Opinions
Bola Ige Never Behaved Like A Godfather, He Was A Mentor –Wale Okediran
A former member of the House of Representatives Dr. Wale Okediran has revealed that the late Attorney General of the Federation and former Governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige was a respected mentor whose style of political leadership is worth emulating.
According to him, “Bola Ige was a mentor and he never behaved or conducted or portrayed himself as a godfather. He was my mentor and he was well respected by me; he was the one that persuaded me and the likes of Professor Sola Adeyeye to join politics. He was a respected politician and once he has groomed you, he would not harass or torment his mentees to bring him proceeds or threaten them with ‘second-term’. He was a leader of leaders”.
Okediran who has written over 14 novels also told the story of how the former leader of the defunct Alliance for Democracy got him to become a politician.
“I met Chief Bola Ige at his home during one of the meetings of our Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He was one of us because he had books he wrote and published.
“One day, he interviewed me to know more about me and I told him that I am a medical practitioner. He was thrilled. He then declared there and then that he was appointing me as his personal physician. I accepted and along the line, I started to follow him to political meetings and campaigns.
“Their meetings used to amuse me and I used to laugh. He noticed and asked me what I felt about joining politics. He then encouraged me saying we professionals should not keep away from partisan politics. I will say it here that I have also been encouraging fellow professionals to join too.”
The politician made these revelations while featuring on a weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s on Tuesday.
During the Radio Show, Okediran was also asked to mention a living Nigerian politician he has much respect for.
He did not think twice before mentioning the name of the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum.
According to Okediran, “I respect Prof Zulum for his forthrightness. He has improved the educational, health and economic sectors of his state despite the prevailing security situation there.
Speaking on the attitude of Nigerians towards voter’s registration in the country, he informed: “The Northerners have taken voter’s education and registration very seriously as a business.
“You see, when it is time for voter’s registration, northern politicians would divide a state into zones and put key loyalists in charge of mobilization. They will hire buses and invite everybody – okada riders, market men and women and others.
They will drive them to the registration center, get them registered as voters. Afterwards, they will drive them back to their various homes and collect their voter’s cards from them for safe-keeping.
“And when election comes, they will invite them again and drive them to different voting centers and hand them their voter’s cards. So, when you see millions of votes coming from those northern states, donkeys and horses did not vote. It is the result of their sophistication when it comes to electoral processes.
“On the other hand, in the South, people are reluctant to get their voter’s cards because of our peculiar nature. We are only comfortable criticizing the system and this is affecting us”.
The medical practitioner urged the electorates in the southern part of the country to get their voter’s cards ahead of the 2023 general election in order not to be disenfranchised.
When speaking about why members of the National Assembly should not really be subjected to criticisms concerning the roles they are actually supposed to play as lawmakers that include the checking of the excesses of the executive, Okediran submitted that the parliamentarians are always under pressure from the people of their constituencies.
His words “When they send representatives to Abuja, the message they pass across to them is that they should not go there to be speaking ‘English’. They impress it on them that they want to be taken care of. Stomach infrastructure is more important to them.
“When you go home for any event and you are not able to provide for the needs of the people of your constituency; you are seen as an unserious fellow”.
Okediran who presently lives in Accra, Ghana because of his present assignment as the Secretary General of Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA) further added that the political situation in Nigeria and Ghana are not quite different.
He revealed that the political scene in Ghana is equally not free of thuggery, ethnic politics, corruption, maladministration stating that Ghana is a little bit better in terms of security arrangement and constant electricity supply.
Speaking on why he is backing those calling for restructuring of the country, the sports enthusiast submitted “State police should be put in place because the federal police cannot do much.
Secondly, revenue generated from each region should be used to develop the different regions just as Chief Obafemi Awolowo did during his days as the Premier of the then Western Region”.
He further charged Nigerian politicians to be considerate and humane, while urging the electorates to be less demanding and not put undue pressure on their elected representatives so that they will stop relying on treasury looting to be able to satisfy the needs of the people of their constituencies.
Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari has assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery will begin to deliver refined petroleum products in two weeks.
Addressing Journalists after meeting with the Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, APC, Anambra-South led Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Turnaround Maintenance of the country’s four refineries on Thursday, March 14, Kyari also disclosed that the Warri refinery is almost ready too. He added that the refinery in Kaduna would be completed and ready to go into production in December this year.
He said;
“The Completion mechanical means that you are done with your rehabilitation work, now you are to test if this completion is okay. As for Warri refinery, we have also completed the mechanical works on it and it is undergoing the regulatory compliance processes that we are doing with our regulator.
“This also will be completed and it will be ready. “Kaduna will be ready by December, We have not reached that stage (of Port Harcourt and Warri) with Kaduna.”
Kyari also said there are no challenges with the pipelines to deliver crude to the refineries as the existing lines are fully pressurised to deliver crude.
He said;
“All crude lines are active and have actually delivered over 450,000 barrels into Port Harcourt refinery. We are confident of the integrity of it. Yes, there may be security issues, but also the government is responding to the situation.”
I was at a colleague’s office in Finsbury’s Park, North London this week to train the staff on matters relating to anti money laundering’s ever evolving laws when the subject of Lagos and Nigeria came up.
I listened to every argument and happily enough, many of the contributors agreed that Lagos indeed is a city to watch and had nothing but praises for the masterminds of the current development of the modern city and with President Tinubu at the helms of affairs in Abuja, we can also expect some great transformation towards the country too.
