The reconceptualization of mentorship and human capital development in Nigeria's political space is what brought out the genius in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is one singular act that separated him from his contemporaries.
In a game of constant duplicity, deceit, lies and selfishness Asiwaju stood apart. He redesigned the system, change the narrative and recharged the terrain with able and capable men without regard to race,cast, ethnicity, religion or class.
Asiwaju made leaders out of men that will have been nothing, he made men who have no shoulder to lean on, he brought men out of the shackles of poverty to the height of power.
Asiwaju's school of politics is by far the most successful political block in our recent history, he broke the hegemony, raised the children of nobody to become somebody and he gave hope to the hopeless. If this is what the opposition refers to as dictatorship then that dictatorship is well founded.
Before now political leaders only mentor those from similar class with them up and shares common heritage or ethnic background. But Asiwaju changed this view of mentorship and he bring up men who are fit and capable without looking back.
A few example of those men include our current vice president who sometimes back confessed that without Asiwaju's hand he stand no chance of winning a ordinary councillorship sit in his constituency today he is the current vice President of the Federal Republic.
Another is Babachir Lawal the former secretary to the government of the federation who also confessed that Asiwaju made him the SGF without regard to his faith and or ethnic coloration if not for the infamous grasscutting scandal that consumed him he could have been there to date.
Do I have to mention the likes of former governor and current minister of the federal republic of Nigeria Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola whom Asiwaju raised from obscurity to the zenith of political success?
What about the current senate President of the Federal Republic who was hitherto unknown and pocketed by the powers that be before Asiwaju laid his comforting hands on him and the rest today is history the list is endless and can go on and on for days?
I will make bold to say Asiwaju's greatest crime is raising crude men from shackles of poverty and bringing them up to the center of power where they witness power in it's crudest form. But the question is what do they do with the power? Many amongst them used it as an end rather than a means to the end thus using the said limited power they had in an attempt to destroy their benefactor in the quest for more and more power.
That's where Faleke and co stood apart. He did not only remain loyal and dogged fighter and supporter of the Asiwaju project but he continue with the gospel of building men. He continue with the tradition of mentoring the brightest minds he can lay his hands on without regard or even consideration of their tribe or faith.
You hardly go to any political directorate, institution, department and or agency without meeting one or two people who will proudly identify themselves as Faleke boys. And if you will take your time to investigate you will find out that just like Asiwaju most of these people have nothing in common with Faleke. He just noticed them, brought them close and began mentoring them without even knowing any details about them.
Like Asiwaju Faleke has opened his large and comforting arms to welcome friends and foes to his bold and capable shoulders without regard to race, tribe or faith. He is building men who in turn are building the nation.
Alas like Asiwaju dear Faleke be ready of betrayals, be ready to forgive and be ready to reconcile for this is the path that God has chosen for you. Greatness is not absent the price of sleepless nights, silent tears and remorseful sighs. But God is your strength and you will triumph at the end of the day. I leave you to the comfort of this beautiful quotes "...evil in the extreme end will be the end of the who do evil." And "Whoever do good even as small as an atom shall reap the rewards of such goods thereof".
Remain blessed. Mohammed Bello Doka writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
And can be reached @ [email protected]
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