01062019 - APC lawmakers move against party

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 1, 2019—41
Lest I forget Mr President, Engr. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will not disappoint
Asense of a new dawn beckons as
I write this piece, about the
immediate past Governor of the
State of Osun, Engr. Ogbeni Rauf Olusoji
Aregbesola.
My resolve to write about this humble
man of the people, whom I
have known for a reasonable
length of time and trusted.
He is an impeccable man
of immutable candour, he is
urbane and ethical, he is
not given for pretence by
any measure, or
grandstanding on any
issue a cultured, relatable
and accessible personality
of note.
A alumnus of the
Prestigious Ibadan
Polytechnic, one of the
foremost tertiary
institutions of higher
learning in the country,
where he majored in
Mechanical Engineering,
and graduated with flying
colours.
He was one of the most
luminous member of the
cabinet, during his tenure
as commissioner of Works in Lagos State.
The legacy of his stewardship, remains
the benchmark, on which successive
Commissioners of Works in Lagos State,
draws inspirations of an indelible
proportion.
Then enters his tenure, as the Governor
of the State of Osun, where his incredible
Alhaji Kola Animasaun: 1939
Continues from page 40
we sold copies and the beneficiaries were
the vendors selling a copy for as much as 10
(ten) shillings equivalent of today’s N 1,000.00
or more. The Tribune, in those hard times could
not pay salaries. I worked for one and half
months and got paid £6.00 of the £63=00 they
owed me. I got it on Chief Awolowo’s birthday,
March 6 of 1964. I spent it at Palm Tree Club, a
stone’s throw from the Chief’s Oke-Bola
House, in jollification. That was a measure of
how much we loved him (Awo).
I returned to the country from England after
studies at the London Institute of World Affairs
(one year of a two-year Diploma in World
Affairs Course) and a Diploma Course at the
Regent Street Polytechnic. Regent has since
metamorphosed into The Polytechnic of Central
London and the University of Westminster. It
was a College that was recognized by the
Commonwealth and it was a privilege to attend
it.
Before me, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Chief Dapo
Fatogun, Dapo Fafiade, Chief Olu Adebanjo,
Alhaji Alade Odunewu, Michael Otedola,
Otunba Kunle Ojora and a host of other
Nigerians had attended it. It was therefore a
privilege for me to be numbered among them.
When I was Chief Sub-Editor of the Daily
Express 1964 to 1965, Otunba Ojora was, I
think, at the time the Public Relations Adviser
of the UAC. He was a handsome man. I
think he still is. He would walk down from
his Old Niger House (I think) to
Apongbon where the Daily Express was
located to speak with me. The same was
with Chief Michael Otedola, who later
became a Governor of Lagos. He was also
the Public Relations Adviser of Mobil. The
company (or his office) was housed at J.
Allen on Broad Street; sharing the
accommodation which faced Broad Street
and sided Kakawa and Kirkesten Hall
(Darocha’s house). He, at one time, mooted
the need to float a Regent Street Alumni
Association which never materialized.
At the time, I was turning to Peter Ajayi,
I had been Cub Sub reporter, Foreign
News Editor (Liberian Listener), Chief
Sub-Editor, Senior Information Officer and
columnist of note. Apart from the column,
I wrote for him while he was Editor of the
Herald (Inside Scandinavia), I had written
‘Take it or leave it’ for another of my
lifelong friends and colleagues, Ben
Lawrence. Ben was then the editor of
Evening Times. I wrote ‘Rhyme and
vision and passion for a greater Osun
State, remains stronger by the day.
His acknowledged achievements index
in the State of Osun, speaks volume. So
let me be consistent.
On education, it was reasonably
possible to state that
education ranks as a key
signature flagship along
with other factors, that
anchored
his
administration on a high
successful note during his
tenure as the Governor of
the State.
The massive
infrastructural
development focus of his
administration during his
tenure, and the deliberate
attempt at expanding the
state schools space at all
levels, prompted an
unprecedented enrolment
of the citizens of school
age, to register into the
various schools of choice.
