Opposition Displays Flagrant Ignorance of the Penkelemesi Phenomenon By Olawuwo Adesina

Why this peculiar mess?

Mesmerized by the Oyo All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s immense personal profile which is buoyed further by the towering reputation of his grandfather, Alhaji Chief Adegoke Adelabu, the most reputable regional Opposition Leader known to Nigeria history,  opposition political parties in the state particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are putting the wrong foot forward, waging a war that would boomerang and put them at loggerhead with Ibadan and all those other towns  the NCNC held sway in the in the First republic. They will have the Olubadan, the Alaafin and the Soun to mention three frontline traditional rulers in the state to contend with. This is because the roles and attitude of the late Leader of Opposition in the defunct Western House of Assembly were conditioned and determined by the wishes of his people and party loyalists across Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso and far away Ilesa which is now outside Oyo State.

An article has continued to trend on the social media ostensibly by the PDP media machine which seeks to present out of context roles of Papa Adegoke Adelabu as the Leader of Opposition in the Western Region House of Assembly. The article came as a charade  and betrayed the extreme ignorance of the writers concerning parliamentary democracy Nigeria operated in the period before and during the First Republic but which is still the proud vogue in Britain, Canada and Australia among other Commonwealth countries which a section of the Nigerian political class are nostalgic about and called for its return.

It is dastardly act of self destruct for some misguided politicians whose fathers were incognito in the first republic to encourage campaigns of calumny which seeks to take the desecrate the glowing memory of one of the most important figures who fought for the regional self rule for the West and the eventual independence of Nigeria by presenting him as opponent of the free education policy and personal enemy of the late Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in that the people will ask them the critical question what their fathers or grandfathers were doing at the time the APC governorship candidate’s grandfather held sway as foremost politician in the West and in fact Nigeria, having been the nation’s first Federal Minister of Social Services and Natural Resources. Such politicians may be inadvertently inviting inquiry into their backgrounds which may turn out unpalatable. Whatever transpired between Chief Awolowo and Adelabu were in tandem with the character of parliamentary democracy where the Shadow Cabinet had responsibility to scrutinize the policies and actions of the government, as well as offer an alternative program.

The best the PDP and the rest of the opposition parties need to do in the circumstance, without beating the honest nest, is to push their candidates and let the people of Oyo state do a comparative analyses and decide on the best person for the job instead of chasing the ghost of the late Shadow Premier, lest his ghost chases them.

One flaw in the poorly penned narrative is that it portrayed glaring ignorance of  the workings of the parliamentary system of government practiced that time and certainly confused it with the presidential system of government which obtains now. There is therefore the need to put the record straight and educate these writers who may not have been born in that dispensation or have knowledge of history or are rather too lazy for historical investigations.

Constitutionally, two governments are apparent in parliamentary democracy; the Government and the opposition Shadow Government. The leader of the largest opposition party is the Leader of the Official Opposition, which that time was the NCNC with Rt. Hon Adegoke Adelabu the Leader of the Official Opposition. This role commanded an added remuneration to the parliamentary salary received as an MP. The Leader of the Official Opposition picks a 'Shadow Cabinet' to follow the work of government departments. It is doubtful if the apologists of the PDP and other opposition political parties knew that the two governments obtained that time were only contrary and not in any way contradictory.

The device is intended to encourage robust parliamentary debate, deepen and broaden the exploration of all possible sides to policies and programmes, such as the free education so as to maximize the utilitarian value to the people. The parliamentary shadow cabinet system is not the winner takes all kind of arrangement and seeks to involve all stakeholders in the decision making process. Government ministers and Opposition spokespersons all work in the House of Assembly. While the Government Cabinet consists of ministers chosen by the Premier at regional level or the Prime Minister at the federal level, the Shadow Cabinet, a notional cabinet, consists of members from the main opposition party appointed by the Leader of Opposition. While the Cabinet ministers develop government policies and head the ministries, the Shadow Cabinet ministers examine the work of each government department and develop policies in their specific areas. That way the Opposition is able to subject the policies and actions of the government to constant criticism effectively through general debates on legislations, discussion of the general budget and motions of censure.

That is the reason the parliamentary form of government is also called Responsible Government because it is answerable to the entire parliament, and not only to the majority. This made whole sense in the first republic because of the absence of Separation of Powers with the three departments of government working in close, intimate contact, sharing some of the powers and functions of one another. However, structured opposition is not an institutional aspect of the winner takes all presidential system of government and the opposition has had to adorn the garb of gangster or villain by taking to press conferences and press releases in damaging criticism of government and its programmes and policies.

There probably lies the error of those who seek to view Penkelemesi in the light of today’s opposition whose approach is antagonistic rather than being constructive. It is instructive therefore that the PDP and other teams note that the function of the opposition in the parliamentary system is to encourage constructive criticism,  accountability, meaningful debate and exhaustive review of all possibilities to policies and programmes right on the floor of the Parliament and not antagonism as they seek to portray.

Contrary to the wrong impression the PDP and other opposition candidates seek to enlist, Chief Awolowo and Alhaji Adelabu were not diametrically opposed on policies and programmes which added to peoples welfare; and evidence abound that they met privately and regularly to discuss grey areas in issues and actually socialized. Rare visuals are available which showed the West Opposition Leader, Alhaji Chief Adelabu personally welcoming the Premier, Chief Awolowo to London for the many talks that facilitated Nigeria’s independence. It is not wise of any politician today to want to create a wedge between Awo and Penkelemesi when their biological offspring and families would not see it as such; but only believed that both patriarchs were justifiably involved in nation building and that both had played their roles well in tandem with standard parliamentary practices as obtained in the UK, Australia, Canada and others.  It should be agreed however that India is a parliamentary democracy which does not employ shadow government.

It is obvious that Papa Adelabu is not the kind of politician dead or alive that can be bad mouthed by whoever new politician. Here is a man celebrated in death by the likes of Prof Sabiru Biobaku who was his classmate. The former Minister of Works and Transport and uncle of present Governor Ajimobi and even the governor’s father who was a member of the Western House though on the platform of the Action Group venerated him. As Reuben Abati recalled in a recent article, the Western Region Opposition Leader and Shadow Premier was a “brilliant orator and intellectually gifted personality who authored the book Africa in the Ebullition.” The book in itself was a massive intellectual exercise; just as the genius orator who once came first in a UAC scholarship examination that earned him a scholarship to higher institution was renowned for his “deep knowledge of English”.

