By Akin Ibesanmi
Naming former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu Emirate by His Majesty, Halliru Dantoro, the Emir of Borgu, few years ago could be said to be a case of putting a right peg in a right hole.
Given a vivid explaination of the highly respected and reverred office, the emir noted that ‘Jagaban’ means leader of Borgu. In addition, a number of leaders of thought on the Borgu traditions, especially on the chieftaincy of Jagaban, regard the position as that of a warrior-leader.
They further opined that a person who is named Jagaban must embodies lofty virtues of faith, honesty and bravery among others.
In other words, they believe that the position of the Jagaban is truly meant for an authentic leader. So how do one begin to define an authentic leader? Frankly speaking, an authentic leader can be described as an individual, whose action is real, genuine and sincere, in accordance with his or her personality.
Leaders, according to John C. Maxwell, are dealers in hope. Everything starts and stops with the leaders. This concept is not strange to Asiwaju Tinubu. As a matter of fact, he is practically at home with all the attributes a Jagaban or an authentic leader should possess.
A true Jagaban should at all times build followership through honest relationship. He must have the will to mentor people. A Jagaban should have self actualization, and above all must be able to inspire trust and loyalty.
The Jagaban of Borgu Emirate, despite the unpleasantness of the situations in most of his years as a political figure in Nigeria, have never ceased to build followership through honest relationship.
To him, honest relationship remains one of the legitimate ways to be an authentic leader. This is a prized condition for all his political dealings.
In more than two decades since Nigeria returned as a democratic entity, Asiwaju Tinubu can be said to have mentored more followers, who are now great leaders in their own right, than most of his contemporaries put together.
Being an authentic leader by all standard, Asiwaju Tinubu is ever willing to mentor others. He understands that genuine followers should be guided with all sincerity, if they must become great leaders of tomorrow. One outstanding virtue of his is the ability to show the way by leading the way!
Timing is key in every action and inaction of an authentic leader, and the bedrock of timing is self actualization. For the Asiwaju of Lagos, he is self aware and genuine in every situation, even in situations that put him on the spot. He knows his strength, limitations and emotions.
One of the facts to deduce from Jagaban’s self actualization is that he speaks less but demonstrates massive actions. Asiwaju lacks no courage to show his real self to his followers. This is no sign of weakness, but of strength, a virtue demonstrated by great leaders like Mahatma Ghandi, Alexander the Great, et al.
Just like the school of thoughts opined on the title of Jagaban as a leader of warriors, one is tempted to view Asiwaju as a leader, who leads warriors. And of a truth, a warrior-king or leader must possess the ability to inspire trust and loyalty. The leader, without mincing words is the voice of the led. A trust worthy leader, irrespective of the season, is the one who can inspire trust in his followers. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has such high credit of trust worthiness across board. He is tested and truly trusted!
That people are committed to Asiwaju’s vision across Nigeria and among Nigerians in diaspora should not come as a surprise, because he embodies sublime attributes of an authentic leader – the Jagabanism!
•Ibesanmi is the Coordinator of the Lagos State chapter of the Tinubu Support Organisation, TSO, and writes from Lagos.
