It may not be news that Asiwaju has made a lot of people in politics. But what may jolt you is the fact that he chuns out the best brains all the time. He is one of the godfathers of politics in Nigeria and this he has shown countless times with his actions, and doggedness towards all his political plans and how he records rare feats.
His genius at picking individuals who could best serve the purpose and achieve goals in politics is phenomenal. He is a rare Nigerian who deserves more accolades than he is getting for his contributions to Democracy and its talent hunt. He is a self made politician who has made several others.
Before now, he has always been credited for giving Nigeria the best brains, like Vice President Osinbajo, Best Performing Governors, including the Lagos wonder boy, “Babatunde Fashola SAN”and Gov. Sanwoolu who earned his wing as outstanding governor, Rauf Aregbsola, House of Rep Speaker, Hon Gbajabiamila, Babatunde Fowler who was FIRS boss, Sunday Dare, SA/COS to Asiwaju now Minister of Sports, Hon. Abike Dabiri, Senator Mamora, Princess Adejoke Adefulire and many more.
Tinubu cuts across every geopolitical zones and he has immensely contributed to the emergence of Democracy rule in Nigeria..In his home in Ikoyi, Bourdillon House, it is a place where thousands of people gather daily to meet with him. Like one of his aides rightly said, he rarely sleeps but derives joy in meeting people and solving people’s problems. His house is a Mecca of sorts and Fridays are days for chopping spree largesse in Asiwaju’s house.
It is a tribute to him that he has placed many people on the high pedestral in their political career and without exagerating, he has made over 200 key guys. At his inner carcus were some key guys who you hardly see with him but they are like his next skin.despite he has so many people close to him, he has some peculiar ones which he sleeps and wakes up with most times. They are usually with him 24/7 and some cannot do without seeing him for like 4 days in a week.
Asiwaju was Lagos Governor for 8 years and not until he became the Lagos governor, the names of the people he made were not known, he brought all of them into power with him and for good 8 years, from 1999 – 2007, this 75 people were part of his cabinet and those were the people who worked his vision with him. On this list is Senator Kofoworola Akerele, Deputy Governor, 1999-2002, Femi Pedro, Deputy Governor from Jan 2003, Alhaji Babtunde Rotinwa, head of service may-June 1999.
Rafiu Babatunde Tinubu, head of service 1999-2003, Mr Leo Babtunde da silva, secretary to the state government, 1999- July 2000, Hon. Omotilewa Aro Lambo – secretary to the state govt, aug 2001-2003.
Prof Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo- Attorney general and commissioner for justice and now Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed – Chief of staff 1999-June 2000 now the minister of information.
Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola- chief of staff –Aug 2003 to Asiwaju, then became Lagos Governor in 2007 and now, minister for works and housing, Engr Rauf Aregbesola –HC Works and now minister for Interior,
Dr Adeleke Olusegun Pitan-HC Health,
Arc Kayode Anibaba –HC Environment and physical planning, Chief Mrs Olukemi Nelson- HC, women affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Chief Mrs Eniola Fadayomi- HC Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mr Micheal Olayemi Cardoso- HC Economic planning and budget, Mr Segun Dawodu –HC youth sports and social development, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro –HC home affairs and culture 1999 Jan 2002, Mr Babatunde Balogun –HC Home Affairs and Culture 2002 Jan 2003, Arc. Lanre Towry Coker –HC Housing, Mr Wale Edun –HC Finance
Chief Adeola Johnson –HC Transportation 1999-2000, H.C Commerce and Industry 2002-2003, Chief Mrs Teju Phillips HC Commerce and Industry 1999-Aug 2000, HC Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relations, Mr Olanrewaju Saka Shanayon –HC Rural Development and Infrastructure.
