The look-alike of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu though retired from the banking industry is currently busy writing books, two of which are being used as definitive texts by secondary school students in Lagos and Osun states.
In an interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he shares his experience about being Tinubu’s look alike, life as a banker and author, thoughts on present government among other issues.
Are you related to him in any way?
Not at all! We are not related. I am from Imesi-Ile in Osun State while he is from Lagos. There is no way we are related. I think it is just nature and the work of God…
How do you feel when people call you President Tinubu‘s look alike?
Well, I feel happy about it. When people started making that comment, my initial reaction was that of astonishment. But I later got used to it. I consider it a noble thing for people to say I resemble our President. In fact, this had been on even before he became the President. After he left office as (Lagos State) governor, people see me and say this is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s look-alike. I feel happy that people say I resemble him
Are you looking forward to meeting him one day?
I will be very happy to meet him. That, in fact, will be the greatest thing to happen to me. He is the number one citizen of Nigeria. I will be very happy. It will be a unique opportunity for me to shake hands with the President of the nation.
There must be times you hear people make snide remarks about him. How do you feel on such occasions?
Well, it is natural, especially in a political period. Like the Yoruba say, oun to koju senikan, eyin lo ko selo mii. Different people see things in different ways. But talking about the real situation on ground, I feel sorry for Nigeria and Nigerians sometimes because of the way we see things. It is true that the policies he is taking now are harsh, but before you can make an omelet, you have to break an egg. That is the situation we are in now.
The policies he is taking now may be hard, but in the economic parlance, when you make decisions, some results will be immediate, some will be short term, some will be long term. There are gestation periods. The hardship we are facing now will be short term, and if he is able to follow his policies to the logical end, Nigeria will be better for it. That is my belief.
Things have been bad for many years. I don’t want to blame anybody, but it is the reality that things had been bad for many years, and getting them corrected cannot be done overnight. That is my opinion.
So what would you say are the good, the bad and the ugly experiences from being Mr. President’s look-alike?
Like I said, many people have said so. Even when I’m driving, you see bus drivers saying come and see Tinubu driving, and I would wonder who they are talking about.
Let me cite an instance: I went to an office one day. When I got to the gate, the gate man saw me. But instead of opening the gate, he ran back to meet his colleagues, and I didn’t know why. Shortly after, they all rushed out and were looking at me. I asked what the problem was and they said our friend said you look like Tinubu and we are wondering what Tinubu is doing here, driving himself without security. I just laughed. It was really embarrassing to me that day.
From time to time, people say so. Of recent, I met the twin brothers of Taiwo and Kehinde Oluwafunsho, and the two of them said Baba, you resemble Tinubu so much. I said is that so? And I said I didn’t know. I didn’t tell them that people had been saying so. They said I wish you met him, and I said well, it depends on God. These are the things I have experienced in the past.
For me, it is a good thing to say I resemble Tinubu who by the grace of God is today our President. I would love to meet him if the opportunity arises.
You just narrated the good experience, what have been the uglyy ones?
No, I can’t remember any ugly one. No, no, I don’t.
You said you would like to meet President Tinubu. What would you tell him if you do?
I will first of all congratulate him for achieving his lifetime ambition; for becoming the President of the country. At the same time, I will pity him because of the onerous tasks ahead of him.
Like I said earlier, he has taken over the mantle of leadership at a difficult time in Nigeria’s history. Things had been bad for many years. I will ask him to continue with his policies which he believes are going to benefit Nigerians. He should not listen to detractors because many people are there for their selfish interests. That is the truth.
Even within the party, there may be fifth columnists, not to talk of the opposing parties. But once he knows that this decision he is taking is the correct one as at now, I believe God will help him to succeed. I will pray for him to succeed. Nigeria is a complex country, and with what we are facing today, it needs drastic decisions, which I’m sure he is now taking. I will encourage him to forge ahead. He should not listen to detractors.
One of the talking points before and after the election was about his age. What is your take on people over 70 years managing a country?
As far as I am concerned, being the President of Nigeria is not a function of age. I think it is a function of what you have to offer, your physical abilities and your health. Biden is in his 70s. He has now realised that he does not have the strength to forge ahead. That is why they have replaced him with Kamala. But if he is strong enough, why not? There are presidents all over the world who are 80 years, and they are doing well. As far as I’m concerned, age is not an issue. What is important is the stuff you have in you to rule the country, and then your physical health.
You see Tinubu walking, people run after him. So what are we talking about? As far as I am concerned, age is not a barrier as long as the person is sound enough physically and mentally. That is my take.
Some people have one form of despondency or the other about the government. What would you be telling this category of people?
I said earlier on that things had been bad and we have to be hopeful that things will become good and become better. One thing I would advise him to do if I have the opportunity to meet him is that he should ensure that our refineries are working. The problems we have in Nigeria today are rooted on two factors: the first is energy, that is petrol, and the other one is the foreign exchange. If those two problems are solved, Nigeria will be better.
Dangote is on stream. I want him to sell his products more to Nigerians than abroad. That will definitely reduce the cost of petrol. If Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries are working, things will be okay. If those two problems are solved, Nigeria’s problems will be solved because everything is tied to the foreign exchange and energy. Those will have multiplier effects on everything we are doing in Nigeria. I will want him to focus on these two aspects of our economy. Those who think that Nigeria will not be better are just being funny.
Are you a politician?
Everybody is a politician. But I’m not that type of politician that goes here and there. But as long as I exercise my franchise, I am a politician. I know which party I’m voting for. I’m a politician, and I know which government is taking the right decision. I’m not actively involved in day to day politics.
Peoplesmind
