A political group, the Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI), has called on Nigerian universities to begin studying the political journey and strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of leadership and political science education.
The group said Tinubu’s rise from pro-democracy activism to becoming Nigeria’s president reflects a long-term political strategy that deserves academic attention.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Samaila Musa, GMI described Tinubu as one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s modern political history, noting that his approach to coalition-building, governance and political networking offers lessons for students and political actors.
According to the group, Tinubu’s political career demonstrates resilience, strategic planning and the ability to build enduring political structures.
“To understand Nigeria’s political direction, there is a need to study the strategies and alliances that shaped the country’s current democratic landscape,” the statement said.
The group highlighted Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle, his involvement in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), and his emergence as a major opposition figure after years in exile and political activism.
GMI also pointed to Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where it said his administration introduced revenue reforms and governance policies that transformed the state’s economy despite challenges with federal allocations at the time.
The organisation further praised Tinubu for mentoring political figures such as former Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, describing it as evidence of deliberate institution and leadership building.
It also referenced the 2013 merger that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the alliance between different political blocs changed Nigeria’s political landscape and eventually ended the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party at the federal level.
According to the group, universities should move beyond theoretical political studies and begin examining practical political strategies and power dynamics shaping governance in Nigeria.
The statement also mentioned Tinubu’s economic reforms as president, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, describing them as politically difficult decisions aimed at addressing structural economic issues.
GMI advised opposition politicians to focus more on long-term planning, coalition-building and issue-based politics rather than divisive rhetoric.
The group added that understanding political organisation and strategic alliances remains important for strengthening democratic development in Nigeria.
