It is very tempting to commence by sharing with you the conclusion of my discussion with a former Military Governor of Oyo State about fifteen years ago shortly after he had finished his tenure. Subsequently, at various intervals we refreshed our previous conclusion, namely that the problem with Ibadan is that there is too much politics already! Hence, it should jettison political maneuvering, all night scheming, broad daylight mischief making and unrelenting plotting against enemies and foes alike. We both agreed that Ibadan would be better served if its powerful elite and indefatigable politicians would devote their time and energy to reviving and sustaining the fortunes of its indomitable football club – IICC [Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation] often nicknamed 3SC or “Oluyole Warriors”.
According to the Military Governor, every Ibadan citizen – man, woman or child is a born politician. They are stubborn, dogmatic and utterly fearless. His official report was that: Confrontation is their favourite sport. Ibadan is swarming with lawyers.
“They are ready to abuse anybody at any time, even if he is the Military Governor right there in his presence. They do not believe they owe anybody any apology unless he is the Olubadan.”
Fortunately, Kabiyesi Oba (Dr.) Samuel Osudiran Odulana CFR MHR JP Odugade I Olubadan of Ibadanland is here with us.
Without necessarily hiring the services of a forensic accountant or auditors, Ibadan should take stock and count its blessings before allowing itself to be sucked into the cauldron of Nigeria’s eternal crises and the vortex of mega conflicts.
For a start, the process of selecting Olubadan is a unique contribution of Ibadan to the rest of our nation which is yet to come to terms with the enduring merit of peaceful and orderly succession. It bears repetition that with the hierarchy firmly established and in strict accordance with rank and title, the selection of Olubadan is guaranteed to be smooth (without rancor or resort to litigation). This is uncommon ingredient of statecraft.
As a bonus, Ibadan has no issue regarding who is an indigene on non-indigene. The sons and daughters of the soil know each other and they also “know themselves”. The matter has long been settled. This is most unlike Lagos where every now and again we are confronted with the claim that Lagos is no man’s land!
Neither the Kabiyesi, the Olubadan, nor the people of Ibadan would give such postulation anything but short shrift.
We should also rejoice with Ibadan for the social harmony which prevails between Christians and Moslems who have clearly embraced each other as brothers and sisters. Here we are in the middle of Ramadan and some of my cousins who have long ago established their roots in Ibadan are observing the Ramadan fast even though they are church-going Christians.
Of course, we are all aware that in Ibadan (as in Lagos), Christians and Moslems inter-marry without anybody batting an eyelid. Indeed, we need look further than His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi who is a devout Moslem. His wife, Her Excellency Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, is a practising Christian and I understand that their children have been given the freedom to adopt any religion of their choice without any hassle or recrimination.
From my rather infrequent visits to Ibadan, I have been able to appreciate the distinct difference between the lifestyle in Lagos and what prevails in Ibadan. Whenever my Ibadan cousins venture to come to Lagos, they cannot wait to rush back to Ibadan. Their constant refrain and lament is that they cannot cope with the tension, traffic, hurly burly, congestion and chaos on which Lagos thrives.
According to them, Ibadan provides a permanent refuge and oasis of calm as well as serenity. Their evenings are spent mostly on the balcony of their homes chatting with neighbours. Dinner (amala of course!) is served on the same balcony and after the nine 0’clock news, it is time for bed!
By way of contrast, in Lagos, the social frenzy commences well after nine 0’clock and at weekends it stretches to the early hours of the morning with just enough time left to attend communion in Church.
I am also informed that in Ibadan, it is not unusual to find that the same buildings serve as both churches and mosques depending on the time of the day without any problems with worshippers who have memorised which hours are devoted to Christian prayers and those reserved for Moslems who wish to perform their religious rites.
We need not dwell on the vast tourist potential of the crocodile (alleged to be one hundred and thirty years old) which is located at Oje part of Ibadan. It is reputed to possess mystical powers which would be beneficial to all those who are facing health challenges, financial problems, domestic tension, problems at work and other debilities which require magical attention in order to deliver instant cure.
It can even be argued that amongst the blessings with which Ibadan has been endowed are numerous hills which Ibadan people prefer to call mountain (Oke)! In ancient times, they served as a bulwark and natural defence against marauders and invaders looking for loot, slaves and women in no particular order.
Ibadan is dotted with “Oke Bola”; “Oke Padre”; “Oke Mapo”and “Oke Sapati”
There is not enough time to recall the numerous wars fought by Ibadan against Egbas and Ijebus and virtually everybody else. Indeed, according to folklore, Ibadan used to be a walled city and entrance was restricted to only those who had access cards or knew the computerized code!
