Bola Tinubu, a political “godfather” famed for his strategic deftness and clout, has achieved his “lifelong” goal of becoming the next president of Nigeria. After a tight race, Tinubu won 8.8 million votes, according to final election results. The 70-year-old will succeed Muhammadu Buhari, whom he claims to have helped put into power.
Despite lingering questions about his health and past corruption allegations, Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed claims of electoral fraud in the polls that took place over Saturday and Sunday. In a surprise result from the polls, rival Labour Party candidate Peter Obi won in Lagos State – Tinubu’s traditional bastion of support. However, days later Tinubu was confirmed as the winner of the presidency.
A Muslim born in Nigeria’s Yoruba-speaking southwest, Tinubu trained as an accountant in the United States and worked for several US companies, including as a treasurer at oil giant ExxonMobil. He was a political activist before becoming a senator and later governor of Lagos State, which he governed from 1999 to 2007. Supporters of Tinubu point to Lagos’s successes and insist he can replicate them on a national scale.
Described by his allies as an astute political strategist, Tinubu co-founded and financed the Alliance for Democracy, which later became the Action Congress of Nigeria, and then helped form the APC. He was instrumental in bringing together APC factions, pushing Buhari to victory in 2015 and ending 16 years in power for the rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Controversies around Tinubu have arisen around his financial dealings during his time in power. He is believed to be one of Nigeria’s richest politicians and after leaving office he was accused of corruption, money laundering and operating more than a dozen foreign bank accounts. He denies any wrongdoing.
Tinubu has interests in a number of business ventures, from media and aviation to tax consultancy, hotels and real estate holdings. One critic described him as “a greedy politician” who has gobbled up major sources of revenue from Lagos. Despite this, Tinubu has achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming president of Nigeria. He will now have the opportunity to prove his critics wrong and demonstrate that he can make a positive difference for the nation.