22092020 - S-Kaduna: No development without peace, unity— BUHARI

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C M Y K 28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
TRIBUTE SOT: A Worthy Matriarch at 60 By MOBOLAJI SANUSI Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile —Albert Einstein WE, as human beings, prefer to live. But not all lives are worth celebrating because not all lives qualify to be described as impactful even when accorded an opportunity to make it so. However, it gives joy to state, with all sense of decorum, that on September 21, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, SOT, the adorable wife of my political father and benefactor (omo olodo ide), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Akanbi Tinubu - The Jagaban of Borgu land- falls into the category of those who deserve to be celebrated for her attaining an eventfully depth-filled three scores on mother earth. She is a savant in the public service of this country that is playing a momentous complementary role in Asiwaju’s service to political development of the country and humanity as a whole. On SOT, I have an illuminating experience to share with readers. In my four years, three months in the public service of Lagos State, SOT made an indelible impression on me out of all the people that I was privileged to come across as the immediate past Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA. In our clime where being close to a man of immense political power, not to talk of being the wife of such a man, carries a lot of awesome privileges, unnecessary hubris and undeniable authority, SOT, stands out for her humility, mental acuity, no-nonsense disposition, humane outlook and unusual respect for those hovering round her powerful husband seeking one favour or the other or sometimes coming around to pay obeisance to the man for past favours received, to curry anticipated assistance, or that daily throngs their residence to reaffirm their continuing loyalty to the man. Viewed from these prisms, one could, with all sincerity of purpose, tell the whole world that SOT is devoid of empty guile that is usually the hallmark of wives/ children of powerful political figures. As a senator, she has been a pride to her constituents; as a •Senator Oluremi Tinubu wife, a devoted better half to her husband, committed mother to her kids, devoted Christian and a study in humility and firmness to the many who crossed her paths, including someone like me in my brief encounters with her. SOT, from personal study, is not fond of throwing her weight unnecessarily around. My first encounter with her was as interesting as it was intriguing. She had wanted a request for someone and she called me directly on my line unlike others in her shoes who would bark orders at you through a third party. I missed her calls, and more intriguing with that call was the fact that I did not have her number on my phone. Not minding my undue ‘insolence’ of not picking her calls, she sent me a text message introducing herself. When I saw the text and her missed calls, I immediately called her and apologised for missing her calls and only called back when I saw her text message. She was on the other end very calm and surprisingly respectful, addressing me with the prefix ‘Mr’ and ending her statements with ‘sir’. To a minion like me in the political compound of her powerful hubby, it is unbelievably commendable. SOT did not end the call with an order but a plea to me to meet the person she’s interceding for and to consider her request if it is not inimical to the interest of the agency. I thanked her and later met the person before getting back to her. This is a sharp contrast from many wives or spoilt brats of powerful men who erroneously believe that underserved respects must be accorded them even when they’re not known to have successfully handled any known business or occupied any noticeable office, other than using their patriarch’s influence to wreak havoc on the system. SOT does not belong in this category, for she’s using her spousal relationship to further elevate the BAT brand, not to diminish it. SOT has character which has to do with how one treats those who have nothing to offer. Another example was during last year’s election when I was still the SOT has character which has to do with how one treats those who have nothing to offer head of the outdoor regulatory agency, SOT stood o u t amongst t h e candidates of all the political parties that contested in the state. It needs no repeat to state that most politicians exhibit lawlessness when it comes to especially the issue of deployments of outdoor advertising materials. The politicians, irrespective of position, education or class have no respect for the law but SOT, with all sincerity and sense of public duty, does not belong to that lawless class. On countless number of occasions, she either called me personally or through Alawiye King, the then Director General of her campaign office to ask for the position of the law or how best to go before embarking on any political campaign materials deployment. SOT hates being identified with abuse of power or immoral flexing of muscle. I say with all sense of responsibility that she’s one of the very