The pioneering drive of
the schools feeding
programme by his
administration, in all the
schools, the intervention
truly deserves commendation, as it was
the first of its kind in the country, and it
became an instant milestone of hope for
many.
The training of more qualified school
teachers to handle the envisaged high
influx of new school entrants, is to be
commended, it bears testimony for the
The pioneering
drive of the
schools feeding
programme by his
administration, in
all the schools,
the intervention
truly deserves
commendation
Reason’ for second or third time coming
Daily Express when Tayo Adigun
(popularly called Perry Adigun) was the
Editor.
By the way, I knew Perry Adigun way
back in 1961 when he came to replace his
brother, Ray Adigun, who later became a
Commonwealth boxing champion. In the
days of the teleprinter you needed a copy
boy to man the teleprinter. The duty fell
on Ray. He probably introduced his
brother, Perry, when he was becoming busy
and prominent. Perry turned out to be a fast
learner and I had the singular honour to offer
him his first job as an Editor. Parade was
patterned after a Paris gloss and the aim was
to use big hold pictures. If you like, you could
compare it to the ‘South African Drum’ which
later became ‘West African Drum,’ it was first
a subsidiary and finally a Nigerian magazine.
Famous Editors of the Drum included Cameron
Duodu, inimitable Nelson Ottah, my senior
and colleague, Olu Adetule, my friend, Dayo
Duyile. I was either a consultant or an adviser
to one magazine or the other before my
sound calculation metrics of his
administration that encouraged
and supervised peaceful
bonding of all the categories
of schools of different
religious faiths for the first
time in the State of Osun.
The introduction of e-learning
tablets concept (OPON IMO),
was truly an insightful strategy by
his administration during his
tenure, it was a bold attempt at
simplifying the mode of the
learning process, and also, for a
faster articulation of the core
subjects of learning, and
more importantly, it was
for the facilitation of
the intellectual
development of
the final year
high school students of the state.
The success recorded since it’s
introduction, remains very encouraging
indeed.
He introduced the free uniforms to
pupils in all public schools in the state.
The setting up of the school garment
manufacturing company, also employed
a sizeable number of workers in the state.
He set up a strong cadet force, known
as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme
(OYES) during his tenure, and they have
remained ever so diligently focused, and
a great source of pride. It was set up to
help stem the high number of youth
unemployment in the state.
The Agricultural sector of the state,
received a boost. During his tenure, roads
were constructed into the hinterlands,
application to Peter Ajayi for work. I advised
in the setting up of the Social Reformer, behind
which were Chief Kola Balogun, the eminent
politician, lawyer, and diplomat from Otan
Aiyegbaju; S. B. Bakare, the top Nigerian
money bag who bankrolled the enterprise; T.
O. S. Benson, SAN and Alhaji Fashola of the
West African Travel Agency. They were all
friends and backers of the aspiration of
Adeyinka Oyekan who finally made it to the
throne as Oyekan II after Oba Musendiku
Adeniji-Adele died. Businessman Abimbola
Gbolade was the proprietor of the Parade to
which I appointed Perry Adigun. My young
compatriot Victor Dapo Adebiyi, I took on as a
reporter and that was where he cut his teeth.
Chief Odebiyi went on not only to become an
accomplished journalist; he became also an
accomplished author and publisher.
I was editorial adviser to Focus newspaper
published and edited by Nuru
Owo one of my younger
colleagues. The Baba Adinni
of Nigeria, Wahab Iyanda
Folawiyo bankrolled the
equipment, I think, as an act
of charity. Some of the columns
I wrote are contained in the
first edition of my book ‘Voice
of Reason’. I took no stipend
for the work. I even reported
for it when I travelled to the
United States of America in
the summer of 1982. Kunle
Oyatomi, a long serving Editor
of Sunday Vanguard, was
Editor of the Focus.
