Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Research by Beyonddennis
Early Life and Education
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, the 16th and current President of Nigeria, was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos, Nigeria, into the merchant family of Abibatu Mogaji, who later became the Ìyál'ọ́jà (market leader) of Lagos. While his official birth year is widely accepted as 1952, this date has sometimes been disputed by political opponents.
Tinubu began his primary education at St. John's Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos, and then attended Children Home School in Ibadan. He later moved to the United States in 1975 to pursue higher education. He first attended Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois, before transferring to Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, excelling academically and graduating with honors. Some sources also indicate he obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the same institution. During his time in the US, he reportedly worked various jobs, including dishwasher and cab driver, to fund his education.
Professional Career
After completing his studies in the United States, Tinubu embarked on a career in the financial sector. He worked as an accountant for prominent American companies such as Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells (now Deloitte), and GTE Services Corporation. At Deloitte, he gained experience in auditing and management consultancy services for Fortune 500 corporations and was a consultant for Saudi Aramco's joint venture partner National Oil, which he credits as his first financial breakthrough.
He returned to Nigeria in 1983 and joined Mobil Oil Nigeria (now Seplat Energy), where he rose to become a senior company executive and treasurer in the 1980s. This exposure to the corporate world provided him with a strong work ethic and business acumen that would later influence his political career.
Political Journey and Rise to Power
Early Political Involvement and Exile
Tinubu's foray into politics began in 1991 when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate, representing the Lagos West Senatorial District in the short-lived Third Republic. In the Senate, he chaired the Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation, and Currency.
Following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential elections and the subsequent military takeover by General Sani Abacha, Tinubu became a prominent pro-democracy activist. He was a founding member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a group that tirelessly mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and advocated for the recognition of Moshood Abiola as the winner of the annulled election. His defiance of the military regime led to his forced exile in 1994, from which he returned to Nigeria in 1998 after Abacha's death, which ushered in the transition to the Fourth Nigerian Republic.
Governorship of Lagos State (1999-2007)
In the lead-up to the 1999 elections, Tinubu, a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders, won the AD primaries for the Lagos State governorship. In January 1999, he successfully ran for the position of Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected. He assumed office on May 29, 1999.
During his two terms (1999-2007), Tinubu's administration is widely credited with transforming Lagos into a modern economic hub, often earning him the moniker "the man who built Lagos" or the "Godfather of Lagos". His tenure saw significant advancements in infrastructure, urban planning, environmental sanitation, and public finance. He initiated new road constructions to meet the needs of the fast-growing population and focused heavily on urban renewal.
He made substantial investments in education and healthcare, establishing new schools and hospitals, and introducing free education in public primary and secondary schools. His government also established the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) to expand medical education and strengthened the state judiciary. Notably, he significantly increased the state's internally generated revenue, which became a blueprint for other states, and famously stood firm against the federal government's withholding of Lagos's allocations, an issue that a Supreme Court ruling later resolved in his favor. His administration also established the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to enhance security and the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for police funding.
Role in All Progressives Congress (APC) Formation and Presidency
After leaving office in 2007, Tinubu continued to be a highly influential figure in Nigerian politics. He played a pivotal role in forming the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, a mega-party created by merging several opposition parties to challenge the then-dominant People's Democratic Party (PDP). As the national leader of the APC, he was instrumental in crafting the alliance that led to Muhammadu Buhari's historic victory in 2015, marking the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government in Nigeria. He also supported Buhari's re-election campaign in 2019.
On June 8, 2022, Tinubu won the presidential primary of the APC, securing the party's ticket for the 2023 general election. He was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election on March 1, 2023, after polling 8,794,726 votes, defeating Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. He was inaugurated as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.
Upon assuming office, President Tinubu initiated significant economic reforms, including the removal of the government subsidy on fuel, a move that had been costly to the Nigerian public purse for decades, and the unification of the foreign exchange market. These measures aimed to stabilize the national economy, increase government revenues, and reduce debt service. His administration has also focused on strengthening national security, boosting agriculture and food security, and developing infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He has emphasized youth empowerment and social welfare initiatives, including micro-credit schemes and housing projects. His leadership has seen a significant number of elected politicians from opposition parties join the APC, which has been attributed to his performance and inclusive leadership style.
Controversies and Criticisms
Bola Ahmed Tinubu's political career has been accompanied by various controversies and criticisms. His opponents and critics have raised questions about his age, health, educational background, and the source of his wealth.
One notable controversy involves a 1993 US court filing related to a "drug-related seizure of property" from his US bank account. Court documents indicate that he forfeited approximately $460,000 in a settlement with the US government in 1993 over links to a drug trafficking syndicate, though he was not indicted or convicted.
Allegations of corruption and financial misconduct have also frequently surfaced. These include accusations of operating 16 separate foreign accounts while governor and questions surrounding the true source of his substantial wealth. Reports from organizations like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have highlighted his ownership of numerous properties in the UK, acquired through offshore companies, raising concerns about illicit funds. He has also faced criticism regarding a lucrative tax collection contract awarded to Alpha Beta Consulting, a firm allegedly linked to him, with some suggesting millions were funneled to him through this arrangement. Tinubu has consistently denied these allegations, attributing criticisms to envy and stating that his wealth stems from investments and inherited real estate.
Inconsistencies in his credentials were first reported after he became governor in 1999. In a 2002 Supreme Court hearing, his team attributed discrepancies to clerical errors, and his immunity as governor prevented prosecution. Claims about his eligibility resurfaced during the 2023 presidential campaign, with questions raised about his educational qualifications and allegations of presenting a forged certificate to INEC, which were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Despite these challenges, Tinubu has often been described as a "Teflon Boss" due to his ability to remain largely unscathed by accusations, earning a reputation as a shrewd strategist and a key player in Nigerian politics.
Personal Life and Family
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim. He is married to Oluremi Tinubu (m. 1987), who is a distinguished senator, having represented the Lagos Central senatorial district and served as the First Lady of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
He is a father to six children. These include Zainab Abisola Tinubu, Habibat Tinubu, and Olayinka Tinubu with Oluremi. He also fathered three children from previous relationships: Kazeem Olajide Tinubu (who passed away in London in October 2017), Folashade Tinubu, and Oluwaseyi Tinubu. His daughter, Folashade, was crowned the new Iyaloja General in October 2013. His mother, Abibatu Mogaji, passed away in June 2013 at the age of 96.
Tinubu holds the chieftaincy titles of the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of the Borgu Kingdom in Niger State. His nephew, Wale Tinubu, is the CEO of Oando (Ocean and Oil Limited), though it has been refuted that Bola Tinubu is his uncle.