Dr. Femi Aribisala’s recent article “The beginning of the end of the Bola Tinubu Dynasty” published on NigerianEye. was hugely criticized by a Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr Sunday Dare, who felt the article was a contribution to fiction writing, not responsible journalism.
He continues...
Even there, it was bad fiction. Aribisala is so obsessed with his animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu that Aribisala cannot see or think straight. Thus, his writing is crooked. If one did not know better, one would think Aribisala does not hate Tinubu as much as he envies the man. Aribisala wishes he were Tinubu. Instead, Aribisala is relegated to being the Asiwaju of his own imagination.
The article is presented as an objective news analysis and commentary. In doing so, the writer does injury to the newspaper, the truth and to the reading public. The piece begins with a purported quotation from Bola Tinubu himself used to paint him in an unsavory light. The problem is that this quotation never occurred. It was figment of the author’s dire, envious imagination.
What was presented as fact is fantasy. The man has the freedom to write whatever he pleases be it fact or fiction. However, it is unethical for him to portray as incisive journalism what are nothing but the fruits of personal hatred translated into paper and ink. When the truth does not prove the point he wants to make, Aribisala invents his own truth. While this might be an asset for a fiction writer, for a public commentator, it is a serious trespass against the tenets of responsible journalism.
Responsible journalism
Aribisala may well be jumping through these unethical hoops to currying the favor of the monarch of Aso Villa. But he should not be so hypocritical as to try to confuse us that his efforts are done as a public service.
The man actually criticizes Asiwaju for being a successful political leader as if doing so were some type of sin when , in fact, Nigeria is in great need of more far-sighted politician leaders not fewer. Aribisala claims Asiwaju wants to be another Awolowo. Here, why did not he quote Tinubu who has rebuked this charge many times? Repeatedly, he has stated there can only be Awolowo and to try to fit into his shoes is to lace yourself to failure.
We must learn from the great one and the principles he espoused so that we meet the challenges of our time as our legendary mentor and leader would have us do. This Tinubu’s position regarding Awo. If you want to accuse Tinubu of believing that Awolowo is the father of progressive politics in Nigeria, he would plead guilty. But Aribisala accuses him of trying to supplant Awolowo. The accusation is wrong and mean-spirited.
Again, at one point, Aribisala invents a Tinubu quote to as proof for his lies. Then at this point, the writer ignores Tinubu’s public statements because those statements rebuff the lie Aribisala seeks to perpetrate in the public mind. This comes to the meat of the matter. This hack writer asserts that Tinubu seeks a dynasty. He cannot be more incorrect. Tinubu is a leader of a political reform movement along with other patriotic Nigerians.
When Tinubu held fast against the tyranny of the PDP and its attempt to capture all states by any means necessary that was the work of a man committed to democracy. If he had not stood against the great odds against him and his party, the PDP would likely have turned Nigeria into a one-party state by now.
Instead, the APC has come about and now challenges the PDP in an unprecedented manner. Any objective person would conclude that this competition is beneficial for the public and for the growth of Nigerian democracy. It begs the question why Aribisala seems not to see this enormous contribution. He does not see it because those whose favor he seeks do not want him to expose this truth to the wider public.
Take a look at the men Tinubu has helped in their quest for public office. Fashola, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Oshiohmole, Ajimobi, Amosun, etc. These men are not non performing “yes men”. They are all dynamic and outstanding performers in their own right. Each is different than the other and each state government excels in its own unique way.
Dynastic pretence
This means that Tinubu is not orchestrating them into some limited uniformity but stands out of the way for them to lead as they believe. No major politician in Nigeria has a track record as good as Tinubu’s when it comes to supporting able people for office then leaving them to perform as they believe. Nowhere in the PDP does this happen.
If Aribisala wants to see and criticize something with dynastic pretence, he should do an expose on the PDP. In barking at Tinubu, he is barking at the wrong house.
This brings us to the Ekiti election. The vote count is in and the PDP has been named the winner. Because there were few overt instances of violence, people have lauded the election as free and fair. I caution you not to be too hasty in drawing that conclusion.
