My Takeaway From Tinubu’s Session With OPS!

TEMITOPE AJAYI 

For me, the high point of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the business community in Lagos was the Q&A session. He was very presidential and comfortable in his skin. He took full charge and carried the session as if he was presiding over a cabinet meeting.

On the high table with him were 8 other people that included his running mate, Kashim Shettima, Taminu Yakubu, former Economic Adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua and Wale Edun, his former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State.

Brilliantly, Asiwaju answered the first set of 4 questions and took on the second set in like manner. What drew greatest applause from the audience was the moment he exhibited his much-talked about leadership quality and abiding faith in teamwork. In good display of emotional intelligence, Tinubu sensed other people on the high table have become onlookers with no role when all questions were directed to him.

He said: “I don’t want to be the only one talking. I will distribute other questions to other people here with me to answer and I will add my own point where I need to”.

When the audience requested that more time should be allowed for questions, Asiwaju jovially responded he would approve the request only if the questions will be directed to Shettima. He didn’t want to shine alone. He made Shettima to shine too. That is leadership!