Bola Tinubu, the incoming president of Nigeria, has largely operated behind the scenes during his political career. He is considered a “godfather” who supports political candidates through his huge network of patrons.
With Tinubu’s assistance, former president Muhammadu Buhari was able to secure two terms in government, in 2015 and 2019. And Tinubu has chosen each succeeding victor to lead the biggest city in Africa since he stepped down as governor of Lagos in 2007.
His authority will now be put to the test as Tinubu works to address Nigeria’s challenges and outperform Buhari’s dismal track record.
Nigeria’s economy is barely keeping up with population growth amid skyrocketing inflation and debilitating cash shortages as a result of a bungled launch of new banknotes, and armed groups have made large portions of the nation ungovernable.
Under Buhari, who Tinubu sought for president on his party’s ticket, many of these issues got worse. Yet, when asked why people should elect him at a weekend news briefing, he disassociated himself from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party he helped form.
“I am not the party,” he said. “My track record should speak for me. Look at Lagos: Before I came, we had dead bodies on the road, a chaotic traffic system, and robbery daytime, and nighttime.”
“Come on: clap for me,” he added in an appearance typical of the hubris that often marks leaders of Africa’s top oil producer and most populous country.
While Tinubu has skipped a number of his party’s major campaign events and has occasionally appeared frail with his speech being sluggish and slurred, he has frequently dismissed worries about his health.
Whilst Atiku Abubakar of the previous ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the opposition Labour Party both mounted strong challenges, few questioned Tinubu’s well-funded campaign’s ability to prevail in a nation where the incumbent party enjoys a significant edge.
