Saturday, January 05, 2019

Vintage Bayo Adelabu: Routing for the Supreme Good Via Incremental Change in Oyo State Governance System (1) - By Isiaka Kehinde


"Who is to say which is better, incremental or fundamental change? There are arguments for each. As an advocate, the important thing is to know what kind of strategy you are following because tactics that promote incremental change could be seen as underpinning the potential for the fundamental change or vice versa." -Willard Richan.

When he talks, people always rush to listen, when he is silent, people wonder and pine to hear him speak. That's the quality of a man who has turned on the light of his mind to dispel the dark night and reflect the light of truth. It's called reflective mind. It reminds the mind the purpose for which it exists. Exactly the type of mind the APC Guber hopeful in Oyo state and Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Oloye Adelabu Adebayo, no doubt, possess in no small measure. He is always a listener's delight at every fora and people always hang on his every word just as when the biblical Moses was reeling out the commandments. He selects his words and doesn't talk just to say something but only when there's something to say. His interview today, Saturday, 5th January on Fresh FM in the fresh year 2019, conspicuously revealed the freshness of his mind.

Listening to him again today on Fresh actually refreshed my hope for a period when the electorates will no longer accept only the available as the desirable. Now the desirable is available.

Three things made Adelabu Adebayo stand out in the interview. One, which is most vital, is his high level of preparedness to turn his lofty dreams for making Oyo State Primus inter pares (a first among equal) to a stark reality. He sounded confident and reassuring throughout. He attempted every question raised with broad calmness and answered with pinpoint accuracy. He did not sound like someone in the horns of a familiar dilemma or in the unfortunate web of what Joseph Keller teemed cash 22 situation. In short, he was never charged but totally in charge. He followed to the letter the rules of TQC - Total Quality  Communication in public relations. He is clear about his agenda, clear about his priorities, clear about the incremental change to adopt and of course clear on how his new plan will not undermine the original intent. He wants to build on an existing structure as an "Accelerator," to fast track social change, he doesn't pretend to share the glory of the current occupier of the exalted seat, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who he proudly referred to as the "initiator" or a "Pathfinder."

Aside knowing his agenda and setting up action plan towards actualising it, he is a real man who doesn't play to the gallery to woo or mislead the electorates. He said "whoever tries to satisfy everybody in life should not near governance system but rather sell ice cream". This presents him as a platonic realist who is ready to take any broadside so far his intention for his action or inaction is to attain the supreme good. According to Boethius" the supreme good is defined as that which when attained relieves a man of further desires which are lesser good"

Adelabu so much believes in the essence of continuity in governance. To him, government at it's best is a continuum. The goal is achieved faster when the methods are keenly followed by each moral agent in charge in a succession order.  He ranked Ajimobi 's government above a passing average. He maintained that "the burden of leadership is hefty and governance process hectic". In obvious show of his emotional intelligence, Adebayo Adelabu waxed philosophical when the anchor pointed at Ajimobi's shortcomings. He said "The end will justify the means, good men will ultimately obtain what they desire and that, not every throw of a dart results in a quick win, others don't bring instant visible gains as they have a long gestation period". But eventually, like the beautiful sunny day after the winters blast, people will love and appreciate them more (emphasis mine).

The third thing that  particularly made me  enamoured of the performance of the vintage Penkelemesi  grandson is his deep understanding of the fact that nobility lies in the necessities imposed on the noble man to carry on the virtues of his ancesstors. He proudly described his grandy, Hon Adelabu Adegoke Penkelemesi  as a great man and Pathfinder of grassroots politics in Ibadan who loved and lived with his people. A man whose footsteps he said  he is also following like a compass.

Oloye Adelabu Adebayo also spoke on how a combination of nature and nature can bring about a perfect man. He surely has both. He is no doubt a man that has "a get -up - and -go " sense that modern public sector transformation require. 

On his 7 point policy agenda, development plan for massive economic growth and strategies. Please watch out for the concluding part.

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