It should be of concern to critics of the Penkelemesi legacy that Ibadan is attached to his memory and celebrated the Centenary of his birth recently on September 3, 2015. Though Senator Lanlehin’s father was an actor in the Western politics of the first republic, and so also Chief Akinpelu Obisesan, they were not in any way in the bracket of Papa Adelabu. It is pretty difficult if not impossible to notice the Makinde’s father not to talk of his roles in those formative years Papa Adelabu led Ibadan to cut own political persuasion. So today’s children whose fathers were incognito in the first republic don’t have what it takes to cast aspersion on Penkelemesi whose legacy remains one leg the West stands on till date.

There was no way he would have been opposed to free education in that he himself was quite brilliant and soundly educated. He had severally declared that he had insatiable thirst for knowledge. As Chief Lekan Alabi disclosed in a newspaper article, the enigma attended St David’s CMS, Kudeti, Ibadan from 1925 to 1929, the CMS Central School, Mapo area, Ibadan in 1930, the Government College Ibadan, 1931 to 1935 and Higher College, Yaba, Lagos in the year 1936. Adelabu earned accelerated (double) promotions on three occasions at Elementary, Primary and Secondary School levels, yet he never came second in any examination, but first at all times. He was extremely brilliant!

Also, he could not have been opposed to other egalitarian programmes of the regime such as free healthcare, rural development and mass employment pursed by the government at that time because though he was born into a poor family he had managed to scale the odds to become the first African manager of the United Africa Company (UAC) at age 21 in 1936, Nigeria’s first federal minister of social services and natural resources at age 39 in 1954, first chairman the old of Ibadan district council (now comprising II LGAS) in 1954, former first national vice, later the president of the now defunct NCNC political party, former leader of opposition in the old Western Region house of assembly and leader of the NCNC western delegation to the 1957 constitutional conference in London, UK.

It is erroneous to think that Ibadan could throw away its loyalty to Adelabu on the account of cheap misrepresentation of facts. He was sufficiently a man of the people. When he became the minister of labour, he immediately drove his official car, an American limousine all the way to Ibadan and asked all his teeming supporters to share the car with him. He boldly announced to them that the car belonged to them and not him. Ibadan is in not in a hurry to forget the Adelabu spirit of accommodation and public inclusion, the kind that was not common in the first republic and no longer found among today’s politicians.

Similarly, when he was provided with a government house as his official residence in Ikoyi, the most exclusive part of Lagos, he turned up with drummers from Ibadan much to the discomfiture of the largely expatriate residents of Ikoyi. They protested vigorously about the noise but Adelabu would not relent. He called a press conference and stoutly declared: “If they do not like noise and drumming, they are free to go back to their own country.”

He built his famous catchphrase “a peculiar mess” on his penchant for quality both in leadership delivery and conduct of government business. It became well known that time that Adelabu did not stand for any mess rather he abhorred mess. Avert to shoddy performances, he had variously declared publicly that the government of Western Nigeria was in “a peculiar mess” over the management of its affairs. He had also tongue lashed the colonial officials with same vitriol: “stop your peculiar mess”, which he chorused as the occasion demanded. So whoever seeks to push the notion that penkelemesi suggests poor, mediocre performance is gravely missing the point.

The brilliance Adegoke brought to governance in the first republic robbed on the grandson as he also has always lived up to expectation in all corporate and public offices he held. Hence, the people of the state repose implicit confidence in him to make a brilliant success of the governorship on his election. He has exhibited that in the way he has handled the state Security Trust Fund as chairman. The innovation he has brought to surveillance, prevention and containment of criminalities has strengthened the security of the state. This becomes very appreciable considering the fact that security is the greatest challenge facing any society in the world. As it were, only he among the many contenders, except former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, has been entrusted with the very critical aspect of the state. No one is in doubt that he has proved appropriately equipped for the assignment as he has made the best use of the opportunity to impact on the peace agenda that has been flagship of the numerous achievements of the Ajimobi administration in the last seven years.

If the PDP candidate and his cohorts would offer themselves the benefit of hindsight, they will realize that egan wa ko ye yin! E wa oro mi so!

BY OLAWUWO ADESINA

There is Still Serious Work to be Done: Sunmonu Respond to Calls to Begin Campaign

The Senator representing Oyo Central has in a statement released by her media office responded to the calls from her supporters to begin campaigning towards the upcoming 2019 elections.

Sunmonu support groups under the auspices of “O-Sure Group”, TeamSMS” and “SMS Vanguard” have called for the former Speaker of Oyo State to begin her campaign, claiming that many of her competitors from other parties have began campaigning by attending radio interviews and holding mini-rallies across the senatorial district.

In her response, Sunmonu said “INEC has stated very clearly that Federal campaigns are to commence on 18 November 2018. That means any campaigning prior to that date is not allowed.

She continued “Election is a race: we all know it is a ‘false-start’ to start running before the gun sounds. The umpire knows the rules and is observing.

In closing, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs said “As a Senator of the Federal Republic, I am duty bound to lead by example by doing the right thing and attending Plenary sessions where crucial Motions and Bills are being debated. There is still a lot of work to do in the National Assembly and patriotism dictates that I must continue with these assignments in the interest of my constituents and Nigerians generally.”

Akin Alabi Takes a Swipe at Seyi Makinde over 3SC Saga

The APC House of Representative candidate for Egbeda/Ona-Ara LG constituency for the 2019 election and CEO Nairabet Oloye Akin Alabi who is also a staunch supporter and sponsor of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) took a swipe at the governorship candidate of the PDP, Engr. Seyi Makinde for playing the blame game on the predicament of the famous Ibadan football club.

Recently, Seyi Makinde has been employing all tactics to discredit the efforts of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi's government in improving the state in all avenues available. More recently, he has taken the blame game to the football arena by blaming the present government for the club's relegated status and the difficulties encountered during their present difficulty in gaining promotion back to the elite division.

But in a twist of event, Oloye Akin Alabi took him unaware someone tweeted on a post that mentioned Seyi Makinde promising to restore 3SC lost glory. Akin Alabi using his Twitter handle @akinalabi tweeted "Politics. Since I have been sponsoring 3SC for about 5 years and going around with the management trying to raised fund, this man has not been supporting us. Election time he is pledging to support lost glory".

This is a big fact yet untold in the open circle and further shed light on the antecedents of our political candidates who don't offer much when the election is not around the corner. It is also a dent on the political ambition and zeal of Engr. Seyi Makinde who some quarter regard as a genuine patriot.

Oloye Akin Alabi however is a true Ibadan patriot who has been a sincere and devoted supporter and financer of the prestiguous club since well over 5 years ago with various shirt sponsorship, provision of training kits and welfare of the club players and officials.

Senator Monsurat Sunmonu: A Woman of Substance

Leadership, like Marian Anderson postulated, should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it. Understanding the need of the people has always been the major concern of the senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, all through her period as a serving legislature.

