CELEBRATING TUNJI BELLO AT 56

By Tunde Omisore

According to the Holy Book, 'where there is no vision, the people perish'. But the reversal of that according to Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is that ‘where there are no people, the vision also suffers’.  In other words, people need vision just as vision needs people. And one of the factors that can be winds on a leader’s wings or a clog on his wheels is the capacity to attract leaders who can buy into his vision and run with it. Let's face it, a leader that micro manages everything because he is afraid of delegating, is very unfortunate.

As anointed as he was, Jesus had his twelve disciples who served as the backbone of his mission and vision, especially after he departed the earth.  Adolf Hitler had his Rommel, Heinrich Hitler, Herr Gobble and more. Absolutism isn’t good, but it is safe to affirm that no leader can succeed without having other trusted leaders in his fold.

In the contemporary Nigerian political circle, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu remains one of the few leaders that identifies and builds up other leaders. He is never afraid of the possibility of those he helps builds outshining him. This is why today, why have new crop of leaders such as Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Akinwunmi Ambode, Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Fashola, Kayode Fayemi, Tunde Fowler, Ben Akabueze, Muiz Banire,Tunji Bello and lots of others contributing their own quota to nation building.

Tinubu readily recognizes that building men is much more important than building towering edifices and gigantic structures. He understands that legacy is not what you leave for people but what you leave in them. As late Myles Munroe said: ‘Success without a successor is failure’.

Presently in Lagos, Tunji Bello is one of the army of rising leaders that Tinubu has helped to mould and bequeath on the society.  Journalist, Political scientist, lawyer and a writer, Tunji Bello was born on July 1, 1961. A consummate media practioner, besides several seminar papers he has written on economic, political and social issues, he has authored many media related publications such as Privatization and the Media in Nigeria: 1983-1992 and Provoking Breach of Peace by Offensive Publications.
A specialist in Public communication, Tunji Bello once served as consultant on Media Affairs to the defunct Habib Bank Nigeria Ltd., former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, ex-Governor Diepreye Alameyeseigha of Bayelsa State, ex-Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Mala Kachallah and one-time Federal Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana.

His foray into public service actually began in 1999 when he served on the committees of the Transitional Work Groups constituted soon after former Governor Bola Tinubu’s success at the polls in 1999. The following year, 2000, he was a member of the committee on the creation of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA). In 2002, he was on the Tribunal of Inquiry into the fire disaster at Ikorodu in Lagos State. In June 2003, he was appointed by former governor Bola Tinubu, as the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment. To his credit, lots of innovative activities were embarked upon by the Ministry in its bid to improve the environmental condition of the state. Perhaps, the most outstanding of these was the creation of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) to de-flood areas prone to flood in the state.

Ever since, Tunji Bello has remained a stabilizing factor in the progressive politics and governance of Lagos State, investing his time, energy and intellect in the advancement of the state and, indeed, the country.  A loving husband and a devoted father, Tunji Bello, who is a football enthusiast and avid reader,  is happily married to Professor Yemi Olatunji Bello, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, and they are blessed with children.
Here is wishing this progressive minded politician and astute administrator more successes in life.