Reno Omokri had these to say recently regarding the transformation of our country which has begun with Lagos about 25 years back: Isha Sessay is an American citizen who visits Nigeria often, and she praises our country to the high heavens because Nigeria’s healthcare saved her mother’s life. Time Out Magazine listed Lagos as better than Miami, Naples and Melbourne. (Some of) You have not been to these places, yet you are castigating Time Out as if you are better travelled than the 20,000 seasoned travellers they asked.
Are you aware that Lagos is now one of the world’s latest destinations for medical tourism? Please fact-check me. People from the United Kingdom and Europe, who have to contend with long waiting periods to see public healthcare professionals, are trooping to Lagos for inexpensive, IMMEDIATE treatment.
Let me add that our Stock Market is now the world’s most profitable bar none, and according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Nigeria is set to deliver a double-digit return on investment throughout 2024.
Governor Babajide Sanwoolu has just rolled out plans for an airline belonging to Lagos State to add to the incoming Lekki airport, the fourth mainland motorway, the rail systems covering not just the city but the whole state and beyond.
About 23 banks in the country are headquartered in Lagos and this tells you everything about those who watch over the city, those who labour day and night to make sure the city is free and secure to live and work. Those who selflessly plan for the progress of the city and her residents.
It is on this note I feel indignant listening to the provocative ranting of Senator Ali Ndume on the issue of moving some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to Lagos for easy administration.
How could Ndume come on national television to threaten fire and brimstone against the President so brazenly and with such impunity on a matter of mere administrative rather than political significance?
Who does he think he is to single out and address people from Lagos that work with the President in such a condescending manner? Look at the haughty manner in which he carried himself on national television insulting and attacking people he believes are less Nigerian than he and members of the self – conceited interest group he represents.
One of the first actions taken by OBJ after he assumed office in 1999 was to reverse the daft decision that moved the Hq of NPA from Marina to Abuja, which was taken by the Abacha administration. That was how SHIP HOUSE, Abuja was taken over by Ministry of Defence and the NPA Hq moved back to Lagos. Nigeria Railway Corporation also had its headquarters moved back to Railway Compound, Ebute Metta from Abuja by OBJ. When those decisions were taken the North cried foul but the world did not come to an end as OBJ stuck to his guns. I hope President Tinubu would stand his grounds on the decision that the Banking Supervision Department of the CBN and headquarters of FAAN be moved to Lagos. This is a test of wills and he must not back down.
We are copying the Presidential system of government from the US which literally allows the other components of the system to function along the central body or axis. In the US and the UK, strategic considerations determine where the headquarters of government agencies are located. When the need is compelling for some to be located outside the capital the headquarters is sited away from Washington or London. Abuja remains the capital but Lagos is strategically placed with all the amazing amenities being built by the government of the state to offer more opportunities to the nation.
Whichever way, Lagos continues to thrive and attract the best talents from all over the world and it will so greatly remain no matter the threat from her haters.
Unfortunately, no one can drag the lagoon or ocean from their God’s given abodes no matter how they try through their wicked devises and desires.
Lagos remains unshakable and will host many more departments thrown at it through the wisdom of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr George Ogunjimi, the Bamofin of Ojo kingdom, Lagos writes from Goffs Oak. Hertfordshire, UK.
– praises President Tinubu for achievements in 100 days
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have celebrated with the First Lady of the Federal Republic, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her 63rd birthday.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who directed the Clerk of the House to transmit a letter congratulating the First Lady on behalf of the Assembly, described Oluremi as a wonderful woman whose doors are always open to Nigerians in need.
“As a former First Lady of Lagos State, she continued and upgraded the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, which is today appreciated far and wide.
“Her New Era Foundation lifted thousands of people, including widows, promoted and encouraged educational empowerment through the Spelling Bee competition that have produced many ‘One-Day Governors’ in the State.
“As Senator, she stood for Lagos in many capacities making the State proud of her.
“As the First Lady of Nigeria, she has continued with her strides for the well-being of others with unquantifiable compassion and zeal to help the less privileged, the challenged and those in need. She is doing this successfully through her Renewed Hope Initiative,” Dr. Obasa said adding that her philanthropic gestures have helped to build hope and motivated people.
He prayed for long life and health for the First Lady and her family.
Earlier, Hon. Omolara Olumegbon, who raised this on the floor of the House, appreciated Senator Oluremi for her achievements while she was First Lady of Lagos and in her capacity as the Grand Patron of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).
Hon. Olumegbon also recalled how the First Lady touched lives while she served as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
She described the First Lady as a mother, philanthropist, politician and patriotic Nigerian.
While Hon. Joseph Kehinde extolled her as a woman who loves widows and children, Hon. Olotu Emmanuel commended her for always helping people.
Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara described Senator Oluremi Tinubu as a woman of strength who is also God-fearing.
According to her, the First Lady is “a humble person who respects people irrespective of their ages. She is a woman to emulate for the support she has always given President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Meanwhile, the House also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his achievements in the last 100 days in office while urging for equitable distribution of palliatives in the form of social amenities across the country.
The lawmakers expressed satisfaction with the President’s effort to ensure the economy is stabilised despite the removal of subsidy.
“When people are appreciated, they tend to do more and in the case of Mr. President, there have been changes in all sectors of the country.
“The country is witnessing the achievements of President Tinubu. We also need to ensure that people who are in need of the palliative enjoy it the most in terms of more input in transportation, health, agriculture, and education,” Speaker Obasa said.
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