Perhaps we should add that Ibadan is also fortified by a vibrant press amongst which “The Tribune” founded in 1949 by the sage, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is an enduring and recurring reference point and champion. As for the “Lagos/Ibadan” press, which has terrorized politicians over the years, they remain the formidable Fourth Estate of the Realm”.
Late Chief Adegoke Adelabu deserves all the encomiums with which he has been showered as well as the bountiful harvest of commendations – even from his foes. However, it would not be out of place to seize this opportunity to pay tribute to three other sons of Ibadan whom I had the privilege to come across. I refer to late Chief Olu Aboderin, who like Chief Adelabu was from the Kudeti area of Ibadan. He was the founder of “The Punch” newspaper which over thirty years after his death is right there in the front ranks of Nigerian newspapers. One of the other gentlemen is the inimitable late Engineer Mashood Akanbi, who as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Oil and Marketing Company of Nigeria had amongst his top lieutenants none other than His Excellency the Governor of Oyo State who was then known simply as Abiola Ajimobi.
I believe he was in the Finance Department but still had time to venture into business on the side. Consequently, he was very comfortable before he entered into the business of politics or the politics of business. I was the Auditor of the company and I can confirm that none of the company’s funds were missing. Neither were there any unpaid salary arrears!
It must have been at the 1982 Football World Cup in Madrid, Spain, when I found myself seated between Chief Aboderin and late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
All of us were Chartered Accountants who had abandoned our tasks at grappling with financial balance sheets to enjoy football.
Paulo Rossi did not disappoint as he delivered three sizzling goals to the credit account of Italy. It was a brilliant hat trick – Masterly and spellbinding. What was equally amazing was that both Chief Aboderin and Chief Abiola knew the precise details and exact timing of the coup d’état that would topple the then Nigerian government. They had a joint battle plan to be unleashed by Chief Aboderin on the pages of “The Punch” and Chief Abiola would galvanize the now defunct “Concord” newspapers and magazines to demolish the prey – a government of incompetent, greedy and corrupt politicians who were hostile to Yorubas (South-West) while vigorously pursuing an irredentist ethnic agenda. They succeeded in preparing the ground for the eventual collapse of the government and the takeover by the military.
Believe me, if the coup de’etat had failed, all of us would no doubt have been rounded up. Which military tribunal or civilian court would accept that I only went to watch the beautiful game of football?
As for Engineer Mashood Akanbi, it was his father Alhaji Akanbi (who was an avid fan of horse racing at Lagos Race Club where my father was the Chairman) that first alerted me that his son would be leaving Igbobi College, Yaba to join the Sixth Form at King’s College for his ‘A’ Levels. He was in Hyde-Johnson’s House while I was in Harman’s House but in the Dining Hall, he was the captain of my table as I was then in Form II, (I think). Anyway, we became firm friends and remained so until he died.
His was a remarkable life which deserves a special chapter. Here was a devout Moslem who had attended Igbobi College (founded by Anglicans and Methodists) and had excelled in academics, sports and everything else. During Ramadan, the school arranged for him to observe his religious obligations without any hindrance. Indeed, the Dining Room was kept open for him regardless of the early or late hours.
He became the Head Boy (School Captain) and his fame had preceded him to King’s College. He was exceptional and become a prefect which was most unusual considering he was an “outsider” from an “up school”!! Anyway, from King’s College he bagged a Shell scholarship to study Engineering at Loughborough College, England where he again excelled. Shell had a job waiting for him in Lagos and it was a foregone conclusion that he would end up as the big boss of Shell’s National Oil and Marketing Company of Nigeria. He flourished at the company and the company flourished too under his leadership. He wore a signature bow tie with an inimitable swagger. He was also a keen golfer and he drove a sports car. Then he ran into confrontation with the military (Navy) who wanted him to keep supplying them with fuel even though they would not settle their bills. Engineer Akanbi insisted that it was against company policy and being an Ibadan man, he put his foot down. He would not budge. The military resorted to the gun and retired him (as the government was a substantial shareholder in the company). The rest is history.
The third gentleman in the index of great citizens of Ibadan is none other than the revered late Chief S Ade Ojo. He attended King’s College, Lagos and thereafter became a teacher and eventually a House Master before joining the Federal Civil Service.
He was the first Nigerian Clerk of the Legislature and the first Chairman of the Western Nigerian Public Service Commission. He was a contemporary of the legendary Chief Simeon Olasebikan Adebo, another old boy of King’s College who was the head of the civil service in Western Nigeria.
However, what is relevant is that the Western Region had the good fortune of a succession of outstanding chairmen of the Public Service Commission. They were mostly old boys of King’s College and their personal discipline, integrity, commitment, fairness and boldness set the tone for the entire civil service where merit and dedication to duty were the staple diet.
