Tinubu’s Politics of Engagement: Transforming critics into allies — A big lesson every leader must learn

By Sam Agogo

Politics in Nigeria has always been a rough terrain. It is a place where rivals sharpen their tongues like swords, where reputations are torn apart in public, and where betrayal is often the price of ambition. In this unforgiving arena, most leaders respond to criticism with hostility. They shut doors, blacklist opponents, and carry grudges for years. But Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen a different path. He has turned the act of engagement into a philosophy of leadership — meeting critics not with vengeance, but with dialogue, forgiveness, and inclusion.

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Tinubu is not a perfect man. He has his faults, as every leader does. Yet on this one aspect of leadership — the ability to embrace those who once condemned him — he has mastered the act. And today, many of his fiercest critics are not only walking beside him but are actively trying to repair the damage they once inflicted while they stood far away. This is the mark of a leader who understands that criticism is not the end of a relationship, but the beginning of dialogue.

Daniel Bwala’s journey is one of the most striking examples. During the 2023 elections, Bwala was relentless in his opposition. He attacked Tinubu’s health, his history, and his integrity, often with biting words on national television. Yet Tinubu did not dismiss him. He engaged him. Today, Bwala serves as Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, a transformation that speaks volumes about Tinubu’s ability to see beyond the sting of criticism and recognize the value in dialogue.

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Reno Omokri, another fierce opponent, staged protests against Tinubu in London, accused him of drug trafficking, and questioned his certificates. His criticisms were sharp and unforgiving. Yet Tinubu did not treat him as an enemy to be crushed. He engaged him. Over time, Omokri’s stance shifted, and today he defends the administration he once condemned. This is the power of engagement — the ability to turn even the harshest critic into a supporter.

Femi Fani-Kayode’s story is equally dramatic. He once poured venom on Tinubu and the APC, describing them in the harshest of terms. But Tinubu did not hold grudges. He welcomed him, and today Fani-Kayode is one of his staunchest allies. In a political culture where betrayal is common and grudges last forever, Tinubu’s ability to forgive and engage is extraordinary.

Nyesom Wike, as a PDP Governor, accused Tinubu of hijacking party structures and fought bitterly against APC leadership. Yet Tinubu engaged him. Wike became instrumental in the 2023 election and now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, one of the most powerful positions in the administration. This is reconciliation at its highest level — turning rivals into partners for national progress.

Bosun Tijjani, now Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, once posted critical remarks about Tinubu on social media. Tinubu did not exclude him. He engaged him, accepted his apology, and gave him a chance to serve. Dada Olusegun, once critical of the APC, now serves as Special Assistant on Social Media to the President. Doyin Okupe, who once dismissed Tinubu as “a man living in the past,” later reversed his position and offered support. Even Festus Keyamo, who once sued Tinubu in 2002 over allegations of forgery and perjury, was later embraced and became a key minister in his administration.

Beyond these names, Tinubu has also engaged dissenting voices within his own party and across the political spectrum. Figures like Rotimi Amaechi, who openly criticized Tinubu’s economic reforms, and northern politicians who opposed his rise, later found themselves in dialogue with him. Even when labor unions and activists condemned his policies, Tinubu’s instinct was not to silence them but to open channels of conversation. He has urged reconciliation between feuding party members, such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia, showing that his philosophy of engagement extends beyond personal critics to institutional disputes.

These stories are not accidents. They are proof of a deliberate philosophy. As much as you insult and criticize him, Tinubu does not see you as a critic. He looks for the good inside the bad, the truth inside the insult, the potential inside the betrayal. He does not care if you once opposed him. He will engage you, and in doing so, he builds bridges where others build walls.

The lesson here is profound. Criticism is not a threat but an opportunity. Leaders who embrace this truth will not only survive the storms of public opinion but will thrive in them. Tinubu’s politics of engagement is a reminder that leadership is not about silencing dissent but about harnessing it for progress. Every politician, every government official, and every religious leader must learn this lesson. In a society where politics often means betrayal, Tinubu demonstrates that engagement is not weakness but strength. He shows that critics can become allies, that opposition can become partnership, and that leadership is ultimately about reconciliation, dialogue, and building bridges that endure.

For comments, reflections, and further conversation:
Email: samuelagogo4one@yahoo.com
Phone: +2348055847364

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