Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one unique Nigerian personality with imposing features, strides and achievements. A politician, businessman and leader of thought, he has in the last 16 years risen to become the ‘El Generalissimo of Nigerian Politics’.

Also referred to as the ‘Jagaban’, Tinubu can be rated  as one of the most influential politicians in Africa, in the 21^st century.

One interesting thing about the ‘Asiwaju’, is the fact that there are varied perceptions about him, from being the new ‘Awo’, a bullish businessman, to a tactical politician, it is very clear that he has been relevant in the scheme of the 4^th republic political landscape.

In this article, we explore 5 reasons why Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a political phenomenon in Nigeria.

His  Antecedents
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been a dogged politician, who is firm and resolute about he wants and believes in. In 1998 he was among the die hard political class in the group ‘Afenifere’, insisting that Nigeria needs a true and participatory democracy.

He damned the consequences of putting up a resistance to the Military Junta of Late Gen. Sani Abacha, risking his life which paid off with the untimely demise of the dictator.

This gave him the capacity to re-launch into the new political frontier of the 4^th republic, where he joined the Alliance for Democracy and emerged the Civilian Governor of Lagos State.

His Role as a strong opposition leader
Apart from Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), is another politician that vehemently refused to collapse his political structure, to join the ruling party then the Peoples Democratic Party.

Even when his government was at loggerheads with the Federal over allocations, due to the creation of L.C.D.As.  He was firm and unwavering to the antics of the then Obasanjo administration.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu rather through his economic team devised ways of surviving, by deploying new strategies for internally generated revenue, that used to fund several State projects.

He has also been a voice tackling the PDP led government for 16 years, on its policies and  programs for the nation.

His Political Clout
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the end of the just concluded 2015 general elections, moved his political clout from the regional to the national level.

Here are some key points to buttress his clout;
-He was instrumental to the victory of President Jonathan in the 2011 general elections, as he delivered Lagos and the South-West.

– He was a key force in the merger of his party the Action Congress of Nigeria, with other parties like the CPC, factions of APGA and the ANPP.

-He has been instrumental to the emergence of his wife  Oluremi Tinubu as Senator.

-The symbol of the CAN which is the ‘Broom’ was retained for the APC because of Asiwaju’s influence.-

-His candidate Mr John Odigie Oyegun emerged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress

-His preferred candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd)emerged the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

-He was also instrumental to the choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as APC Vice-Presidential candidate

-His strategic political roadmap of aligning the West with the North was key to the APC’s victory in the 2015 General elections.

To further cap the ‘Jagaban’ wave in the country, the Emir of Kano HRH Lamido Sanusi visited Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in what can be described as a landmark visit.

It will be the first time a powerful royal leader from the north will visit a political leader in the West, signaling a new dawn in the political and social sphere of Nigeria.

There is nothing as interesting as achieving your dream, and Senator Bola Tinubu, will now relish the fact that his party the APC has broken the jinx, by becoming the first party that will have both the government at the center and in Lagos.

Indeed, Nigeria’s political story will be incomplete, if it does not acknowledge the contributions of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.