Ogun State governorship aspirant under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Segun Showunmi, has said that given the invaluable contributions of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deepening the country's fledgling democracy, the former governor of Lagos State who turned 70 today is a worthy successor to both the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election.
In a statement issued by Showunmi to rejoice with Tinubu on the auspicious occasion of his 70th birthday, the former Spokesman to Atiku described Tinubu as undoubtedly worthy successor of Obafemi Awolowo for the Yorubas because he had done more, contributed more, and raised more Yoruba leaders in our recent history.
He said "you are no doubt the successor to MKO Abiola for you have invested more, shown more generosity to more, built more alliances, and contributed more money to the political cause of our people, especially in their quest to participate in governance''.
Showunmi further described the national leader of the APC and who is currently eyeing the presidential seat come 2023 as a politician of no mean class and repute who with his uncommon political sagacity grew a party controlling one state to a party now governing the country.
He said "you have been stable politically, and I sometimes wonder how you do it in the light of others who cannot stick to a particular political lineage, in your case all that has happened is a change of names, you have resisted the urge to jump about chasing shadows.
"I was particularly impressed with how you remained when all AD governors lost their states in 2003 leaving just you in Lagos, the hallmark of who you are, was how you slowly but gradually helped the progressive move from just one state to the present; where your political lineage now governs 5 of the 6 states in the south-west save for Oyo, which took a major cross political parties collaboration for the opposition to win in 2019".
He said Tinubu however in 2015 cast a dark pall on his lofty political achievements when he championed the election of government of President Muhammadu Buhari describing it as government that has done the most disservice to Nigerians and the former governor himself as a person in terms of disintegration and general failure of state as a nation.
Showunmi said "I wondered how you came to that decision then, knowing the President's history and rigidity, bordering towards the archaic and retrogression. I also observed that despite ill-treatment & disrespect meted out to you, when all others left him, you stood by him in the 2019 election cycle and I had to say to myself that Bola Tinubu is made of stellar material, for you cemented my respect for you as a reliable, consistent, forbearing builder.
He further said "I watched your activities around governance and the social order, the one I disagree with is the elevation of street urchins to royalty status, that, cannot be right, society must not encourage that type of growth for humans,
education, enlightenment, and orientation toward human capital development should be the hallmark of human self-development. This needs to be fixed; a reversal of this tendency will do everyone a great good".
Showunmi explained further that while it is the inalienable right of the Septugenarian to contest for the presidential seat come 2023, he should however weigh this visavis his health asking whether the former governor's health could carry the arduous task of the burden of leading the country.
He said "I know you have the mental capacities for the job, I am concerned about your wellbeing, this question can only be answered by yourself alone, for one can only be true to himself/herself on the state of one's wellness.
"Our immediate history with us losing President Yar'adua and the toil on the nation as a result of President Buhari’s health makes compatriots ask this question.
"Another question is the equity factor in a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi zonal arrangement we have. Our zone, the southwest has had a reasonable opportunity to produce both the President and the Vice-president through Olusegun Obasanjo and your protégé Yemi Osinbajo, some zones have not had that chance, the south-east, the north-east and the north-central.
"I am concerned at the prospect of reducing the space in Nigeria to a baton passing between the north-west and the south-west; other zones might feel alienated, and given our present level of disunity and instability.
"I would like you to think about this clearly for what is the point in becoming president if the level of dissatisfaction and agitations will increase, the 6 zonal arrangements were birthed to make us have a more stable country".
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