By Eric Elezuo
With controversies trailing the career path of one of the frontline presidential candidates for the 2023 Presidential Election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Boss took it upon itself to speak to those who know; those who had at one time in his history, had a close interaction with him.
Consequently, following an interview that Asiwaju Tinubu himself granted Gazette News where he mentioned that that one of Nigeria’s credible personalities, Prince Emmanuel Adesanya, was one of the people that encouraged him to join Mobil, we set out to locate the octogenarian, who worked with the Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited for 22 years before retiring in 1997
He told The Boss Newspaper the much he knows about the person and career path of Tinubu, especially as regards his sojourn at both Mobil Producing Unlimited and Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited.
Here are excerpts:
Sir, in a certain interview, Presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted Gazette News he mentioned you as one of those, who encouraged him before he was employed by Mobil. Kindly react to this
I first met Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he came for an internal auditor position at Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (subsidiary of ExxonMobil USA ) when I was the General Auditor and one of the panel that interviewed him. He exhibited brilliance and professionalism. He was able to grasp any question put to him, unknotted issues in any area of accounting and finance  After the final analysis of the interview, Mobil finally employed him and he worked with me at Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited for about two years as Internal Auditor before he finally moved to Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited to become senior auditor and then the Treasurer
During his almost two years stewardship with you, what would you say his productivity was as a person and as a team member
During this period his productivity was above average and he produced excellent reports that showed his brilliancy and professionalism .His working papers were perfect and he complied with what we called completed staff work . His training abroad in places like Deloitte and others were well reflected in his work at Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited
With his superlative brilliance as you mentioned, how did you feel when he was leaving Mobil in his prime to join politics
At that time he was then in Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited and in order to fulfil his career goals as a politician he could not be stopped.
Do you believe Tinubu can replicate those brilliance he exhibited while working with Mobil as he seeks higher political office today
Sure. You know morning shows the day. With what he had done, I think and I believe that he can take care of a larger group if he is given the opportunity.
Tinubu has been credited by some to have created a new Lagos and many new innovations. What’s your comment on that
When he was Governor of Lagos State for eight years he improved on the finances, infrastructure and other areas of Lagos State. Lagos internally generated revenue (IGR) monthly in 1999 was N600 million, but when he got there, he increased this annually and by the time he left in 2007 it had risen to N8 billion monthly. It was the foundation he laid that Lagos has become what it is today. and on this framework that all the other Governors built upon for Lagos to become what it is today. If he can turn a state like Lagos around, he can surely turn Nigeria around.
What do you wish him as he trudge on in his quest to become Nigeria’s President in 2023
Oh, it’s my pleasure that he gets all that he required to get to the peak of his profession, and in this case, the President of Nigeria. I wish him the best of luck, and I believe, think and pray that he will achieve his objective by the Grace of God.
And when he does, do you believe he can make Nigeria better than it is today
Oh yes, I wish him the best of luck to turn Nigeria around to be a better country., improve on the security, turn economy around and improve on infrastructure, especially electricity generation and principally tackle inflation and unemployment.
Thank you for your time
It’s my pleasure
