SIR: 　The dangerous and tragic political scenarios we had in 2002 which led the brutal murder of Chief Bola Ige in Ibadan is threatening to repeat itself in 2011. This time the target is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leader of the opposition in Nigeria.
In 2003 the Cicero of Esa Oke of the blessed memory just wanted to secure the South West for his party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Bola Ige thought that we have had sufficient experiences and lessons of history to play politics of principles, issues, values and ideas having suffered dictatorship and brutality from IBB and Abacha for close to 15 years. Those who saw him as a stumbling block reasoned that for them to capture South West, he must be taken out. And they did it.
Today Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only fighting to return South West to ACN, he has spread the tentacles of the party to all nook and crannies of Nigeria selling the biggest and most disciplined brand in Nigeria. Few years back, PDP said it was going to rule Nigeria for 60 years. Today in 2011, PDP leaders cannot have the temerity to repeat that statement.
But one man and his formidable team prepared, worked and got the nation to this stage. He led his group of committed followers to lay the foundation for the growth we are witnessing in the political landscape today. For this, he has become the greatest threat to PDP in Nigeria. No wonder the PDP wants him dead. 　　
At 59, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has remained an issue in Nigeria, always standing for the poor, making case for democracy and rule of law, grooming great minds to provide leadership through out Nigeria , and showing the way forward. He has become a character in the mould of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, richly blessed by God with a sharp third eye and infinite capacity to search and bring forth committed men and women whom he pushes forward for the good of the commonwealth. Nigeria need persons in the mould of Tinubu for this country to sit up. 　
You do not just show up accidentally in the World Series. Work praises a man! Tinubu as a consummate leader is very important to misllions of Nigerians.
Asiwaju has also done this to thousands of Nigerians irrespective of religion, tribe, tongue or culture. At 59, I am only begging God to preserve and protect Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the hands of nest of killers in Nigeria. Nigeria must move to the next level.
• 　Joe Igbokwe
Lagos
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Tinubu @ 59: taking Nigeria to next level