Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is Called the ‘Jagaban’ for Some Reason

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, popularly known as ‘Jagaban,’ is a Nigerian political Godfather who served and worked his way into the thick and thin Nigerian political climate. His story is one to be reckoned with, as he showed resilience in his fight against injustice, leading to his victory in the 2023 general election.

However, his political counterparts have disputed his victory in the last general election, and even election observers say that there was widespread voter fraud as well as voter oppression. We'll look a little at that later on, but before then, let's look at an overview of Chief Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, GCFR.

Also, note that the information you're about to read was sourced from different resource materials. Without further ado, let's take a look at his journey.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Early Life and Background

Bola Ahmed Tinubu was born in Lagos State, Nigeria, on March 29, 1952. He is said to have attended Richard Daley College in Chicago, Illinois, before proceeding to Chicago State University, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

During his school days, he was awarded the Outstanding Student's Award, The University Scholars Award, and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance. He, however, faced challenges in school, but with his mother's constant support, he was able to scale through, which led him to take little gigs like dishwashing, cab-driving, and night-guarding to see himself through school at Richard Daley College, Chicago, Illinois.

The young scholar on the Dean's list contested his first political election at Chicago State University and won the position of President of the Accounting Society of the institution in his final year at the University (A starting point for his political journey).

Bola Ahmed Tinubu Career and Life

After displaying a good record in America, Tinubu returned to Nigeria with his expertise in Financial Management. He joined Mobil Producing Nigeria as a Senior Auditor before retiring as the company's Treasurer.

He sacrificed his job at Mobil to join the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) as one of its founding members. With his strong allegiance to party politics, he was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District. He also served at the National Assembly as the Senate Committee on Banking and Finance Chairman.

Following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, which claimed the life of Moshood Abiola and led to a fresh military takeover, Bola Tinubu became a founding member of the National Democratic Coalition (NASECO). The group was known for its interference in military politics, which endangered the lives of most of its members. To stay safe and fight better, Bola Tinubu left Nigeria to take cover—even when he was in exile, he continued to push for democracy as he engaged with the military from his safe-havens.

In 1998, Tinubu returned to Nigeria after the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule. A year after his return, he was elected the Executive Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

In the run-up to the 1999 elections, Bola Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo. He won the AD primaries for the Lagos State gubernatorial elections in competition with Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu, a former Minister of Works and Housing. In April 1999, he stood for the position of executive governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected governor.

When the PDP took over power in 2007, Tinubu called for negotiations for stray parties to come together to defeat the PDP. Although this was a long journey, it eventually happened in 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan.

After Muhammadu Buhari served two terms, Tinubu took over as his successor, and he is now the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Bola Tinubu Alive?

Bola Tinubu is very much alive, serving the nation as the President of Nigeria. 

How Old Is Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu was born in Lagos State, Nigeria, on March 29, 1952. He is 71 years old.

Is Bola Tinubu Alive?

Bola Tinubu is alive!

Where Is Bola Tinubu Now?

Bola Tinubu is currently serving as the President of Nigeria, and most of his duties are carried out at the Presidential Villa except when he needs to go out on some special assignment.