What particularly knocks me off my feet about this woman of substance is her sincerity of purpose. Women of virtue are indeed a rare breed. Such embedded virtue in a career woman with motherly custom is a masterstroke or better tagged 'a work of art' of the creator. Such is the persona of Senator Monsurat. The character entwined in such womanly artistry is a conglomerate of the attributes desired of a leader for the people, who is also saddled with the solemn responsibility to serve the people and that for a certain has been actualised with due delegience. She has been at the forefront of humanitarian services to her people that it is has become apparent and imperative in all her human endeavors.

I remember vividly during one of our informal discussions in Abuja, where she had to let us in on some of the problems encountered within the rank and file of the senate caucus when she had to struggle her way through the apportioned fund and allowances. She divulged yet with so much passion gushed out of her innermost feeling to back up her assertions amid the general problem women often face as a first timer and as a woman.

A wise man once posited that "a strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everyone else". This has always been a strong work point for our darling senator who always stand tall against all form of oppression in the power house of the senate chamber. She narrated many confrontations she had with her colleagues in the senate chamber which was a necessity to gain power and hitherto earn some much deserved respect.

Those who are attuned to her journey into political scene must also be in awe of her electric rise to the peak in politics. It didn't come by human favor but by divine grace. She's richly blessed and ingeniously favored and she knows it. She sometimes tell political vendors who come up with so much expensive bargain for their cheap electoral support that they can go do whatever pleases them, that so long she has done her bits and pieces, the Almighty Allah will surly do the rest.

And He has been doing it for her because she has been doing all within her capacity to build the people especially the youths through her extended capacity building programs. Her idea of setting a legacy for tomorrow is by building future leaders and not future artisans, providing an environment for human capital building, not physical capital, largely through education and sensitization which somewhat negates our usual politician style of cheap and manual empowerment. Provision and repairs of good and accessible road network, provision of better health services for our people, through appropriate funding of our health system and providing free health services to various individuals and groups. She has contributed so much to the education sector by bringing a conducive learning environment for various primary schools through construction and reconstruction of school buildings and provision of  chairs and desks for a better and conducive learning environment.

She has anchored many youths centered human capital and capacity building programs which has gone a long way to improve the level of human resource development of our people. This is a short and long term solution to better the life of the people and sharpen their cerebral capacity for life successes compared to others who provide cheap and short term oriented goal to solving poverty in the land through their less privileged empowerment programs. The distinguished senator, in her capacity, has sponsored many bills including the ever famous and widely applauded treatment of a gunshot victim which had in the past become a menacing outlet for human mortality especially in this part of the world.

She won't make you a promise either. It is usually a wrong strategy by our political lords who would say anything to appease the human desire and yet easily break the subtle oath to provide all that they have mentioned while campaigning or during dialogue. Considering the many factors that can spring up to thwart the oath from actualising: the case of a rise in foreign exchange can easily bring your projections and presumptions into delusions and leave you in an unsafe pedestal.

I can go on waxing lyrical about this great woman of substance who no doubt have the love of her people at heart and will see to the manifestation of an all improved welfare agenda for her people in the next senate, 2019 (8th National Assembly) as she would then be considered a high powered member and perhaps one of the powerful women in the chamber who can emancipate the women agenda and unequivocally make life more meaningful for the people on her senatorial constituency and beyond.

Akin Alabi to Build ICT Center at Bioku Community High School

The APC candidate for the Federal House of Representative, Egbeda/Ona-Ara LG Ibadan in the 2019 election and CEO, Nairabet, Oloye Akin Alabi has put in motion his plan to build an ICT Center at Bioku Aladun Community High School (Senior), Akanran.

He made this known through his Twitter handle, @akinalabi, when he tweeted that "I’m thankful to the ministry of education, Oyo State for approving my request to build an ICT Center at Bioku Community High School, Ibadan." In the reply, message from the ministry of education which he made public, the acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs I. I. Fatoki acknowledged the receipt of the letter which was sent on the 23rd of October, 2018 and she assured her support with high regards.

Oloye Akin Alabi is contesting to be the Federal Honourable representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara LG constituency under the ruling party, APC, where he hopes to use his wealth of experience to further assist the people, thereby improve the living standard of the people.

Prince Ashimiu Afeez Adio, A Man of High Altruistic Value

I have seen men of high of moral and integrity, I've seen men of altruistic values who gives without an afterthought, I have seen great victors and great achievers. I have seen Prince Ashimiu Adeyinka Afeez Adio - a business man cum politician who have raised the bar in modern politics especially in Egbeda/ Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, he has proven without reasonable doubt that selfless men of high generosity who value human lives, above personal gains, still exist in the game of politics, no wonder some sect clamour for more business men to fill the voids in the Nigeria political terrain. Active participation in politics by the technocrats should be more encouraged as it will lay a good foundation for the upcoming generations, thus limiting the whims of politics which will ultimately reduce the visceral to matters of national importance or value.

Adio (as he his popularly called) has been at the forefront of the affairs of the people prior to the party primaries where he lost the Federal House of Representative candidate ticket of the All Progressives Party (APC) to Oloye Akin Alabi, however this loss has not deterred him from contributing immensely to the growth of the ruling party, APC. Talking of a kind, generous and forgiving man, a man with a good heart and virtue who is magnanimous in defeat, albeit being in full cognisance of the murky waters of politics he's plying.

Having lost the party ticket at the primary, he still made it a point of duty to be present at the Ona-Ara LG youth meeting at Elekuro High School on Saturday where he even donated a huge sum of cash for the upkeep of the party programs. He did not stop there, he took a grip of the opportunity given to him to announce his foundation, Adio Foundation which is an NGO aimed at adding value and shape to human lives. While speaking Prince Adio expressed the affection he has for his people and how he hoped to use politics to impact more into the life of the people. He took the time also to make public his free skill acquisition training program which will be coming up on the 30th of October to 3rd of November,   2018 at the Legacy House, Babanla, Ibadan. Domestic skills to acquire include: Laundry bar soap making; liquid soap; disinfectant and antiseptic; body spray; insecticide; vaseline; stove thread and bleach and rat poison.

This indeed is a laudable display of good political zeal from a passionate son of Ona-Ara and this gesture must be encourage within the rank and file of the politics. He swept everyone off their feet with his post primary reactions and his surge at improving the living standard of the people of Egbeda and Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, which in all honesty must be cheered.

Similar passion should be exhibited by our teeming young and prospective politicians in the nearest future as it amount to their own quota of giving back to the society that molded us into what we are today and above all serves as a modality for setting the standard for the future of Nigerian politics and posterity as a whole.

