BOLA AHMED TINUBU: What is in a Name? || By Femi Olalere

Unusually, this article proceeds from the Abrahamaic chronicles of the House of Isaac and the cogency of names from time immemorial. More Importantly, it creates a discourse that terminates deliberately, on the roles of names in the attainment of life goals.

Esau, being the first born of Isaac was meant to inherit the riches of his father, physical and spiritual, but the bible gives an account of how Jacob aided by his mother, outwitted both Isaac and Esau to claim what was not his due.

The Bible further gave an account of how despite the stolen blessings, Jacob toiled in a foreign land and was repeatedly cheated before he could amass any reasonable possession or at most, better his lot. 

He did not become truly blessed despite his father's prayers until he owned his true identity after the  encounter with the angel he wrestled.

  

Fast forward to current times, Nigeria has  often been compared to the biblical Israel due to her undying political and economic  travails. Whether these comparisons and  allusions are done rightly or not, the woes of the state is typified by a continuous struggle to elect true leadership aimed at economic rejuvenation.

Recently, a sizeable number of the citizenry, a shade over 8 million voters which represents a ridiculous fraction of the over 90 million registered voters and an assumed population  of 220 million citizens,  elected a president whose true identity is shrouded in mystery and a touch of mischief. 

Although flawed with claims of irregularities, supposed usurpations and a sprinkling of establishment aided violence, an election was conducted and Bola Ahmed Tinubu was returned victorious despite hues and discontent.

A much revered politician whose influence percolates the length and breadth of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is decidedly one of the country's most controversial figures particularly for unresolved drug related cases and the resolution of his true identity. 

Unfortunately for him and in addition to the queries on his identity, he is also unable to totally allude to tenable reasons for the discrepancies in his academic records,  professional pedigree or even, his ancestry  thereby bringing  his credibility and of course, the integrity of his government into global scrutiny.

Unlike Jacob in the house of Israel as contained in the chronicles of the house of Judah, Bola Tinubu has assumed political leadership while he is yet to own his identity. 

Unlike Jacob later christened Israel, Tinubu has stoically refused to allow Nigerians a peek into his background neither has he been able to tell lucidly, who he truly is.

Like Jacob, Tinubu has received the blessings meant for Esau but will he consequently admit that he is truly not Esau? 

Will he then be truly blessed or rather, will he be a blessing unto the nation if he fails to own his identity?

 If Nigeria is to finally 'get it rightly' does it matter if the the arm remains that of Esau while the voice constantly resonates Jacob?

Unusually, this article terminates without tying the knots but it revels in exposing the loose ends, whether hypothetical or factual!. 

What is in a name?  

Written by 

Olalere, Kunle Oluwafemi PhD. 

A Political Analyst, Teacher and Researcher with scholarly interest in Ethics of War, Displacement and Gender Studies.