few candidates who paid outdoor advertising practitioners for outdoor exposures, not waiting for freebies, and the only political figure that made my job as a regulator easy, pre- and postelectioneering seasons. My very last official encounter with her was when she sent a letter of request for the placement of some graduate interns in the agency - all expenses paid by her. Despite having sent the agency a formal request, she, in her humble self, followed up with a personal call to me, taking her valuable time to explain, the laudable objective of the initiative to her constituents. Without being immodest to others, even in lesser shoes to that of SOT, they’re known to bark orders at you through an aide rather than ‘descend’ to the level of talking directly with a minion head of an agency. From personal experience, some spoilt brats will usually expect you to accede to their illegal bidding because of their false sense of importance, probably working for your removal from office as if that is the end of the world. SOT is not in this misguided class. From my psychological dissection, as a journalist/lawyer and trained managerial psychologist, l could discern that she was just acting her real, humble, stern and firm self. Again, my encounter with her after leaving LASAA affirmed her humanely humble disposition to be real, despite being highly placed and married to Jagaban. I have gone this far to underscore the fact of SOT’s humanity as against the empty haughtiness that is known to be the hallmark of wives and children of powerful men of power, in the corporate and especially the political worlds. Several others that l selflessly assisted, both high and low, close or far friends/relations, have not deemed it necessary to check on me not to talk of finding out whether l am faring well but such is life. Back to SOT, the matriarch of our political family. She has carved an enduring niche for herself as a noteworthy public figure, not by completely relying on the name of her husband or exploiting her feminine gender as an excuse. She has, through her commitment to public service and humanity in general, become a beacon of hope of how far and better a woman can perform, given the right atmosphere. As a First Lady of Lagos state, she set up the First Era Foundation that came up amongst others with the pioneer Spelling Bees competition and One -Day-Governor for the winner of an academic competition among secondary school students in the state. The two competitions, still retain their importance till date. As a Senator of the Federal Republic, so far, she has deployed her resources, time and energy to truly serve humanity. SOT is always in contact with her constituents through her well organized and attended Town Hall Meeting to render accounts of her stewardship thereby collating cogent feedbacks in the process. SOT is not a benchwarmer in the Red Chamber of The Senate as her sponsored bills have serious positive consequences on the polity: Is it her sponsored bill on Social Security for Elderly Citizens; her bill seeking amendment of the Labour Act meant to enhance employment opportunities for women in the country or her sponsored bill to provide Special Economic Assistance to the center of excellence to mitigate the pressure on the state arising from being the former federal capital and the melting point for all ethnic nationalities in the country. It is on record that she gives yearly scholarship and grants to her constituents running into several millions of naira. Tertiary institutions like Sir Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, The Lagos State University, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education have all benefited from her boisterous influence in the Senate. Some primary and secondary schools in Lagos also got federal attention through SOT’s influence. She is the convener of the annual Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative designed to promote Godly lifestyle amongst our youth. SOT is deservedly a recipient of the national award of the Order of the Niger, OON. SOT’s life is a study in leadership. This is a lesson to other wives/children of powerful figures that, being virtuous, humble, hardworking and being committed to a cause are four of the key ingredients that can turn them to successful brands that SOT has become and not by throwing unnecessary weight of their husbands/parents around to compel undue recognition. The wives, sons and daughters of powerful figures must learn from the model lifestyle and positive approach to public service of SOT as she clocks 60 years on earth. To a pious woman, adoring mother, conscientious wife to Jagaban, a committed public spirited officer and matriarch of our political family, l say a hearty happy 60th birthday Yeye Asiwaju. Congratulations Ma. •Sanusi, immediate past MD/ CEO of LASAA, is a lawyer/ journalist, who resides in Lagos. Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020—29 :Vanguard Edo: Owan West LG boss lauds Obaseki's victory By Ozioruva Aliu BENIN CITY—CHAIRMAN Owan West local government area, Hon Frank Ilaboya has lauded the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, describing the victory as an expression of the wishes of the people of Edo State. In a press statement signed by Ilaboya an ace Sports Journalist, he paid tributes to Obaseki and his administrative acumen. Owan West local government area is the only council Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party won out of the six councils that make up Edo north. Governor Godwin Obaseki, the PDP candidate polled a total of 307,955 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC, who scored a total 223,619 Isoko North PDP resolves to retain zoning for elective positions By Ochuko Akuopha OZORO—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, has reaffirmed its resolve to retain the current zoning arrangement and status quo of the various elective positions in the forthcoming elections. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of a joint meeting of the party's LGA Executives and 13 ward Chairmen, Legal Adviser of the PDP in the council area, Mr. Isaac Atikueke, said the resolution was in the interest of peace, unity and stability of the party in the local government area. He said the "party at both LGA and Ward levels appreciated the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his unwavering support to the party and making the party to attain a limelight position across the state. Atikueke disclosed that the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee headed by Mr. Isaiah Onokowake, even as he noted that the party called on those "who initially left the party pre-2019 general election" to "officially return to the party through their ward Chairmen" The party, at the meeting, passed a vote of confidence on the Mr. Leo Ogor led leadership of the party for the manner they have been piloting the affairs of the party in Isoko North and the Chairman of the PDP in the LGA, Prince Godwin Ogorugba "for his exemplary leadership style that is making the party more united, peaceful and formidable in the local government." Edo people have proven themselves worthy of emulation —Tajudeen Bello-Osagie B ENIN CITY—A social com mentator and businessman, Tajudeen Osagie, has commended the people of Edo State for a peaceful election, devoid of violence. According to him, "The good people of Edo State have acquitted themselves well in the discharge of their civic duties and have also proven themselves to be worthy of emulation by other states." He lauded the role played by the Oba of Benin Ewuare II, noting "The Oba's intervention and call for peace between the two leading candidates of the APC and PDP led to a dousing of tension in the polity." Okoko's death, huge loss to Ijaw nation —Ezonebi ASABA—THE Publicity Secretary-elect in the inconclusive election of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Engineer Oyakemeagbegha Ezonebi, has commiserated with the immediate family and the entire Ijaw nation on the death of Professor Kimse Okoko. Ezonebi described the death of the former president of the congress and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at University of Uyo as a huge loss to the Ijaw nation and the country at large. votes. The statement reads:"It was one of the longest and toughest electioneering campaigns ever in the history of Edo Politics, but thank God for giving us victory, a well deserved one for that matter. "Edo people spoke loudly and clearly that we are a collection of people whose voices and will must be respected at a decisive moment like this. “It was a battle between godfather and the good people of the state, a battle of light over darkness, and as always, the voice of the people remains the voice of God. “We give God all the glory for making what the doubting Thomases think was impossible. "I have no doubt that the next four years will witness another phase of taking Edo State to an enviable level that will make the citizens and indeed all Nigerians very proud of the governor and his team.” He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a free and fair election in the state. He said, "This wouldn't have been possible without the president's clear directive to the electoral body, INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure a hitch free poll." He appealed to the President to pass the pending Electorate Act into law, According to him, "This would further entrench and imbibe the tenets of democracy in the polity and ensure a long and enduring legacy for the president." Congratulating the winner of the election and current Governor Godwin Obaseki for a hard fought victory, he enjoined him to extend a hand of fellowship to his main rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu In a condolence message he issued in Asaba, Ezonebi expressed shock at the passing of Prof. Okoko, noting that the former Ijaw leader was a source of inspiration and a dependable mentor to the younger generation of Ijaws. He said: “He gave purposeful leadership to the Ijaw National Congress, and his wise counsel and sense of direction would be greatly missed.” He urged the family to take solace in the fulfilled and impactful life the renowned Professor lived, praying God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.
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22092020 - S-Kaduna: No development without peace, unity— BUHARI

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