Congratulations to Prince Adio and Adio Foundation as you lay a new standard for the people and politicians in Egbeda/ Ona-Ara Federal Constituency.

Adelabu: The new Sheriff in Town and the Old Charioteers

"Every generation must out of relative obscurity discover it's mission, fulfill or betray it"

One of the most indirect and miss use of perspective is to allow other people understand you well enough to use your own brain to judder up their own thinking. Every one adopts his or her own style. That's the essence of rationality. The golden counsel is "in a matter of style, swim with the current, in a matter of principle, stand like a rock". The evaluation of the aspect of the "matter of  principle" particularly within the political context is what propelled Einstein's conclusion that politics is more difficult than physics.

The foregoing was part of my reaction to a friend who called my attention yesterday to a "not too gentle breeze" that blew from our Egbon,i Ismaila Ashipa, the one and only Ashipa Shango. The message was not itself as acerbic in content as in the intent. It was a rushed judgement, a fallacy of what a student of philosophy will refer to as "argumentum ad hominem".  I have long noticed and appreciated the fact that Egbon Ashipa has a mind of his own and would not call a spade just one farm tool, but a spade. But the major weakness is intolerance of others' views. That's fundamental. Once you are not in the same mental wavelength with him, you have your fingers burned. He acts with such a hauter of a pilot familiar with every continent. Replica of a man who in the words of David Hume is guilty of "unpardonable arrogance" for concluding that any argument that escapes his investigation, does not exist, he moves in an indecent haste to paint the Oyo APC flag bearer in a bad tar without finding out information even when he has unfettered access to the man. He preferred to bawl out where he should whisper.

Whereas, Adelabu is entering the political arena with a piano, the old Charioteers who are only accustomed to the Agidigbo drumbeat are facing difficulties of  twisting their legs to conform with the new rhythm. They want an Omelette but not prepared to break eggs. A typical system of social challenges in the contemporary world and the main reason many empires collapse like a pack of cards before they are built.

Leadership sometimes means going a path less travelled.  It's time the old Charioteers got themselves amenable to change as not to loose the race against time. The earlier they know that the new Sherriff is leading a liberating struggle, the better. He is not poised to take surveys to satisfy the desires of the few against the majority. He is moving at his own pace and that I know, reaching out to political leaders and co-contestants in the Guber primary silently. He believes in building consensus and will not be swayed by negative profiling from any quarters.

Oloye Adelabu did confirm to me in a conversation after the APC Guber primary that he has reached out to many people, including Egbon Ashipa, who for reasons only known to him is now putting the gentleman's nose in the trough. If the old Charioteers think they can corall the new Sherriff into doing only their billings, they are in a self delusion. The motto of the new Sherriff is "Oyo state first". The only difference is in the interpretation of the "reaching out". May be in due course, Oloye Adelabu Adebayo will "reach out" the way our Egbon wishes to be "reached". But that should be considered a privilege, not a right.

For now, I can only appeal to my Egbon and other "Charioteers" to rally round Oloye Adelabu so that the vision to move Oyo state to the next level will soon be realised. It's a collective task that is more honourable.

Isiaka Kehinde writes ....

Bayo Adelabu: Walking the Dream By Isiaka Kehinde

"Dreaming is of little value without hardwork to fulfill the dream, hardwork is of little value if not driven by a dream"

When Abdulwaheed Adebayo Adelabu clinched the APC ticket in Oyo state, many people were rolling on the ground celebrating the victory. It was indeed a victory worth celebration. In point of fact, Adelabu Adebayo has a goal that is taller than being part of history. He is set to make  history. Getting the ticket to vie for governorship is not just the destination but a path to fulfilment of a destiny.

Sometimes, people dream, another man of destiny turns the dream into a stark reality.  That fateful day on 28 August 1963, When Marthin Luther King made that mind searing prophesy "I have a dream", little did he know that the speech would one day rank the top American speech of the century. The winter of the King's discontent which was lurking in the dream became a glorious summer with a black man Barrack Obama, occupying a White House.
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In the case of Oloye Adelabu Adebayo, the dream of his forebears transcends having a grandson that will be grand in banking industry and break new ground in Oyo politics. It's beyond possessing a winning attitude or what philosophers call "promethian spirit" of an exemplar. And that's why Adebayo Adelabu is not thinking about winning the forthcoming election just for winning sake. He is to change the world, not to interpret the change.  That's the Crux of the matter. It matters.

The difference , Penkelemesi said, "resides in the nature of the struggle" Adelabu Adegoke Penkelemesi dreamt about a 'destiny boy' who as a politician, ideologically speaking, "will hold fanatically to the principle he holds dear". He must be one who 'must toil for the greatest good of the greatest number of the people". Broad in outlook and flexible in approach'. One who will labour without respite to make Oyo state an epicenter of development in Nigeria. Who will create opportunity for people based on merit and make education for a social order a desideratum, etc.. (for more about the dream ,grab a copy of the timeless book "African in Ebullition"). Can you now see why when others are thinking about the next election, Adelabu Adebayo's mind is fixated on the next generation. His own campaign is not the usual 'blinding the layman' it's about fulfilment of a dream. Without any whiff of doubt, he has a ppotent combination of the goal and the  method to walk the dream. Let me use this medium to formally congratulate him for the success recorded in the primary and remind him of his promise to make Oyo state a reference point wherever development is the major topic in the nearest future. As we say in the school #SemperOptimum I wish him all the best.

PS.
I will soon start a series "Breaking the barriers" "to do a "SWOT "analysis of the governorship candidate of other leading political parties in Oyo state. "Don't change the Dial".

By Isiaka Kehinde

Adelabu: I'm not Coming to Rubbish Ajimobi's Legacy

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Candidate in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu who is also the Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Aare Soludero of Ado-Awaye yesterday held a Social Media Parley program with the youths and influencers across the social media platforms. The event was an informal setup where he was able to introduce himself and his dream of a better Oyo State and on the reverse, questions were thrown at him on his plan and the way forward for Oyo State in general.

While Speaking, Chief Bayo Adelabu outlined the four cardinals which led to his foray into the world of politics. Firstly, he delved into the positives of the present governor Abiola Ajimobi who have raised the bar in modern politics and how real modern development started from his regime as security of lives and properties bring about modern investors. The sudden shift in the political consciousness of the youths and decent professionals have also uplifted his interest in the politics of Oyo state. Thirdly, his experience and success in politics will serve as a forerunner for other technocrats to follow suit and bring their wealth of experience for the benefit of the people, thereby changing the perception of people about politics and politicians. He rounded it off by mentioning that it will also no doubt renew the legacy of Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi whom is still highly regarded as the father grassroots politics.

