To say that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of Nigeria’s richest men today, would be saying nothing new. If nothing else, he is definitely one of the three richest Yoruba men alive today. Which must make him either one of the smartest or one of the most crooked Nigerians living.
For at the beginning of the current political dispensation, when Tinubu returned to Nigeria, he owned up to the Afenifere fathers that his financial situation had become critically diminished because he had been away on exile in the United Kingdom.
It was easy for the Yoruba elders to identify with his plight on account of the fact that he had selflessly rendered immense financial support toward the struggle against the despotic Abacha regime. To his credit, he had, back then, almost single-handedly bankrolled the operations of NADECO and Radio Kudirat in London. He had also reportedly supported countless Nigerians who had fled, for exile, to the U.K in those dark Abacha years.
Based on these sacrifices which had indeed depleted the Asiwaju’s earnings, the Action for Democracy had consented to make Tinubu the party’s flag-bearer in Lagos State, as a way of compensating him.
To this end the late Engr. Funsho Williams, who was then clearly the party’s candidate in Lagos State was prevailed upon to step down for Tinubu, with the understanding that the latter would serve for only one term of 4 years and thereafter step aside.
Mysteriously, however, someone murdered Funsho Williams, effectively ensuring that he wouldn’t come around to claim his own tenure at the expiration of the first four Tinubu years. Alas, as usual, we have all conveniently forgotten Funsho Williams.
Since stepping in Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State government, however, Tinubu has radically transformed his fortunes. From the cash-strapped London returnee who depended on the benevolence of the AD fathers to give him a chance in 1998, he has become one of Nigeria’s biggest financial/political influences.
Predictably, as we approach the crucial election year of 2015, with Tinubu being a key leader of the opposition APC, tongues have started wagging. The question on the lips of most political observers is: how did the jagaban transform to becoming one of the nation’s richest men within the last 16 years?
As at the time of filing this report Tinubu’s known assets are said to include a vast portfolio of choice land all across Lagos State, which naturally he acquired illegally, whilst in office as governor for eight years.
He is also widely believed to own TV Continental (TVC), Radio Continental, The Nation Newspapers, Adaba FM, Oriental Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, considerable AP shares and controlling shares in OANDO. Sources also say he owns appreciable shares in Punch newspapers, which explains the bias the paper has for anything connected with Tinubu or APC.
These aside, large tracts of land in Lekki, Ajah, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja GRA and Alausa are traceable to him. For instance, the plot of land on which Alausa Shoprite stands allegedly belongs to him. Sources even say he built the place.
As Nation Wide News discovered from privileged sources, the most shocking part of the story of the Tinubu empire is that virtually all his investments are held by fronts. Thus, attempting to investigate him over the years, the EFCC came up against a brick wall every time.
Beyond this, our sources have corroborated Tom Ikimi’s recent allegation that Tinubu accepted a huge bribe from the presidency to abandon, Nuhu Ribadu, the then AC’s presidential candidate in the last presidential elections. Said our source, “this was why we allowed Jonathan to win the South West votes in that election.”
Before agreeing to such a treacherous compromise it goes without saying that Tinubu must have obtained guarantees that the presidency would refrain from investigating his financial activities. Which explains why no one today is querying how Tinubu wound up becoming one of Nigeria’s richest. The PDP isn’t interested in investigating the man, even though, as a leader in the opposition he is a thorn in the flesh of the ruling party.
The big question that pops into the mind of the keen political observer is: if the Jagaban accepted a huge bribe to abandon Ribadu in 2011, what’s to say he won’t do it again in 2015. Won’t the APC be eventually short-changed again in the upcoming presidential election?
Interestingly Tinubu is not done yet. After fighting some fierce battles with Governor Fashola, who resented his unwarranted desire to continue to monopolize the contracts and business from Lagos State, Tinubu now has a new trick up his sleeve. The Ambode card.
Akinwunmi Ambode was Tinubu’s Accountant General and when the ex governor left office he left Ambode to continue under Fashola. Unconfirmed reports say Ambode was, however forced to resign on account of some financial/accounting shenanigans which allegedly favoured Tinubu and which thoroughly upset Gov Fashola years back.
Now if Tinubu succeeds in Ushering Ambode into the Lagos seat of power, our sources swear the Jagaban will be firmly back in business. This explains why Asiwaju is doing everything possible to fund Ambode’s preparations.
To this end he reportedly compelled all the local government councils in the state to pay N20 million monthly towards the Ambode campaign purse. A petition to this effect has since been forwarded to the EFCC but thus far, nothing has been heard on the issue. 