years, is currently Nigeria’s interior minister. The name Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of the state of Ekiti and a philosopher king, will always be remembered.
Similar to Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who served as Tinubu’s chief of staff before taking office as governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the current governor of Lagos State, formerly held the position of commissioner for trade.
Suspect in fraud captured dressed as a woman
Alhaji Lai Mohammed from Kwara state, who was Tinubu’s first chief of staff and commissioner of Lagos state at the time, is currently the minister of information and culture.
While Tinubu was responsible for The Right Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila’s election as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2003.
Remember that during Tinubu’s administration, our Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, held the positions of commissioner for justice and attorney general for Lagos State.
He argued that, unlike leaders in comfortable circumstances who may or may not be able to provide for their followers’ needs, revolutionary circumstances like the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy prior to 1999 produced exceptional leaders like Tinubu and many others who demand high standards of conduct, self-assurance, and “can-do” spirit.
Nnamani added that Lagos State is what it is now as a result of Tinubu’s mentorship attitude and drive to recruit the greatest minds from wherever to finish the required work.
“In today’s political environment, our inability to distinguish between confidence and competence, our attraction to charismatic people, and our inability to resist the allure of narcissistic people have led several nations to elect individuals with no background in politics to the highest office in their various countries, thereby making a bad situation worse,” he said.
Nnamani asserted that Tinubu and not novices are needed to guide Nigeria to greater heights under the current political climate.