All these were very known
facts to Peter Ajayi. However, I
called him to let him know that
things were not moving as I
had thought and that I would
like to get back to full
professional practice with his
newspaper. He asked after my
wife who was very popular with my friends
and wondered how it was going to be with my
family in Lagos and me working away in
Ibadan. I told him the business of keeping the
body and soul together was foreign to that of
romantic sentiment. Particularly for a wife
whom one has lived with for 23 years - the
eldest of our children was 22. But I submitted:
if she had to come to Ibadan, I bet she would.
My wife hails from Ibadan. On her father’s
side she is from Oranyan and her people were
politicians, they belonged to the Action Group
side (as opposed to the Mabolaje Grand
Alliance) which happened to be the main
where most farmers cultivated their
farm produce. The construction of
various roads by his administration,
helped in the transportation of the
farm produce, from the farms to
the end consumers.
The massive roads and bridges
construction initiative drive in the
state, received a big
commendation from the good
people of the state of Osun.
In the state of Osun, under Engr.
Rauf Olasoji Aregbesola, during his
tenure as Governor, I cannot
remember in the recent past,
any Government that
filled me with so much
positives, in terms of
•Aregbesola
I advised in the
setting up of the Social
Reformer, behind
which were Chief Kola
Balogun, the eminent
politician, lawyer, and
diplomat from Otan
Aiyegbaju; S. B.
Bakare, the top
Nigerian money bag
who bankrolled the
enterprise
developmental
achievements on
the side of the
state and its
citizens.
Engr. Ogbeni
Olasoji Aregbesola, political odyssey,
travails, successes, et al, remains edifying
all round.
In the circumstances, Mr. President, I
hereby attest to the fact that Engr. Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past
Governor of the state of Osun, is very focused
and cerebral.
An amazing workaholic phenomenon, he
will no doubt be a formidable asset if you
graciously approve of his appointment in your
esteemed cabinet in your second term journey
as our beloved President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
He will certainly not disappoint your
Excellency.
I thank you most profoundly for your
time and attention.
•Roy Gregory, Public Affairs,
Commentator.
stream then of Ibadan politics. Ironically her
relatives were the lions of the Ibadan politics -
Adegoke Adelabu and S. Ade Bello. On her
maternal side, she hails from the famous
Ajimobi family of Oja-Oba. Her Uncle
(maternal) Abdul-Azeez Adeyemi Ajimobi was
a blue eyed boy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Abdul-Azeez also ran against the grains of
main stream Ibadan politics. Chief Awolowo
believed in his bravado but I doubt if he did in
his boast that he would wrest the impending
contest of 1959 from the opponents Mabolaje
which was in Grand Alliance with the NCNC.
At that historic election, he won his seat and as
a mark of respect, Chief Awolowo presented
him with an Opel Kapitan. My wife’s uncle on
his father side, Alhaji Adeyemi Lawal, also an
Action Group candidate lost.
The Ajimobis have since become a political
dynasty in Ibadan.
Abdul-Azeez’s immediate
brother, Abdul-Ganiyu was a
staunch member of the NCNC.
He however, in apparent revolt
against a politics that would use
any instrument against any
member, decamped to the other
side. Abdul-Azeez had been
slated for rough treatment
without any regard for the
feeling of his younger brother
and a member of their own
party. As his brother was being
assailed brutally, he joined him
in repelling his aggressors.
Abdul-Ganiyu became one of
the most colourful politicians
that Ibadan has produced.
Handsome, a gifted orator and
a power dresser, he went on to
win local government and state
House of Assembly elections.
He was a right-hand man of
Chief Bola Ige until he died at
69 and Chief Ige wept at his
passing.
In the moribund era of Sani Abacha, one
of Abdul-Ganiyu’s sons, Wasiu won a House
of Representatives’ seat on the platform of
the UNCP. Of course, the opportunity was
aborted by events. To continue the dynasty
is Ishaq Abiola Akanji Adeyemi Ajimobi, a
split image of his father (and the eldest child).
Abiola, as he is popularly addressed, was a
Senator; in fact was the only one on the
platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) from
Oyo State. He also became a governor of Oyo
state on the platform of ACN.