Tinubu, Afenifere, Awolowo, Oyedepo and the Concept of Spurring Others to Succeed
Tinubu, Afenifere, Awolowo, Oyedepo and the Concept of Spurring Others to Succeed
By Bamidele Atoyebi
The true measure of a leader is not found in the height of their own pedestal, but in the number of people they have elevated to stand beside them. Across the spheres of politics, social ideology, and faith, Nigeria has produced figures who understand a fundamental truth: power is a multiplier, not a solo performance. Whether through institutional mentorship, social reform, or spiritual empowerment, the “pushing” principle remains the same to lead is to serve as the platform for others to soar.
This foundational philosophy has defined the three-decade journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for whom “pushing others” is a foundational philosophy. This “Tinubu Method” posits that a leader’s greatness is reflected in the height to which they elevate their peers. This trait was forged in the crucibles pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s; as a key ally to Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Tinubu described the June 12 annulment as a “coup against the people.” During the repressive regimes of Babangida and Abacha, he chose self-exile, using his personal resources to fund National Democratic Coalition, NADECO and keep the flame of democracy burning from abroad, proving he would stop at nothing to ensure the success of the collective mandate.
In the arena of Nigerian politics, Tinubu stands alone as a master of institutionalized mentorship, driven by what Alhaji Lai Mohammed called “incurable optimism.” He does not just give orders; he spends his political capital to mentor an unprecedented array of top-flight leaders. This was evident in 2003 when he pushed Lai Mohammed to contest the Kwara governorship, a pattern that continued with technocrats like Babatunde Fashola and Yemi Cardoso, and political heavyweights like Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Akinwunmi Ambode, and the late Abiola Ajimobi. By “staying in the trenches” with his protégés, he has turned individual talent into a empirical institutional blueprint.
This spirit of endorsement reached its peak in 2015 when Tinubu played the pivotal role of national kingmaker. By subsuming his own early ambitions and deploying his vast political machinery to support the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket featuring his former Attorney-General, he demonstrated a rare willingness to play the role of a catalyst. This partnership effectively ended 16 unbroken years of PDP rule and proved that Tinubu’s greatest talent lies in identifying and “pushing” a leadership team that he believes can best serve the country’s interests at a given moment.
Transitioning from a regional mentor to a national transformer, Tinubu’s presidency now focuses on systemic empowerment for the masses through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). By providing interest-free loans, he is effectively dismantling the “poverty trap” where parents were forced into predatory cycles of high-interest “LAPO” or “Gb’omu le lantern” loans just to pay fees, analyst believe that he might even give up the loan and decided not to recover it. This program reflects the belief that the government should be the ultimate “pusher,” removing the financial boulders that block the path of the average youth, ensuring that education remains a right rather than a debt-ridden privilege.
Extending this vision of empowerment, the administration has launched a ₦120 billion initiative for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to shift focus from theoretical degrees to practical mastery in over 25 high-demand trades, such as solar installation and CNG conversion. By offering tuition-free training, stipends, and start-up grants, the program empowers underserved youth to become job creators, fostering self-reliance and global competitiveness.
Furthermore, the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates program stands as a cornerstone of his drive to push every Nigerian toward dignity and asset ownership. This initiative is designed to deliver 50,000 units in its first phase and create over 1.2 million direct and indirect jobs. The administration is making the dream of homeownership a reality for low- and medium-income earners. By integrating social housing targeting 100 homes in each of the 774 local governments, Tinubu is ensuring that even the most vulnerable are pushed toward the stability.
Indeed, Tinubu’s modern machinery finds its spiritual ancestor in Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the towering architect of modern Nigerian progressivism. Central to Awolowo’s political engine was Afenifere, a socio-cultural organization formed in 1951. Meaning “those who seek the good of all,” the organization was built on the foundation of egalitarianism the belief that leadership is a vessel for collective prosperity. Awolowo’s genius lay in his understanding that a leader’s success is measured by the success of those they leave behind, establishing a standard for selfless governance that persists today.
For the masses, Awolowo’s commitment was most tangibly felt through his revolutionary Free Universal Primary Education (UPE) program in the Western Region. By prioritizing the intellect of the commoner’s child, he broke the shackles of generational poverty for millions, treating education as a socio-economic equalizer. Through the Afenifere philosophy, he ensured the masses were a priority, establishing Africa’s first television station and building industrial estates that provided the backbone for a burgeoning middle class, proving that “wishing others well” could be institutionalized.
Beyond public policy, Awolowo functioned as a “maker of kings,” using the Afenifere structure to catapult a generation of disciplined politicians into the limelight. He provided a rigorous intellectual framework known as “Awoism,” teaching disciples like Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige, and Lateef Jakande how to govern with precision. These men were not merely subordinates; they were empowered protégés who implemented “Life More Abundant” in their states. By sharing his blueprint, Awolowo ensured his vision was replicated across the nation by those he had painstakingly trained.
While Awolowo and Tinubu utilized the political arena, David Oyedepo has built a parallel legacy of power within the realm of faith based on the maxim: “Don’t raise money, raise people.” Rejecting the pursuit of offerings for personal gain, Oyedepo’s wealth comes from a life of selflessness, he famously avoids a church salary and focuses on praying for the prosperity of his followers. Despite this, he was named the richest pastor in 2010. This way of living is based on a special kind of math found in the Bible. It says that while one person can defeat a thousand, two people working together can defeat ten thousand. By helping others get ahead, he creates a powerful team that achieves exponential results.
Central to this mission are institutions designed to “raise people” at scale. The Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI) has trained tens of thousands in leadership and spiritual exploits, while Covenant University (CU) has become a global standard for academic excellence, consistently ranked as Nigeria’s best. Similarly, Landmark University was founded to lead an agrarian revolution in Africa, raising a new generation of “solution providers.” These institutions serve as crucibles for human capacity building, turning students into kings and reformers who are equipped to transform the world.
At the end of the day, Oyedepo’s story is about the power of pushing others to the top. He shows us that you don’t have to be selfish to be successful. By being a leader who cares more about his people’s progress than his own, he has reached incredible heights. His life proves a simple truth: when you spend your life lifting others up, they will eventually lift you up too.
In conclusion, the shared narrative between Tinubu, Awolowo, and Oyedepo reveals that “pushing others” is the most sustainable form of power. Whether through political mentorship, regional education, or spiritual empowerment, the objective remains the expansion of success beyond the self. These men demonstrate that leadership is not a zero-sum game, but an investment in human capital that pays dividends across generations. Their stories affirm that the highest form of achievement is found not in what a leader accumulates, but in what they enable others to become.
Aligning with these historical and political pillars, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Ideological Group (BAT-IG) operates on the same conviction that leadership is defined by human investment and institutional longevity. Under the leadership of Convener Bamidele Atoyebi, the group mirrors the “Tinubu Method” and the Afenifere spirit by promoting a governance model where power is a tool for systemic elevation rather than personal accumulation. Through initiatives like the “Home-Cell” strategy designed to ensure government policies reach the grassroots and the establishment of the BAT Institute of Governance, the group seeks to institutionalize a culture of mentorship. By teaching that the ultimate success of a leader lies in “raising people” and building strong frameworks that outlive individuals.
Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring and a publisher at Unfiltered and Mining Reporting
