Asiwaju Tinubu:
Tunde Rahman
The global coronavirus pandemic is really gathering speed. The numbers are frighteningly on the rise. As I write this on Thursday, more than 500,000 persons across the world, 65 of them in Nigeria, have been infected with the virus. Fatalities are now in excess of 22, 000. The world, indeed, is being confronted by a monster of a virus. The coronavirus crisis has been described as the worst, the most devastating, since after the Second World War, which is why individuals, organisations and nations are feverishly mobilising efforts and materials to confront and curb the effects of the pandemic.
Coronavirus has proven that it’s no respecter of nations, rich or poor, developed or developing. No nation is immune to the disease. It’s a global pandemic ravaging all continents and all countries. Interestingly, rather thanAfrica, perceived as a poor continent, with weak health institutions and facilities and believed to be mostly vulnerable to killer diseases like COVID-19, Europe has emerged the epicentre of coronavirus. The grim reality of the pandemic is that the virus is being brought back home to us inAfrica by people who have travelled to some of these developed countries, now turning to be coronavirus-high risk nations.
This piece is not exactly about the ongoing virulent disease, though there are ways in which it is connected to the crisis. The article is to draw attention to and contextually situate the two crucial interventions of the All Progressives Congress National Leader,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the cusp of his 68th birthday, which incidentally falls due tomorrow. The one issue is the yearly Bola Tinubu Colloquium, which has become widely known as a platform for proffering ideas and solutions to contemporary issues affecting the Nigerian society over the past 11 years. The other is on theAPC leadership crisis, which, mercifully, has simmered down, even if not completely exorcised. In both interventions, however, is clearly demonstrated theAPC national leader’s responsiveness, sensitivity and political sagacity.
It is in line with the imperatives of this moment and in synch with the global call for the adoption of precautionary measures to prevent further spread of coronavirus, thatAsiwaju Tinubu, along with the Planning Committee of the colloquium, took the right decision to postpone the annual event, which would have held on his March 29 birthday.Announcing the postponement of the colloquium through an advertised statement signed by one of the panel members, Mrs. Foluso Idumu, the Planning Committee said it was in consideration of the health and safety of all the guests expected at the event. “Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we felt this (postponement) was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation,” she said.
If that statement is apt, Asiwaju’s letter to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and others involved in the organisation of the colloquium, as reported by some newspapers, is more pertinent and instructive. “I believe we have a unique social responsibility to help educate and lift public awareness on all issues, including the coronavirus. We must lead by example,” theAPC leader said in his letter, adding that he looked forward to the colloquium every year, this year inclusive. “This year I was greatly looking forward to the discussion on innovation in basic education. However, I think it even more urgent that we educate and increase awareness of this possible public health menace. We do not want a situation where we have gathered for a good cause only to later find that the event might have been a conduit to disseminate not only knowledge but also the virus as well. “
Since the postponement,Asiwaju has used every opportunity that comes his way to counsel Nigerians to obey all the measures put in place by governments at all levels to contain coronavirus and also impress it on them the need to take their personal hygiene seriously by washing their hands regularly and maintaining social distancing and taking other precautionary steps. The point is, on this coronavirus pandemic, the need to continue to focus public attention on the menace and harp on the importance of taking precautionary measures can hardly be overstressed.
It was no surprise therefore that coronavirus again became a metaphor forAsiwaju in his intervention in theAPC leadership crisis, precipitated by attempts by some powerful forces to oust National ChairmanAdams Oshiomhole at all cost.Against the backdrop of exchange of barbs and court orders, the interventions by President Muhammadu Buhari andAsiwaju Tinubu, however, saved the day and saved the party from the path of disintegration it was inexorably headed.
Although some people have tried to trivialize and even distort, mischievously,Asiwaju’s statement on the issue, the pertinent point he was making cannot be overemphasized. There must always be a gap between one election and the beginning of campaigns for another to give room for newly elected or re-elected governments to govern. Just imagine if the ruling party was at this time engaged in managing the unsavoury fallouts of removing its national chairman at this time. How