History is a good subject of learning strategy, leadership, and governance. But, it is treated as a discipline of a simpleton.
In 1999, there was a meeting of Afenifere leaders governors of AD in South West in Ibadan to decide the flag bearer of AD between Bola Ige, a former governor and the architect of AD, APP & PDP’s constitution, and Olu Falae, a former federal minister, powerful SSG and de facto member of the ruling class at the centre under Babaginfda’s regime.
Four of the South West AD governors-elect then sat in the front row of the APC meeting in Lagos House on Friday, May 5, 2021, to decide the fate of the APC southwest Caucus and 2023 Presidency.
Like 1999, it is a contest between Bola of South West and Federalist Yemi. Bola thought, he has gotten the ticket, spare me a thought, I meant Bola Ige. Hence, he traveled abroad looking for funds to prosecute the general elections.
Before you said, low, low, low, the governors and some leaders conspired against Bola. Against all odds, Olu Falae, a federalist got the ticket. Unbelievable, beyond imagination and any political calculations.
How can Bola be denied the house he toiled and labour to build? The AD governors are Bola Tinubu, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Bisi Akande and Adeniyi Adebayo plus a Deputy Governor and now APC National secretary Iyiola Omisore.
Today, the then gladiators are now elders. One is an aspirant. There are rumours that three South West APC are not with Bola again? Bola that laboured, toiled, and funded the building of the APC House! This is sacrilegious and Unbelievable! Why Bola again?
But, history told me, it would be nothing new, if the governors of APC go gung-ho, after all, it is about another Bola that is involved. And only Bola and three members of the front row seat at the Lagos meeting can tell us what happened at D’Rovans in Ibadan in 1999.
Indeed ,it is a tale of two Bolas, Bola Ige and Bola Tinubu. Would or has history repeated itself? Time will tell, when we hear the story, after, history is HIS STORY.
Dr. Jide Johnson is a teacher, coach, media strategist, communication consultant, and public affairs analyst with over two-decade experience and expertise in media and communication studies, audience research, corporate communications, brand management, and popular culture.
A scholar with bias in the media narrative, popular culture, and audience research, Jide holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, with specialization in media audience and popular culture from Babcock University as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mass Communication, from the University of Lagos. Jide is presently the Director, Special Programmes at Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.
