Bola Tinubu will be inaugurated today as Nigeria’s 16th president, cementing his place as one of the country’s most prominent political figures. However, despite his popularity, Tinubu remains a mystery to many, with his age, education, and family background being contentious and controversial issues.
Early Beginnings
Tinubu claims to have been born on March 29, 1952; however, his university transcript shows his year of birth as 1954. This discrepancy led to a probe by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999, and while he claimed it was an honest mistake, it remains a point of contention.
In the absence of reliable sources, political opponents have filled the void with conspiracy theories and speculations regarding his parentage and place of birth. Some have claimed that he hails from Iragbiji, a town in Osun State, while others allege that he did not attend school in Lagos, where he grew up.
Tinubu’s Education and Early Career
After leaving Nigeria in 1975, Tinubu enrolled at Richard Daley College in Chicago, a community college, before moving on to the city’s State University to study Business and Administration, majoring in Accounting.
Upon graduation, he was recruited by Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells, working in their Nigerian office before moving to Mobil, where he rose to become treasurer. During this time, he formed relationships with influential politicians such as Dapo Sarumi and Ibrahim Babangida.
Entry into Politics
In 1992, Tinubu resigned from Mobil Nigeria to join politics, working alongside Shehu Yar’Adua and the Peoples Front political movement to help Moshood Abiola become Nigeria’s president. After the 1993 elections were annulled, he was on the forefront of the protest against the military’s action, and he went on to co-found the National Democratic Coalition in 1994.
Governor of Lagos State
Following his return to Nigeria, Tinubu ran for the governorship of Lagos State under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party, winning in 1999. He successfully won re-election in 2003, earning him the nickname “the Last Man Standing.” His time as governor faced several allegations of corruption, including claims of operating ten foreign accounts, but he was acquitted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Making of a Kingmaker
Between 2007 and 2011, Tinubu helped expand the All Progressives Congress (APC), merging several opposition parties and creating a viable alternative to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that had held power since 1999. He also supported the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar and Nuhu Ribadu on the APC ticket for the presidency but both men failed to win.
Rise to the Presidency
Tinubu declared his candidacy for presidency on the APC ticket in January 2022, running against his former ally, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He won the June primaries, followed by the general election in February where he secured over 8.7 million votes, beating 17
