In 100 years, even if Nigeria has stopped existing, Tinubu will still be a study in politics.
We will never have a man like him again.
This is not because of him, but because it is how nature works.
Men like that come once in a generation.
The North had it.
The East had it.
There is never a man like Sardauna again. Not even when people tried to recreate that office and appointed someone.
There is never a man like Awo again. He left indelible and unique character that no one has been able to replicate.
There is never another Azikiwe again. Even when people tried hard to do so.
This is not recent.
It is not Nigerian.
There is never a man like Gandhi again, even though he was just a simple man.
There has never been a man like Washington again.
There has never been a man like Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory again, even though thousands now have his knowledge and more, and had built Markaz in his image. Not even his son could replicate that character.
There is never a man like Apostle Babalola again, even though many carry his stickers and imitate him.
We can look around at the society and we will find that it is not a coincidence.
There will never be a man like you and I again. But there will always be fools who replicate and live other people's life. People who imitate and could not find their life ideology.
But there is a common denominator for those who never replicate themselves: when these people were alive, they were maligned by a section of society.
They had so many adversaries who not only opposed them, but sought to bring them down. Some succeeded and some failed.
But after they departed, history began to acknowledge them as the rare breed who come once in a generation.
It is the challenges these people faced that made them so unique, and how they tackled them and the opposition that made them extraordinary.
They were never perfect.
No man is perfect.
But when we step into their shoes and realized how heavy that shoe is, we begin to acknowledge their greatness.
Like Jakande found out. He called Baba Kekere but that man was not cut out for Awo's destiny. His first attempt to be independent politically was not successful; his attempt to stamp his authority on leadership gave rise to... think about it... Tinubu and his generation.
It was Jakande's failure that opened door to Tinubu and his young political group to rise... not immediately, but through sheer resilience and walk through history.
Am I saying people should bow to Tinubu and worship him?
Hell... no! In fact, I am saying people should give him more criticism and challenges. This is where he thrives, and this is where his legacies will be written.
Leader's true legacy is forged in the crucible of challenge and accountability. Those who avoided this never made it to history.
historical exemplars of major leaders who faced intense opposition or skepticism during their lifetimes, only to be canonized or deeply revered by history later.
Young people, don't try to be a Tinubu or any leader. Don't wait for anyone to praise you.
Don't expect easy ride and popularity.
Today, most people make comment so they will be loved. To trend, to have large followers.
History never remember such people who follow the crowd.
History remember people who confronted opposition and spoke their truth even when no one like what they do and what they say.
Just like I have found out that I irritate many people by saying unpleasant truth, I have now begin to understand how these people feel. But me, I have no plan to be in politics. That is not my destiny.
Mine is to talk and go quietly to next destination.
I shall pass this way but once. Anything I can do, whatever good I can render, let me do it now. Let me not defer it as I shall not pass this way again.
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