The Jagaban Nigeria is in dire need today By Matthew Akhere

Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a leader that I admire a lot. His person inspires my very essence and purpose in life. I have been a great admirer of his person ever since he became the governor of Lagos state. Lateef Jakande apart, the Jagaban is arguably the best thing to have happened to Lagos state. Like I usually tell people about the beautiful story of the modern Lagos state: Tinubu planted the Lagos seeds, Fashola watered it and Ambode is sustaining it.

Also when the history of democracy is told, there is no way would be left out. APC's success at the general elections of 2015 which, culminated to the party being the ruling party was partly due to Tinubu political acumen. It's like Buhari was a raw diamond mined, processed, and traded to Nigerians. Today, Tinubu is highly regarded and respected at home and abroad.

Add to his political sagacity, Tinubu investments that is yielding employment to many Nigerians and his philanthropic activities makes him a complete Nigerian statesman. if many of our politicians are like Tinubu, Nigeria's employment challenges would have been drastically reduced. While many politicians prefer to keep their monies abroad and investing in offshore business, Tinubu investments are largely in Nigeria impacting on the economy and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

However, all these reputation and enviable achievements which Tinubu has recorded in the past 30 years is under threat, sadly by Tinubu himself, especially due to his recent involvement in almost every political controversies especially those emanating from the South West - Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and now Ondo state. It is not helping the APC. And it is not helping the name Tinubu as well.

Today's media is replete of his statement declaring that the APC national Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun should quit! Quoting the bold frontpage of today's The Nation Newspaper titled, "Tinubu: Oyegun must go", Tinubu said: "Oyegun has done the irredeemable. his coup is an insult to party and to patriot, to reason and to the reform agenda of this government."

Firstly, in politics, there nothing an individual or group does that is irredeemable. That is why, for example, a Senator Joshua Dariye, who is facing trial for embezzlement of state funds as a governor of Plateau state has cross-carpeted and warmly received by the APC. Tomorrow when a Wike or Fayose decides to cross-carpet, the same APC who is fighting them tooth and nail will warmly receive them.

Secondly, politics is a coup and counter-coup. The only difference is that unlike the military regime, you don't plan and execute it with the gun! Tinubu must admit that this time, John Oyegun has outsmarted and outwitted him. he must accept this fact and move on. After all, he, i.e, Tinubu, is widely known as a political coup plotter. From the AD, to the AC and to APC, Tinubu was known to have been involved in political maneuvering likened to political coup plotting and no one has said he should leave the party.

Furthermore, the way the APC is involved in one form of controversy to the other is not good for the image of the party on one hand, and the hard-earned image of Tinubu on the other hand. Sometimes, I wonder why internal squabbles that are supposed to be secretly fought and settles found their way to the pages of newspapers. The perception that is being projecting is this: that our political leaders like to arrogantly and egoistically engage themselves in a public show of power and superiority. To them that, secretly settling issues defeat this purpose. So all manner of feud and dispute must be in the media. And they don't care what the public think!

Tinubu must tread lightly. his involvement in all manner of controversies is not good for his hard-earned reputation. At his age and political position he should be more of a nation and party builder not one that is enmeshed in one controversy or the other. Tinubu must also not allow his name to be peddle here and there by favour-seeking politicians.

As a great admirer of his person and achievement, I want to see a Tinubu's name being mentioned as solving party disputes, building bridges and proffering solutions to Nigeria's socio-economic and political challenges. I want to see a Tinubu personally funding and organizing seminars, talk-shows, summits to discuss and proffer solutions to Nigeria's numerous problems. For example, I want to see "One-One With Jagaban", a TV discussion programme in which Nigeria's leaders are invited to proffer solutions to Nigeria's challenges and anchored by the Jagaban himself! That should be Tinubu's position. This is a Tinubu that Nigeria and Nigerians are in dire need of today and not one that is enmeshed in political disputes and controversies.

With what Tinubu has achieved, I want to even see working across party divide. The Tinubu I want to see and one that Nigeria desperately needs today is not a Tinubu of APC. I want to see a Tinubu of Nigeria political parties. I want to see a Tinubu that belongs to no political party and belongs to every political party. I want to see a Tinubu intervening and proffering solutions to PDP's unending dispute or any other Nigerian party.

Jagaban Tinubu needs not be a Party chairman or the president of Nigeria to make a statement. His achievements speak enough volumes that is proudly bragged about. He should not allow his name that commands respect and reputation that inspires and motivates greatness to get stained and dirtied by party controversies.

Tread softly, Jagaban!

My sincere hope and prayers is that this piece gets to Jagaban Bola Ahmed Tinubu.