He maintained that he is in no way negating the legacy of Ajimobi and trumping it with his father's legacy as people have to been insinuating in some quarters. He said "Ajimobi's legacy can be seen in infrastructure, health, education (SGB), security, agriculture etc, if you merge the two, you are going to have the best: harmonizing politics of social stimulation with that of development focus and developmental activities, hence, continuity is necessary. I'm using that to clear the air on the Penkelemesi legacy, because the rumors in town is that Adelabu is coming to rubbish Ajimobi's legacy, nobody can wipe off any name that is accepted or acceptable to the people. Penkelemesi is the father of grassroot politics and Ajimobi is the father of modern politics."

He also expressed his concern on the need for continuity of Ajimobi's legacy where he carefully defined the blueprint laid down by the present governor. He likened our present scenario with what played out in Lagos State where former governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu laid the foundation for a new Lagos. He in fact named himself 'the Fashola of Oyo State'. The architect of modern Oyo state has been carefully panned out by Governor Ajimobi and he (Adelabu) would have no problem hitting the ground running from the first day of duty come May 29th, 2019.

Many cerebral questions bothering on the economic development of the state were asked and his replies were inclined to his agenda and plans for Oyo state come 2019. The program ended with rousy ovation from the youths while also having a photo shoot afterwards.

Akin Alabi, Nairabet CEO, Captures APC Ticket for Egbeda/Ona-Ara LG

It has been confirmed that Nairabet CEO, Oloye Akin Alabi has clinched the APC House of Representative ticket in Egbeda/Ona-Ara federal constituency. He got the result after all other candidates also vying the same seat with him stepped down for his candidacy.

Hon Jenrade, Hon Adewale Ishola and Hon Adio all stepped down for him to contest the seat in the general election come February, 2019. It was also reported that Gov. Ajimobi encouraged aspirants to dialogue with each other, so that one can amicably step down for the other person.

Akin Alabi himself also confirmed the report on his Twitter handle @akinalabi when he tweeted "Breaking, I have just been declared the winner of the primary election after the other contestants, Hon Jenrade, Hon Adewale Ishola and Hon Adio all stepped down for me. I will be APC’s House of Reps candidate for Egbeda/Ona Ara federal constituency next year. Thank you all."

We can also confirm that celebration has been ongoing after picture of a slaughtered cow appeared on his twitter page as well.
Congratulations to Mr Akin Alabi

Eclipse of a Star: How Adegoke Adelabu Died

One of the places you must endeavour to visit in the historic town is Taj Mahal in Oke Oluokun. That’s the residence and final resting place of Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, the Lion of the West.

Adelabu needs no introduction. He was the afternoon star that scared the elderly. He was the morning dew that drenched both friends and foes. More than fifty-nine years after his death, he refused to be forgotten. For those who are not familiar with Penkelemesi, please read Onigegewura’s You know Penkelemesi! But do you know Ebullition? to know more about this legendary personality.

Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu died at his prime. He died when his sun was at its zenith. It was a death like no other. It was not the death of an individual. It was not the loss of a family. Adegoke Adelabu’s death was a national tragedy. Ibadan stood still. Lagos was stuned. Nigeria went into a state of shock.

How did Adelabu die? Was it an act of God? Was he killed by his political opponents? Was Adegoke a victim of political conspiracy? What was Adelabu’s business with his Lebanese friends? What actually happened on that fateful day in 1958?

If there was a politician who understood the psychology of his people, it was Adegoke Adelabu. He was a master in the art and science of political psychology. And like the consummate politician he was, he spoke the language of the people. He was a compound polyglot. His Yoruba was flawless. His English was impeccable. Adelabu was not the one to mix Yoruba with English in the same sentence.

Though small in stature, he was intellectually a giant. With his brilliance, he dazzled and dwarfed his peers. According to Bola Ige, Adelabu was “a short man, but with boundless energy, he always seemed to be on the move, he went on foot from village to village. He dressed and appeared like a rustic villager. He never seemed to smile, not to talk of laugh. His Yoruba was devastating in pithiness and sarcasm. He knew how to leave every audience with a phrase that could not be forgotten.”

Coming from Chief Bola Ige, who himself was a wordsmith, that was an eloquent testimonial. If any evidence of Adelabu’s mastery of language is required, you need look no further than Penkelemesi and Ebullition.

The final journey of the grassroots politician did not start in 1958 when he breathed his last. It actually started three years earlier in 1955 when Adelabu was appointed the Minister of Natural Resources and Social Services. The appointment was indeed a giant leap for Adelabu, who started life from a weaver’s shed.

His Lebanese friends, the Younan family, saw his appointment as a golden opportunity to market the Penkelemesi brand. It was decided that textile materials bearing Adelabu’s image and name be produced and sold. It was expected that the cloth would also serve a subtle campaign strategy for Adelabu who was aiming to become the premier of the West.

When the first shipment arrived, neither Adelabu nor the Younan family, expected what happened. They had expected sale to be slow and gradual. To their pleasant surprise, the Penkelemesi fabric became an overnight bestseller. It became the social uniform, not only in Ibadan but throughout the Western Region. According to Iya Agba, textile merchants were using the cloth to sell other brands. You must buy another brand before aso penkelemesi could be sold to you.

It was no longer aso ebi. It became aso ilupeju – a global uniform. It was used for weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals, housewarming and every form of social function. Tailors were praying daily for Adelabu. There was no tailor in Ibadan that did not get one or two yards to sew.

The Younan family did not wait for the stock to run out before the second shipment was ordered. It also recorded massive sale. This time around, Idumota traders and Onitsha merchants joined the bandwagon. The Lion of the West was the toast of the moment. He was not only a successful politician; he had also demonstrated that he was business savvy.

With the 1956 elections approaching, and with his rising political profile, Adelabu was sure of victory at the polls. He was a master strategist. As a populist leader, he gave people what they wanted. In areas of Ibadan where the indigenes were in the majority, Adelabu ensured that natives were the candidates of his party. In non-native areas, the Political Genius, fielded non-natives. It was a strategy that never failed him.

He was confident of becoming the premier. His business partners were also confident. It was decided that in addition to the penkelemesi cloth already in the market, a special cloth should be ordered for his inauguration as the premier. The cloth was indeed special. It showed Adegoke Adelabu as the Premier holding the keys to the Western House of Assembly! It was going to be a hot cake.

To finance the project, Albert Younan obtained a loan from African Continental Bank. ACB was one of the big indigenous banks in Nigeria then. The bank became distressed in 1991 and was taken over by the Central Bank of Nigeria. It was later revived and was one of the banks that formed the present day Spring Bank. The bank even had a football club. I can see elderly people reading this nodding as they remember ACB FC of Lagos!

