Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has explained the difference between President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Bola Tinubu, in terms of leadership styles.
Speaking based on his work experience with both leaders, Fashola said the President-elect and the President are two different leaders with unique leadership qualities.
Using the example of coaches for various football teams, Fashola noted that Tinubu is a Team Manager who delegates duties to his team members, and guides them with well informed instructions on what to do, while still standing and shouting out directives on the touchline till his team is successful.
Still relying on information he obtained while serving as Chief of Staff to the President-Elect, Fashola said Tinubu is one of the nocturnal leaders who works best at night, inspecting and ensuring that those he has delegated some duties to are delivering on their promise.
Speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, the minister asserted that Buhari on the other is like a football manager that delegates and instructs his players on what to do and goes to sit in the dugout until the game has ended.
“I was speaking to someone and I said, imagine there are two football coaches.
“Asiwaju would be that kind of coach playing the game with them (in the dugout). Those are the two differences you’ll see.
“Buhari is the type of president of a ‘football coach’ that will prepare his team and then go and sit in the coach’s dugout and watch them play for 90 minutes. He trusts them to do well and believes there’s nothing he can do.
“One prepares, and one delegates completely. One delegates and stays with you. and each one has his strength.”
Wading into the recent debate about Tinubu’s alleged double citizenship, Fashola expressed doubt over the constitutionally provided restrictions placed on a presidential candidate with dual citizenship from contesting elections.
“I know he carries a Nigerian passport; I don’t know about dual citizenship,” Fashola stated.
“I know he resided abroad when he went on exile. I don’t know if they gave him American citizenship there. What does that have to do with the results of the election? The last time I checked, I think Nigeria’s constitution allows you to have dual citizenship?”
Fashola also described the schedule of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as a very tight one.
He added that Tinubu stays awake at night to do his best work.
He urged those planning to work with Tinubu to be prepared, adding that Tinubu is “very nocturnal”.
“I was his chief of staff for four and a half years. I took over from Lai Mohammed.
“In terms of controlling Asiwaju’s schedule, that was a tough task because he has day and night schedules.
“For those who are going to work with him, he is very nocturnal. I hope he changes. He will wake you up at night. He does his best work in the dead of the night. Unless you push back and claim your space at night, he will encroach it,” Fashola said.