“But, along those roads, I learned that true wealth is not stored in vaults, but, in values, integrity, humility, service and faith” – Chief Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, KJW, OON, CON, CFR, GCON
Those words in his auto biography, LEGACY IN MOTION: THE QUIET POWER OF A NIGERIAN ICON, induced me to finish reading the book in two days. I wanted to find out if the life lived up to those extremely high standards. I got more than expected. It never crossed my mind that circumstances beyond my control will ever force me to act on the impressions formed by that book. Ladi Adebutu vying for governor of Ogun State has provided the opportunity to act on my belief. I have never met Ladi. And readers of this page must be wondering why I am becoming openly partisan; given my usual posture of neutrality in the past. Three basic reasons account for the switch. The first takes me down memory lanes.
ONE GOOD TURN NEEDS TO BE REPLICATED
“To do good is noble; to teach others to do good is nobler and no trouble” – Mark Twain, 1835-1910
Two of my daughters graduated on the same day from the University of Ibadan, completed Youth Service, both outside the South-West (I always insist my kids would serve outside the SW) and went searching for work. At two separate interviews, when called in, the interviews lasted less than 15 minutes; and the same questions were asked. “You said your father’s name is Dele Sobowale? Is that true? And you said he works at VANGUARD? Can you call him? Thus on two different occasions, I received calls from my daughters from prospective employers; who have engaged them for more than 15 years. On each occasion, they were told almost the same thing. “Your dad is a highly respected journalist; a man of integrity.” My personal vault is full. None of my daughters – six of them ever failed an interview; and I never knew their employers. Each and everyone of those who employed my daughters taught me a lesson; which will never be forgotten even in a thousand years on Earth. If you receive a favour from someone who owes you nothing; then go in search of somebody deserving it; and do him a favour. This is in appreciation of what “Baba Ijebu” has done for Nigeria, for God and for Ogun.
I met Ladi’s dad briefly once in person. I have read his book twice and it is as if I have known him all my life. Ladi, like my daughters, is the deserving beneficiary of a legacy created by diligence, integrity, sweat and faith. I have no reason to think he would not be a chip of the old block. That is the cardinal reason I am supporting him for governor of Ogun State. His father has established a strong national and international brand name. He is poised to keep the flag flying gloriously.
NEED FOR STATESMEN TO GOVERN NIGERIA
“We are in no further need of politicians; we need some statesmen now” – Paul Harris, 1868-1947, Founder, Rotary International.
Because it has been recognized for almost two centuries that it is almost impossible to be a professional politician and be honest, sages have been calling for the election of statesmen into high office – president, governor, senator. But, how can we identify potential statesmen? We start with one rule of thumb. Politicians worry only about the next election; statesmen think long-term. To help us further, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, highly-respected legal luminary, has pointed out one infallible means of identification; when he urged Nigerians to only vote for candidates with “a second address” – meaning that they have other means of livelihood other than political office. As far as I am concerned, a Nigerian who has occupied political office for three terms, and still wants two more, has no second address. They have become parasites on the body politic; and don’t want to stop sucking the state and Nigeria dry. Invariably, they are the apostles of “do-or-die” politics – which is highly corrosive.
By contrast, Ladi has not one, but several alternative addresses. He does not need Ogun State money. He simply wants to serve; and he brings a wealth of ideas from several national and international assignments – which no long-term members of the National Assembly can match.
They will be presented in the third part of this series…
NOBODY IS INDISPENSABLE
“The graveyards are full of indispensable men” – President Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970.
When the existing political establishment wants to stifle progress, they exhume the corpse of the indispensable man – the person they have nominated to carry on business as usual. Usually, that means perpetuating the old and tired system which has benefited only a tiny minority. “Scratch my back I scratch yours” is the name of the game. In practical terms it boils down to “I will support you for governor; you will support me for Senate”. Citizens search in vain for any interest of society served by these lecherous arrangements. Invariably, they serve the personal interests of the political mafia; which abhors accountability for their deeds while in office.
“In a sick country, every step to health is an insult to those who live on the sickness” – Bernard Malamud, 1914-1981, in THE FIXER
Ogun State is struggling in many respects; and, that is why those who live on the situation don’t want to go and allow the state to start taking steps to address the situation – which only people with fresh ideas can provide. Ogun State will be better served by those who believe in value for money and have practiced it for several years.
To be continued…
STATE POLICE AND INEVITABLE BEDLAM
“Nor should we listen to those who say, ‘The voice of the people is the voice of God@ (Vox populi, vox dei)’, for the turbulence of the mob is always close to insanity” – Alcuin, 735-804 AD, in letter to Charlemagne.
Trust Nigerian leaders and My Fellow Citizens (“I am beginning to wonder how many fools it takes to make the term ‘My Fellow Citizens” – Honore de Balzac, 1799-1850) to leave undone what should have been done decades ago; and then to rush out to do it without considering one of the most important consequences. Amendment of the 1999 Constitution has now been rushed through the National Assembly and sent to the states’ legislature, with very few people being aware of what is being imposed on us. It might be a coincidence that the matter is moving with all deliberate speed only now that terrorists have entered the South-West and are now holding teachers and children hostage, but, it is doubtful. Nigerian politicians don’t move speedily unless it is to their advantage. There must be a hidden agenda – unknown to the rest of us.
Predictably, the rush has been advertised as a response to ‘the voice of the people’. The first question is: which people? For as long as I can remember, even under military rule, sections of Nigeria had agitated for State Police; others were opposed. No Federal Government had listened to “the voice of the people”. The second question follows naturally: Why now? The third stumbles on the heels of the second: who benefits from this measure – which will have far reaching consequences? Who benefits?
NATIONAL DESPERATION ON DISPLAY
“There are no desperate situations; only desperate men” – Joseph Goebbels,1897-1945, Hitler’s propaganda chief
Nigerians and the leaders are now desperate. Panic renders us vulnerable to bad decisions. “Haste makes waste” was an adage drummed into our heads from childhood. It also almost always makes a bloody mess of things. Decisions made under duress are seldom “the voice of God”. Pandemonium would not allow those reacting to consider all the possible consequences of their actions – especially the financial implications. Politicians are always at their worst on occasions such as this. The cure prescribed invariably is worse than the disease; which had not been well-diagnosed in the first instance. Those not caught up in the national turmoil are called upon to call for caution by drawing attention to some important elements left untouched by those in hysteria.
COUNTING THE COSTS – NOW AND THE FUTURE
“Anything that does not make economic sense will not work” – H. L Mencken, 1880-1956
“The economist, like anyone else, must concern himself with the ultimate aims of man” – Alfred Marshall, 1842-1924
Mencken was a famous journalist and Marshall was the father of classical economics. Both of them have a message for Nigerians as we rush to respond to “the voice of God”. No public institution comes free of charge. Economists have reduced what I am saying here to one sentence: “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Africans, in general; and Nigerians in particular, are slow learners. Hiding in plain sight are the relics of free primary and secondary schools. Nobody, except the absolutely destitute, now sends their children to free public schools. Private universities now account for more students’ enrollment in tertiary institutions than public schools where fees are steep. In the rush to create State Police, nobody has laid before the public, the economic consequences – now and in the future. Some questions require answers urgently – otherwise, we might have abandoned projects everywhere.
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