Adelabu had however not taken into consideration the political wizardry of Obafemi Awolowo. As fate would have it, it was Awolowo who became the Premier. Adelabu became the Leader of the Opposition. Of course you know that it is the Premier and not the Leader of the Opposition that would hold the key to the House of Assembly.

You want to know what happened to the cloth already ordered. You are not the only one. The management of ACB also wanted to know. More importantly, the bankers wanted to know how the Younans were going to repay the facility. Yet the cloth could not be sold as Adelabu did not become the premier.

Albert Younan found himself in a financial jeopardy. The bank was writing to him everyday demanding repayment of the loan. The cloth was in the warehouse, unsold. Adelabu was in the House, but not as the premier. This was not an ordinary matter. Ohun ti o mu bale ile wo aso iyawo re lo si oja, oro ti kuro ni se ko si nkan. Mewa nbe. Whatever made the husband to wear his wife’s dress to the market place has gone beyond ‘I hope there’s no problem’.

On March 24, 1958, Younan sent a desperate message to Penkelemesi. It was a plea for help. The bank was on his neck. He had been given a final deadline by the bank. Adelabu decided to assist his friend by following him to the head office of the bank in Lagos to plead for further credit.

Adelabu woke up very early the following day. In addition to the meeting with ACB in Lagos, he also had some issues to discuss with Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. He decided to use the same stone to kill two birds. He had just finished his morning prayers when he was informed that Albert Younan was outside. He bade his family farewell and promised to be back before evening.

The journey to Lagos was uneventful. The management of the Bank was happy to receive a politician with the stature of Adelabu. He was assured that his request would be considered. Younan was happy. Adelabu was happy. He went off to see Okotie-Eboh.

It was on the return journey to Ibadan that the unthinkable happened. It was on a straight stretch of road between Ode-Remo and Iperu. Albert Younan was the one driving the ash-grey Peugeot saloon car. Adelabu was seated beside him. Two of Adelabu’s aides were also in the car.

Without warning, the Peugeot collided head on with a light yellow Austin which was on its way to Lagos. The force of the collision was such that the Austin somersaulted and came to rest upside down facing back the way it had come. The Peugeot cracked under the impact. It burst into flames.

Ha! Ikunle Abiyamo o! Travellers who witnessed the accident rushed to the aid of the victims. They successfully extinguished the fire. Of the four passengers in the Peugeot car, only the driver, Albert Younan, was alive. Though he was injured, he was still breathing.

The driver of the yellow Austin was unharmed. It was as if he was not the one who drove the car. His two passengers were however not as lucky. The two Britons in the car, who were representatives of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, sustained slight injuries. All of them, the dead and the injured, were quickly rushed to Shagamu Hospital. It was at the hospital that it was discovered that Penkelemesi, the Lion of the West, was one of the dead.

It was late in the evening that the news reached Ibadan. It started as a rumour. No one believed it. It could not have been Adelabu. Penkelemesi was a survivor. He was a fighter. He would never allow death to take him. Even if he was involved in an accident, the Lone Star would be unscathed. Bi Sango ba n pa Araba, bi o n fa Iroko ya, bi ti igi nla ko. If Sango, the god of thunder strikes at Araba tree and dismantles Iroko tree, he must respect the baobab tree. Adelabu was baobab. He was beyond the reach of Sango.

It was not until the following morning when his death became the headline news that reality dawned on his teeming followers. Tragedy Strikes screamed the Defender newspaper. Adelabu Is Dead announced the Daily Times.

Anthony Enahoro, as the Leader of the Western House of Assembly, proposed an extraordinary adjournment as a tribute to the dead Leader of the Opposition. In his moving tribute, he said:

“We did not agree with him or his methods, and he too, did not agree with us or our policies. Nevertheless, he was a tireless and doughty fighter who stood firmly by the things he cherished, and it may be that when the history of these times comes to be written, that is one attribute of Alhaji Adelabu which will be remembered better than any other.”

Chief Obafemi Awolowo saluted the man who had keenly desired to take his place as Premier of the West. According to him: “Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu was, in his lifetime, and ever since he entered into politics, a fighter first and last, with all the characteristics of a fighter. He was fearless, formidable, forthright, often caustic, and uncompromising.”

It was a day no one who witnessed it would ever forget. Lanrewaju Adepoju, the redoubtable Yoruba poet, in a recent album, observed that Ibadan had never mourned anyone the way it mourned Adelabu. More than 75,000 mourners assembled to pay their final homage to the People’s Hero. According to an eyewitness account, the crowd was so dense that that it took three hours for the funeral procession of over fifty vehicles to move from Molete to Oke Oluokun where he was to be buried.

Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe presented a coffin to the family on behalf of his political party, the NCNC. It must have been a special coffin. I remember that one verbal abuse that was popular in the West when I was growing up was to describe someone as having ‘long head like Adelabu’s coffin’. Do you remember? Olori gboro bi posi Adelabu!

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Leader of NCNC, was not physically present at the funeral but he was represented by top notchers of the party. He later came to pay his last his respects to his very distinguished lieutenant. At the graveside, Azikiwe announced that NCNC would provide scholarships for all of Adelabu’s 15 children. He also donated 100 pounds to the family.

Adelabu was not mourned by only the NCNC and the AG. On behalf of the Northern People Congress, Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa sent two top Ministers: Muhammadu Ribadu and Inuwa Wada to pay condolences and pray at the grave of a fellow Muslim.

Adegoke Adelabu was dead and buried. But the Lion of West did not die alone. His supporters took to the streets. They paraded through the city and stoned public buildings, including Mapo Hall and the courts at Oke Are. By evening of that day, three people had been killed in various parts of Ibadan.

It was speculated that Adelabu was shot by his political opponents. An editor of a newspaper claimed that he saw Adelabu’s body riddled with bullet holes and that the car he was travelling in was deliberately crashed to make it look like an accident.

This claim was however without basis. Unknown to many at the time, Adelabu’s corpse did not arrive Ibadan until late in the morning of March 26 because a postmortem was being conducted to determine the cause of his death. The autopsy was witnessed by Chief Joseph M. Johnson, one of Adelabu’s friends. Johnson was the first and the only non-indigene to serve as the Chairman of Ibadan Council.

Adelabu died on Tuesday. He was buried on Wednesday. By Friday, all hell broke lose. Reports of murders and violence began to come in by Friday evening. One account put the number of death at sixteen. Another account sighted by Onigegewura recorded eighteen riot deaths. All the victims were said to be members or supporters of the Action Group. By March 30, more than 300 people had been arrested. Many of them were taken to Ilesha and Abeokuta prisons since Ibadan prison was already full.