Slowly, the truth is coming out about how the military blanketed the state and intimidated APC members and office holders, including the governor himself. A new, subtler form of voter and opposition intimidation took place.
We have taken note and shall be prepared to outwit it the next time.On a larger note, Bola Tinubu is one of the leaders of a reformist national opposition party contesting against a behemoth, immoral ruling party that will use any all measures to keep power. This is a long marathon we run. There will be obstacles and pitfalls along the way. Ekiti was one but we are not deterred. Our objective is good and right. We seek democratic good governance for the people. We are not ashamed about that.
If seeking to make the people’s vote count and to make government care for the people is wrong, then let us be wrong. For we know that we will only be in the wrong to people with jaded vision such as Aribisala. History shall prove us right. Long after Aribisala’s efforts find their way to the bottom of the wastebasket, the APC shall stand as having pulled Nigeria from the precipice. And history will score Tinubu with high marks for ever remaining the one man standing.
Sunday Dare, former General Editor of The News/Tempo magazine and former Supervisor at the Voice of America, Washington D.C. is the Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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i wonder what Aribsala is trying to tell us. Is he paid to write such rubbish. We can not all be in one political party. last time Aribisala alleged that Tinubu is a tribalist, today he's saying he widen out to accommodate northerners. Time will tell on whose interest Aribisala is writting. That of my brother FFK is unfolding each day.Kindly play politics of love to unite Nigeria. i beg of you all.
ReplyDeleteTinubu seems like tribalist and Islamist
ReplyDeleteAribisala is saying the truth about Tinubu take it or leave it
ReplyDeleteNIgerian News, why has this response being relegated to the last article. I almost missed it. Please don't be one sided, be a true journalist.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I think Jonathan should give both of them appointment to stop this rubbish.
ReplyDeleteTo me this your write up is not true that Aribsala perpetrate in the public mind, I did not know who Aribsala is, i only happens to know him through this Nigeria eye but the simple truth is this, Tinubu has rain harvoc in my company, Tinubu's company Alpa Beta is the one generating revenue for Lagos State and some others State rulling by APC, do you know how many graduates' and Chartered Accountants' he rendered jobless in all the 36 States? do you know how many people this my ex-company engage in labour market but due to Tinubu regime till date is nothing to write home about, do you when Tinubu take over the revenue collection most of my colleagues including senior staff died of one ailment or the other? i am telling nothing but the truth and the God who created heaven and earth knows the truth therefore, don't give a good picture of Tinubu to the public let his character speak for itself and somebody like me will never vote for his party because the pain he caused my company is still there till date.
ReplyDeleteNothing is hidden under the sun and at the fullness of time God will expose all evil doers. The judgement of God will be on all who cause suffering on the poor and shed innocent blood for whatever reason. I prophesy that APC will turn against themselves and self -destroy for God is a God of justice! Shomarakataya!
ReplyDeleteTruth is always bitter Tinubu end is fast approaching thanks to Aribisala you have spoken the minds of millions in Yoruba land.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why Aribisala comments will deserve a reply - good one anyway but so many people he has written about don't give his message of calumny a dignity reply like you just did. Have you forgotten all his "wet e" story against Fani-Kayode? "Tribalist bigot" against Buhari? And many other......? Not a single negative thing has he written about Fani-Kayode now that they are in the same camp. This is a man that can win election in his ward if he join politics let alone give Nigeria an alternative to PDP that's plunging us into more darkness by the day since they've been ruling us. I rest my case. He doesn't deserve to be mentioned at all. @ Anonymous 10.26 04/07, I'm really sorry about what you and your company are facing but why don't you tell us what your company was generating for Lagos State before the job was taking from you in relation to what the current company is generating now. I'm sure the current guys are performing better if you will tell us the truth. You see?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 9:31am, which is more important, the criteria by which Tinunbu's companies are given juicy contracts in APC states or the fact that they probably outperform other companies? Transparency is key and keeping the field open to competition will help the citizenry better than a man building a fiefdom silently across the nation. Aribasala might be biased, but he raises issues that are worth looking at!!!
ReplyDelete