That the Emir of Borgu in Niger State, Hrh Alh. (Senator) Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III [Mai Borgu] has revealed why in 2006 he named National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Senator (Asiwaju) Bola Tinubu Jagaban of Borgu.
On 26th February, 2006 the first-class emir turbanned Tinubu and his wife Senator Remi Tinubu with the titles of Jagaba of Borgu and Yun Bana Jagaban of Borgu respectively.
In this excerpted speech posted by Blackbox as excerpts from City People magazine, the emir at the turbanning ceremony talks about his 24-year friendship with the Jagaba Borgu, and why he bestowed on him this prestigious title….
“It was in the days of the ill-fated 3rd Republic, in the fateful year of 1992 that my path first crossed that of His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We were both elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he as an SDP Senator and I on the platform of the NRC.
In the early days of the National Assembly of that still-born Republic, out of the dynamic social turbulence and constantly shifting political quicksand certain strong bonds of understanding, collaboration and partnership were forged between various leaders across the political divide.
In particular I and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, though from opposing sides of the political divide, gradually discovered that our positions on issues of burning national importance increasingly propelled both of us and few other like-minded patriots in the same political direction.
Naturally therefore, at the inter-personal level, we both easily gravitated towards each other. Little were we to know that difficult and dangerous times lay ahead for the entire nation.
In November 1993 all democratic institutions across the country including the National Assembly were dissolved by the Gen. Sani Abacha regime and the country was returned to Military rule.
It is on record that the first challenge to this unconstitutional take over was mounted via a Press Conference which followed a closed-door meeting of about 35 Senators including myself, Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Senator Abu Ibrahim and of course Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
There is hardly any point describing the security situation as at then, but suffice it to say that we were all hounded with incessant threats, arrests and incarcerations. Eventually the struggle assumed darker dimensions and various pro-democracy proponents had to go underground.
It was in the course of these struggles that I came face to face with the inner core of the essential character of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I discovered that he is one personality that can neither be bought nor distracted. He has absolutely no sense of materialism and has been known to risk his life and the lives of his dear ones in defense of the truth.
He personifies the superior logic of having elected instead of selected leaders. Needless to say, he is a die-hard workaholic.”
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