It was also speculated that Younan had crashed the car deliberately in order to commit suicide as a result of his financial challenges. This was however denied by Albert Younan who insisted that there was no special cloth printed for the 1956 election and therefore no financial loss. He claimed that he went with Adelabu to Lagos for unrelated business.

The family of Adegoke Adelabu did not appear to be convinced. The family filed a civil suit against Younan and Sons Limited and the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. Their claim was for the sum of one hundred thousand pounds for negligence of the two drivers which led to the death of their breadwinner. The trial judge was My Lord Justice Samuel Quashie-Idun, a Ghanaian. His Lordship later served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In his judgment, Justice Quashie-Idun held that no case had been made against the insurance company. His Lordship however found Younan and Sons liable. The firm was ordered to pay 6,030 pounds as damages to Adelabu’s children and 350 pounds as costs.

Younan and Sons appealed the judgment. Their appeal was successful. The Federal Supreme Court reversed the decision of the trial court on the ground that the plaintiffs who sued as Administrators of the estate of Adegoke Adelabu had no capacity to bring the suit.

At the time, the Federal Supreme Court was not the final Court of appeal for Nigeria. The apex court was the Privy Council in Britain. Adelabu’s family appealed to the Privy Council. The appeal was pending when the parties agreed to settle out of court. The firm of Younan and Sons agreed to pay the family of the Lion of the West the sum of 3,000 pounds.

On the political front, a bye-election was conducted to fill the seat hitherto occupied by Adelabu. Adeoye Adisa, a young lawyer who had returned to Ibadan two years earlier from his law studies in Britain emerged the winner of the bye-election.

Adegoke Adelabu died more than 59 years ago. He died at a tender age. He was 43. He was however able to cram into his short life what many who lived up to a century could only dream of achieving. At the time of his death, he was holding three critical posts. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Western House of Assembly. He was the Chairman of the NCNC Western Working Committee. He was also the chairman of the powerful NCNC-Mabolaje Grand Alliance. Almost six decades after his last breath, his footprints are still indelible on the political landscape.

In recognition of his achievements as a nationalist, politician, orator and mass mobilizer, the government of Oyo State in 2016 listed his Oke-Oluokun residence as one of the tourist sites in Oyo State.

I hope the next time you are in the city of Ibadan, you will find time to visit the Taj Mahal.

May the soul of Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu continue to rest in peace.

Agbaakin Parakoyi, Bayo Adelabu - The Silent Achiever on his Birthday

The road leading to Adebayo Adelabu Penkelemesi life successes are neither without bumps or sketchy path, they are pathway maligned with jagged edge and sharp turns yet he has risen beyond these life challenges and make merry of the turbulences therein. What ever life throws at you even if it hurts you, just be strong and fight through it. Remember, strong walls shake but never collapse.

If you ever enquire about his early life from him or his friends, it is never kept in shade from the public glare simply because it connotes a song of victory, many people are in awe of his growing up days leading to his success story. He started up with his grandmother whom he lived with and while keeping up with the chores necessary from his paternal grandmother, he subsequently excelled in his academics. Like many kids back then who grew up from a rather poor background, he had to hawk food items around and sell to eat. If you care to listen, he would tell you he trades for his granny round the outer cities of Ibadan which were mainly market squares back then. He would jokingly add that 'you'd be proud to complete two meal a day in those days' as you would have to sell before you can eat from the profit accrued.

Despite this challenges which were mainly associated with children with such backgrounds, he performed excellently in his studies as he was rated best in Lagelu Grammar School, Oremeji Agugu despite being one of the most social students according to his colleagues since back then. He was also said to be the best school dancer. He took this same reputation with him to the great citadel of learning in Ile-Ife, OAU where he came out with a first class in Accounting from the prestigious university, Great Ife. It was also gathered that he pays constant visit to Ibadan even while schooling in OAU, yet he came out in flying colours.

He took this exceptional effulgence into the practical terrain and his profession where he rose through the ranks in his art and gained promotion even before the time of maturation. From his stint at PriceWaterhouse, (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) an international firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants to his spell at First Atlantic Bank where he rose to become the Group Head of National Public Sector Business in three years. He was also the Executive Director/ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. (FBN) before his appointment as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He is a rare gem in exact replica of his grand father, late Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi, Nigeria's first Federal Minister of Social Services and Natural Resources who had outstanding record during his time at Government College Ibadan, Yaba Higher College, Lagos; the then highest educational institution in Nigeria and his time as the first African Manager of UAC (1936).

This distinguished personae, who is also the favorite candidate for the governorship race under the platform of the ruling party, APC is  today, the 28th of September, 2018, celebrating his 48th year of divine grace and favor from Almighty Allah on this earth. Whilst also expecting the governorship ticket to follow suit in divine favor and blessings, he hope to use the position as governor of Oyo State as a genuine extension of his philanthropy which the people of Oyo State are a living testimony.

On behalf of myself and family, #TeamPenkelemesi, the passionate students of the Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi Legacy and the people of Oyo State at large, we wish the Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, a happy birthday, with so much greater achievement in life.

Igba odun, odun kan

ABS Memorable Quotes

Social and Political Reflections of Senator (Dr) Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON)

“All the object of human reason or enquiry may naturally be divided into two kinds to wit; relations of ideas and matters of fact." (David Hume in an enquiry concerning Human Understanding)

When Senator Bukola Saraki picked his nomination form to vie for president under the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), he left no one, except the irredeemable cynics, in doubt that he means business. Wherever he goes, he makes powerful statements that shows the depth of his reflective thinking. He responds to salient issues underlying the heft of the challenges of social and national development confronting us as a people. He does not just highlight the problems, he proffers solutions.

 Excerpt:

Svelte Vision to Grow Nigeria

“I promise you that I will lead the fight and employ every God-given resource available to us in turning things around. I am determined to grow Nigeria out of poverty. We will stimulate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) as one of the ways of energizing the economy and to create wealth for our people, especially the youth.”

My Pledge

“Believe me when I say that it will not be business as usual. This will be a dynamic government of action that will pursue the growth of Nigeria with doggedness, determination and conviction. I will lead a result-driven administration. We shall set targets with clear timelines to ensure that anticipated deliverables are met. So help me God!”

Ambition

“It’s not about personal ambition now, it’s about the ambition of the entire nation. 70% of our population is under the age of 40, young able men and women who are looking forward to great future ahead. That’s only possible in leadership that has capacity and ability. This is because you cannot give what you don’t have.”

Plan to Tackle Insecurity

“My plan is to secure Nigeria by redesigning our national security architecture, while adequately equipping our security agencies to fulfill their primary role of protecting lives and property.”