You must forgive me if I appear unduly biased. Chief Ojo was my uncle-in-law on account of his marriage to my aunt, Modupe Martins, and as a student at King’s College, I spent several glorious holidays with them at their residence on Queen Elizabeth Road, Bodija Estate. Chief Ojo had children – Adewale, Adetoyan and …….. from an earlier marriage and I remain eternally grateful to the Ojo children. I believe Adewole and Adetoyan became professors of medicine.
The relevance of the likes of Chief S. Ade Ojo in the context of the challenge of: “Wither Ibadan Politics” is that the civil service kept strictly out of politics! They focused entirely on their job as the guardians of public funds and the catalysts for economic/social development. In terms of knowledge, accountability, transparency and etiquette, the civil service of Western Nigeria was at par with the British civil service under whom they had served their tutelage. Corruption was unheard of as they were well paid; their tenure was guaranteed and their pension/gratuity could never be in peril. Their clarion call was that even the most junior civil servant e.g. cleaner, janitor; gateman, etc, was not a servant of the boss. On the contrary, the boss (Permanent Secretary) and cleaner were both servants of the people.
The problem that now confronts us is that there is a disconnect, which suggests that politicians (with all due respect) are out of touch with the people. Professionals and civil servants are struggling to pay their bills in addition to having to cope with arrears of salaries together with unpaid bills for professional services rendered to the government and government agencies (MDA’s).
Therefore, it would appear that the most valuable contribution this august gathering could make to “Whither Ibadan Politics ?” is to change the subject to: “Whither Nigerian Politics ?” and postulate that our salvation lies not in politics and politicians but in a civil service that is utterly professional, exceptionally competent and self-assured – even fearless, with no room for corruption.
As for Ibadan, it has a special role to play in healing the wounds that have plagued our nation for so long and afflicted our souls in preparation for damnation. The chasing of the demons must start in Ibadan, because this is where the trouble started over fifty years ago with the shooting of politicians – the Premier of the Western Region, Chief S.L. Akintola; the Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto; the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and a host of senior military officers on 15th January 1966.
Retaliation, following over-jubilation by one section of our beloved nation at the expense of other sections roared in July 1967 to consume the Military Head of State, General Johnson Aguyi-Ironsi, and his host, Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the Military Governor of the Western Region. The rest is history.
Fortunately, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, the most powerful man in the world, has thrown us a lifeline by inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to the White House on July 20, 2015, which is only eleven days away. Our President has been requested to come along with a “Wish List”. In the old days, top civil servants would have considered it their duty to reach out to the likes of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and perhaps professionals such as myself for advice on account of our long-standing relationship with America. We would have felt compelled to chip in that a “Wish List” is the exact opposite of what you think. It requires advising our own Mr. President that the strategy to be adopted requires thinking outside the box. Besides, nothing goes for nothing. Between now and then, General Buhari should find time to read “The Game Theory” by Professor John Nash (he and his wife died a few weeks ago in a motor accident in America).
Actually, what the White House is expecting is not a “Wish List” of I want this; I want that. No way. Rather, President Barack Obama is awaiting “CP’s” [Credible Proposals] on what we are doing to tackle the serious problems with which we are confronted:
Boko Haram / Security ? Economy ? Oil Theft ? Fuel Subsidy ? Corruption ? Looted Funds ? Power ? Education Justice ? Health, etc.
We are in July now and trust me; the United States of America has no provision for Father Christmas until December, if at all.
I am convinced that Senator Abiola Ajimobi knows from experience that the President of the United States of America is not in the business of bailing out any country that is not ready and willing to put its house in order. After this address, Governor Abiola and I are scheduled to hold serious further discussions on this highly sensitive issue.
Some of us do not need to be reminded that in 1982, President Shehu Shagari was invited to the White House by the President of the United States of America. He was asked to bring a “Wish List”. Instead, our president delivered a warning to America. It was a bombshell: “We shall use our oil weapon against the United States of America.”
I was a partner at KPMG at the time and I recalled that the civil servants who accompanied our president were aghast. They were adamant that the threat was not in the prepared address which they had carefully vetted. History is the best teacher. Straightaway, President Reagan instructed his officers to ensure that America becomes self sufficient in oil production. This year the United States of America has not imported even a single barrel of oil from Nigeria. Christmas is still six months away and Ramadan fast will be over next week. May the Almighty bless us all and guide us on how best to serve our nation.
-Bashorun Randle is a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and former Chairman of KPMG Nigeria and Africa Region. He is currently the Chairman, JK Randle Professional Services. Email:jkrandleintuk@gmail.com