Mr Kaoli Olusanya- HC Agriculture and Cooperatives, Chief Adio Badmus- HC Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mar- Aug 2001, Alhaji Shuaib Ayodele Sekoni –HC Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs 2001-2003, Dr Idowu Sobowale –Special Adviser Education 1999-2001. HC Education 2001-2003, Mr Oladele Henry Alake – Special Adviser Information and Strategy- June Oct -1999, HC Information and Strategy Oct, 1999-2003, Mr Muiz Adeyemi Banire –Special Adviser Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relation 1999-Aug 2000. HC Commissioner For Transportation 2000- 2003, Chief Olufemi Akinola Lanlehin –Special Adviser Political and Legislative Power 1999-Mar 2001. Special Adviser Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mar –Sept 2001, Mr Femi Obayemi Davies-Special Adviser Local Government and Chieftaincy 1999-Mar 2001, Henry Oladele Ajomale- Special Adviser Political and Legislative Powers Mar 2001 -2003 Special Adviser Education, Mar 2001-Dec 2002, Mr Femi Pedro –Deputy Governor 2003-2007
Prince Abiodun Ogunleye –Deputy Governor May 2007, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu – Special Adviser Corporate Matters 2003 –Feb 2004. Ag, HC Economic Planning and Budget June 2004-Aug 2005. HC Commerce and Industry Jan 2007 and now the Governor of Lagos State.
Mr Rabiu Babatunde Tinubu- Head of Service 2003-2004, Mr Sunny Akinsanya Ajose –Head of Service 2004 –Feb 2006
Mr Yakubu Abiodun Balogun-Head of Service 2006- May 2007, Hon Omotilewa Aro- Lambo –Secretary to the State Government 2003-2006, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola – SAN Chief of Staff 2003, then Lagos Governor and now Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Fola Arthur Worrey- HC Land Bureau 2006-May 2007
Prof Oluyemi Osinbajo – Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and now Vice President of Nigeria, Mr Oladele Henry Alake- HC Information and Strategy, Engr Rauf Aregbesola – HC Works and Infrastructure, Dr Adeleke Pitan- HC Health 2003-2005. HC Education, Mr Olatunji Oluwaranti Bello – HC Environment Engr Hakeem Gbajabiamila – HC Physical Planning and Urban Development, 2003-2005, HC Housing 2005-2007, Mr Michael Olayemi Cardoso, HC Economic Planning and Budget 2003 -2005, Mr Olwale Edun – HC Finance 2004
Dr Ismail Adebayo Adewusi – HC Finance 2004-2005. HC Economic Planning and Budget 2005-2007, Mr Ben Akabueze – HC a Economic Pplanning and Budget Mar 2007
Mr Ebenezer Abiola Akinbolade –HC Establishment and Training, Princess Adejoke Adefulire – HC Women Affairs and Povert Alleviation, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele- HC Youth, Sport and Social Development
Mr Rahman Owokoniran-HC Housing 2003-2005, Mr Muiz Adeyemi Banire –HC Transportation , Mr Olanrewaju Waheed Balogun- HC Commerce and Industry
Dr Tajudeen Odutola Kasali- HC Rural Development and Infrastructure 2003-2003. HC health April 2003-2007, Mr Henry Ajomale- HC special duties and inter governmental relations, Mr Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya – HC Agriculture and cooperatives, Chief Mrs Oluremi Adikwu Bakare –HC local government and chieftaincy affairs., Dr Idowu Sobowale –HC Education, Prof Olakunle Lawal-HC Education 2003-2006, HC Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 2006-2007, Mr Akinsanya Doherty –HC science 2003- 2005. HC Finance 2005-2007,
Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat- HC Science 2005-2007, Prince Segun Oniru –Special Adviser Works and Infrastructure 2005-2006, HC Housing 2006-2007, Mr Olanrewaju Saka Senayon – Special Adviser, Mineral Resources, Mr Oladapo Bode Thomas- Special Adviser. Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs 2003-2006, Mr Olalekan Ifemade – Special Adviser Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs 2006-2007, Prof Tunde Samuel- Special Adviser Education, Hon Oyinlola Danmole – Special Adviser , Political and Legislative Powers, Mr Adeniyi Idowu –Special Adviser Establishment, Training and Pensions 2006-2007, Mr Rotimi Agunsoye – Special Adviser Physical Planning and Urban Development 2006-2007, Mr Ganiyu Olukolu – Special Adviser 2006-2007, Mr Sunny Akinsanya Ajose- Special Adviser Governor’s Office 2006-2007, Mr Abiodun Olatunde Akinyemi – Special Adviser Lands Matter.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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