Justice and Fair Play

“I will continue to fight for the masses, we have to change the leadership. We need a leadership that would ensure justice and fair distribution of national appointments. As a president, I will ensure everybody has a seat on his table. I will restore global reputation. Countries are built by hardwork and vision.”

Social Collectives

Nigeria needs a president who has a national spread to unite all part of the country, respect national character, grow local business and support entrepreneurial skills.”

Brimming with Hope

“By the grace of God; I will emerge PDP presidential candidate. My desire is not just an ambition. Nigeria has never been this divided. People are afraid to be called Nigerians. Ethnicity and religion have taken over, there is no inclusion anymore, no fairness, no federal character.”

Unwavering Belief in the Youths as a True Change-driver

“I want the youth to play major roles at all levels, not only in government but also in the private sector and indeed in every area of Nigerian life. Ours will be a government driven by youthful energy, innovation and a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit.”

Towards an All-Incluisve Government

“My plan for Nigeria has inclusion in all aspects of the country’s affairs as a central pillar. Every citizen has the inalienable right to feel a sense of belonging no matter their background or creed, or which part of the country they come from. No matter who you vote for or what your convictions are, government must work for you.”

Insecurity

“We must ensure the security of lives in Nigeria. As things stands now, no one is safe in this country. No one feels truly safe.”

Nation’s Grinding Poverty

“Many of our children are hungry, many people are dying of available otherwise treatable disease. Many have fallen below basic living standards and are among 87 million that sealed Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest number of people in extreme poverty.”

Economy Going South

“Our economy is broken and is in need of urgent revival in order for Nigeria to grow. GDP growth rate has declined, diversification remains an illusion. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Businesses are shutting down, jobs are being lost in record number; and the capital needed to jumpstart our economy is going.“

Wealth Creation

“Our young people lack opportunities. The necessary education facilities and system to equip them for the future simply do not exist. We are not creating the jobs needed to usefully engage them in order to grow our economy. And too often , the youth feel shut out, prevented from having any say in the direction of the nations.”

Time for Action

“You can all agree with me that there is an urgent task ahead that requires the concerted efforts of each and every one of us…. There is no time to waste, the time is now to come together to stimulate growth in Nigeria, especially in the national economy.”

Social Justice

“This kind of ugly development must stop. This country experienced peaceful change in 2015 because the government in power allowed democracy to work. If the government had allowed flagrant abuse and misuse of state institutions to be the norm, we would not have had the change occurred.”

Patriotism

“Right now, to me, and I am sure, to all other contestants, under the umbrella of our great party, nothing is more important than for us to rescue our people from the clutch of poverty, insecurity and ensure that we bring development to all Nigerians.”

On Purported Zoning of the president to the NW

“At this time, I believe that it’s PDP presidential candidate from the North Central that can do it best.”

A Nation at the Crossroad

“Nigeria has never been this divided, there is no inclusiveness anymore and no fairness, no federal-character, no job and businesses are dying. Survival of businesses is the survival of the country, poverty is everywhere.”

Showing Compassion

“I just visited the survivors of today’s gas explosion in Nasarawa state. My thoughts and prayers remain with the families that lost loved ones today. We will continue to support the state government to ensure speedy recovery of all the victims.”

Abubakar Bukola Saraki: The Man Who is in Charge

Whistler’s Law: “You never know who is right, but you always know who is in charge”

One common features among the political players in Nigeria is their proclivity for going a whole hog to satisfy their desires with “external goods” – this, Boethius, considers a logical contradiction, as, he reasoned and rightly too, “It’s only people who have no “good within” that bank on “external goods which does not belong to them”.

It is therefore instructive that with the triumphant entry of Senator (Dr) Abubakar Bukola Saraki into the race for president, the political atmosphere has become electrified. He bestrides the circle like a collosus and without equivocation, he has discovered his mission and from all indication he is political ready to fulfill, never to betray it. That’s the man who is in charge, who envisions a societal well being and is set to emplace it.

Dr. Bukola Saraki is a ‘philosopher king’ who can’t afford to sit idly when the ship of the nation is tilting towards rapids. He said, he is not pushed by inordinate ambition to be the president to satisfy his self interest, he is a volunteer, ready to take other people’s burden. "It’s not about personal ambition, it is about ambition of the entire nation." That’s the usual mindset of the world acclaimed builders of a great society in the world history. He doubtlessly has the political will to rescue the nation’s sinking ship.

In this critical phase of Nigeria’s history, the nation deserves a visionary leader who can make achievable realizable, a man imbued with capacity not only to think outside the box, but also has the ability to think rationally on how to move the nation to the next level by connecting opportunity with talents to create success. We don’t need a leader who in the words of Barbara Tuchman in her book titled "March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam" -  “pursue policies that are neither in the interests of their nations, nor even themselves”. It’s time Nigeria put in charge of the nation’s affair, a man with the golden heart to grow Nigeria in person of Senator (Dr.) Bukola Saraki, a leader who is open to change, happy to learn and with irrevocable commitment to the goals of the state. If one may ask, what are the leadership qualities inherent in a man who is in charge and they have as personified by ABS?

The man who is in charge must keep a large heart that accommodates other people’s concerns. He allows others to reside in his soul. He is a mythical Atlas that bears the weight of others without squirming. He does not only have a good mind, but applies it well.

The man who is in charge should have a settled mind even when he stands on torrent's rising surge and listens to the wild roar of a roily water, he maintains his balance. Anytime he falls on hard times, his spirit never fall.

The man who is in charge must be a vane in the arrow. A man who is prepared both physically and emotionally to provide solutions to every problems that may arise. He must demonstrate a rare competence to prevent any obstacle that prevents him from achieving his set goal. He is cut out to face “unwanted consequences”.

As expoused by Henry David Thoreau “You can tell a lot about a man’s character by the substance and the size of his dreams, they speak volumes about his motives, priorities, values purposes and goals”. The man who is in charge must dream big.

The man who is in charge is best captured by Ralph Emerson has “having no use for fame, feel no need for projection or self worth to anyone, but always consumed with productivity, not image.

The man who is in charge must be frank and factual. He is one who is too patrician to hide under any cloak. With courage, he fears no tempest.

The man who is in charge is always a product of an enduring family value with indivisible family components as his bedrock. “When thinking about the basic problems of existence, as they affect us as individuals and social collections, we can track it down  to family values.

Without any whift of doubt, Senator (Dr) Bukola Saraki is the man who is in charge. He is positioned to take us to the level of our collective aspirations. He is the only aspirant in PDP that has all it takes to “secure inclusive growth for Nigeria and Nigerians.”