Dr Abayomi Finnih, a distinguished obstetrician and gynaecologist, who turned 80 yesterday, is a member of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governance Advisory Council (GAC). In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, the Ba’Segun of Lagos, shares fond memories of his comradeship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He also speaks about his presidential ambition, prospects and chances. Excerpts:

You are one of the close associates of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has known him for years, dating back to the NADECO years, the June 12 1993 struggle and all. How would you describe him?

The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I know has always been a very resolute fighter. When he believes in a cause, he stands up to you to see his own viewpoint and to that extent, I have a lot of respect for him. Most of us at some point in time did not even understand him in the sense that his kind resoluteness you may misunderstand as dictatorial. Because on many occasions when we have had cause to argue about some issues, he will come out to try and convince us why he thinks his own argument is better and not just to tell you to take or leave it. He won’t force anything on you except persuade you to see his own reasons on why certain things must be done in a certain way. That’s the kind of person he is.

As you are aware, Asiwaju has formally informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to run for the presidency in 2023. Do you think he is eminently qualified to seek the highest office in the land?

Of course, I think he is eminently qualified. The truth is, if you look at what he has done in terms of development for Lagos, you will be amazed what he has achieved. The important at this point in time is that if he has achieved so much socioeconomically, infrastructure, you will find that the foundation he laid in 1999, has been the strongest. In fact, the growth of that foundation has really emerged as the best in the country today. For instance, the number of schools you have in Lagos Island alone is probably more than what you have in three or four states combined. I don’t want to mention them because I don’t want to embarrass anybody. If you look at how things are developing all over the place till date you know that his foundation is truly strong. I know that successive governors are doing their best, but I believe that he has a hand in it. Of course, Asiwaju has been instrumental to the choice of the governors and it has been very positive all through judging by the activities and traces of development all over the place. So, to that extent, I think he is copiously qualified to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I hope with the kind of rich experience that he has in terms of socioeconomic development, infrastructural growth and many other things, he would be able to help us grow faster than we are doing right now.

This article by Ibrahim Apekhade was first published in The Nation Newspaper on the 10th February 2022