Opinions
Tokunbo Wahab: An uncommon legal eagle soaring daily to a greater place in history – Victor Ojelabi
It amazes many how some politicians quickly gather court-like followership that often transcend their generation.
Why would the likes of Winston Churchill, D. Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela and the sage himself, Awolowo still command so much respect, many years after their death? Beyond oratory, these figures have an underlining nature of selflessness, deft wisdom and uncommon abilities to get things done and always for the greater good of the society.
Politicians in this class live their lives pursuing the dream of a fair and prosperous society so much that it becomes the only image the people hold of them.
One Nigerian political figure that is fast assuming that status is the Special Adviser on Education to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Barr. Tokunbo Philip Wahab, whose partisan political journey is only short of a decade.
Like the Legends of People Service that were mentioned above, the endearment to the TW brand cascades from his many years in legal practice and private business.
And those very close to him often attest that it is his unsatisfied desire to scale up the impact of his programmes for the betterment of the lots of the majority that drove him into active public service.
The TW brand that is fast becoming associated with landmark long-term sustainable development projects is one that both the masses and the political class have become connected to.
Though, political kinship these days, particularly in a nation like Nigeria, has been commoditized.
Whereby wealthy individuals purchase crowd of supporters and induce loyalty with cheap gifts and bonded favours with thousands chanting their praises because of basic handouts without a deep relation with their values, vision and personality, the soaring followership of TW is by every yard organic, because there is value-based image and his personality, vision and performance easily command bountiful followership.
Leadership positions, the finality of politics and politicking, is a basic output of a life that is predisposed to the nature of selfless service, where the pursuit of the happiness and fulfillment of the other person is always the focus of the leader.
This naturally makes more and more people voluntarily put their interests, goals, aspirations, voice and rights in the hands of that individual. The growing attraction to Tokunbo Wahab is easily traceable to his natural ability to indeed lead, gaining tremendous trust and support from all corners and strata of the society!
TW is an amiable leadership brand in the eyes of a lot of people who follow the development of Lagos State. His outlandish impact in the last 3years have drawn a lot of people to him, placed him the radar of progressive governance watchers, sparked curiosity amongst the gentlemen of the press, endeared validity amongst educationist and futurists, placed dignity in the office he occupies, which hitherto was not a highly reckoned position in the large scheme of things in the state.
In 2019, when Babajide Sanwo-Olu struck the right chord by calling TW to join his team in pursuing the THEMES agenda with a major emphasis on education, no one could have imagined what the next three years held for Lagos educational sector.
Here are we in 2022, with accelerated transformation, modernization and diligent purposing of all the fundamental aspects of education in Lagos State to meet the immediate needs and drive the future development of not only the state, but the entire West African region. Now at the brink of another election, if all BOS’ government will judged by are the successes in this sector, a second term ticket will not only be deserving but worth championing by the common man.
Education is said to be an organized mechanism through which society develops its human resources by equipping them with desirable knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which will enable them operate the social institutions of a given country or nation effectively. The state and future of a state is directly proportional to the investment put into quality education of her people.
By TW’s standard, quality means global competiveness. Hence, the use of his office to design and promote a new benchmark and objectives for the substructures of the sector and their managed institutions.
LASU’s sporadic climb to the top tier lists of universities in the world, first-of-its-kind training of the heads and management of the state top educational institutions at the University of London, future-proofing programme to digitize libraries across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Lagos state are products of a resolve to put Lagos at an advantaged position now and in the future of a rapidly changing and globalised world.
William F. Buckley once said, “I would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory, than by the Harvard University faculty.”
Of course, this speaks to elitism and how the common person in many ways is superior and better at politics for the good of the people they govern. The philosophy around this is the associative tendencies of experiencing the worst of a society, where the common person can relate with plight of the ordinary man.
A Tokunbo Wahab would perfectly fit into the class of an elite, having enjoyed world-class education in the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Governance and Wharton University of Pennsylvania, amongst other things. Just like majority of the ruling class, he’s expected to be classist in approach to leadership and governance – more given to personal ambitions and protecting of the power block.
But for his aggressive drive for the liberation of the people through quality education, one is easily reminded of his humble beginnings and attestable progress through life’s success mountains. From public schools in Epe to polytechnic in Ogun, University of Benin and with such experiences which has apparently formed his appreciative disposition to power, TW connects the divide between the government and the governed, the powerful leader and the common man in many ways deserving of a case study in political science.
So it was quite deserving when Wahab emerged the Most Outstanding Thought Leader in Education at the maiden edition of TheFLEA Awards.
According to the awards organisers, the desire to create thought leadership category in key sectors is to acknowledge exceptional personalities making real impact in the lives of the common man in the society.
“In our consideration of suitable candidates in education, we made deliberate effort to review the roles of several non-mainstream political figures – elected office holders, whose major projects are often powered by behind-the-scenes think tanks. Our very vast team indexed quite a number of public servants who fit into our model and after several considerations concluded on awarding it to you based on Eko Digital Initiative and Overall Transformation of Lagos Education,” the award committee revealed.
As Tokunbo Wahab turns 50, majority of his adherent supporters across the world, those he has impacted directly through his programmes, and those he has inspired by his performance and personality, firms up their gaze to the sky to watch this soaring legal eagle glide higher in the ranks, for the sake of our future as a people.
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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