Nigeria, May 26 -- There is a prayer point many Nigerian politicians have conspicuously omitted from their devotionals: Lord, may I never invest in a political associate who will turn coat and spend the rest of his days trying to dismantle everything I built.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, clearly never said that prayer before he threw his considerable weight behind Kayode Fayemi's political ascent.

Their bond was forged in the crucible of exile. When the annulment of Chief MKO Abiola's June 12, 1993 presidential mandate ignited a resistance movement, Tinubu and Fayemi were among those who refused to look away. Tinubu provided the funding; Fayemi and other foot soldiers implemented the strat...