Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current President of Nigeria, was born into a Yoruba family in Osun State on March 29, 1952. After early schooling in Nigeria, he pursued higher education in the United States, studying at Richard J. Daley College and subsequently Chicago State University, where he excelled academically, graduating with honors in Accounting in 1979. His professional life in the corporate sector, including significant stints at Arthur Andersen, a major accounting firm, and Mobil Oil Nigeria.
Crucial to his personal and political life is his marriage to Senator Oluremi Tinubu. An accomplished educationist and politician in her own right, Oluremi Tinubu has served as a three-term Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District. Their union has produced children, who have also carved their paths in various fields, though not without the occasional scrutiny that comes with being part of a prominent political family.
Tinubu’s entry into Nigerian politics began in 1992 when he was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1992 to represent Lagos West. He quickly distinguished himself as a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights and an opponent of military dictatorship. His defiance of the Sani Abacha regime’s authoritarianism led to his forced exile, during which he became a prominent figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), an organization at the forefront of the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria. This period of activism forged his reputation as a principled fighter for civilian rule.
Upon the end of military dictatorship in 1999, Tinubu emerged as a leading political figure, securing the governorship of Lagos State under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform. His two terms (1999-2007) transformed Lagos into a model of economic self-sufficiency and infrastructural development. His administration introduced far-reaching reforms in areas such as transportation, urban planning, environmental sanitation, and public finance. Notably, he dramatically increased the state’s internally generated revenue, demonstrating a fiscal ingenuity that became a blueprint for other states. He also famously stood firm against federal withholding of Lagos’s allocations, showcasing his resolve against federal power in Nigeria.
Tinubu’s political genius blossomed in his post-governorship years. He transitioned from a state leader to a national politician, playing a central role in consolidating opposition forces. His efforts culminated in the formation of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, a mega-party designed to challenge the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As a national leader of the APC, he was instrumental in crafting the alliance that led to President Muhammadu Buhari’s historic victory in 2015, marking the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government in Nigeria.
Tinubu sought the Presidency of Nigeria, the nation’s highest office which he won in the 2023 presidential election. His campaign, anchored on a “Renewed Hope” agenda, promised to tackle Nigeria’s myriad challenges, from economic instability to insecurity. His victory underscored his immense political capital and his unmatched ability to build coalitions across Nigeria’s diverse ethno-religious landscape.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s journey reflects a strategic mind and a tenacious spirit. Whether viewed as a visionary leader or a pragmatic power broker, his unparalleled impact on Nigeria’s political evolution, supported by his family, is an undeniable fact.
