All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and chairman of Southern Senators’ Forum is 60 this week. He reminiscences on his upbringing, banking career, and foray into politics and public service. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.
How should a public servant plough back to the society that has given him opportunities to excel in life?
The activities of Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru, economist, banker and politician, offer an excellent and inspiring example of patriotism, selfless service and commitment to the welfare and happiness of his people.
In his capacity as senator representing Lagos East District, he has justifiably earned the sobriquet: “Doing Good Senator” through his elaborate and consistent extension of a duty of care to constituents, irrespective of their political and religious leanings.
Although the functions of a senator are legislation and oversight, the nature of the society has made widening the scope of responsibility more compelling.
Abiru, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is happy to be part of the gospel of philanthropy, as he reflects on his journey through life, crossing the bridge from banking,his main occupation, to politics, which he has embraced as a vocation.
Life goes on for the senator at 60. But, the mood of the country does not permit an elaborate birthday celebration. His religion, Islam, also calls for soberness. But, he gives appreciation to Allah for a worthwhile existence.
“I will reach out to my constituents-10,000 families. They will benefit from food packages,” he told reporters at the ‘Abiru Innovation Lab’ in Ikorodu, ahead of the birthday. “The party, which has an existing structure for distribution, and people of our district will be reached,” he added.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Abiru nevertheless, fortified himself with home training and formal education. He hails from the noble familly, his father being the Giwa of Ikorodu. Although he passed on 28 years ago, the name of Mudashiru Akanbi Abiru, Awoist, lawyer, senator and judge, has not faded, and cannot fade, because of his legacies.
Senator Abiru extols his father’s virtues as a disciplinarian and a communicator of values, which his children, including Supreme Court Justice Habeeb Adewale and former state lawmaker Rotimi Abiru, have imbibed.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Abiru who initially worked with Akintola Williams and Co, said he opted for banking, “not because of money.”
His first point of call, at 24, was the Guaranteed Trust Bank, which he recalled,”provided a conducive atmosphere for younger minds to excel and prosper.” It was at that point he start garnering experience in “building confident, employable and employed youths.”
Abiru savoured professional training, which led him to garnering experience in online real banking, under the leadership of two gurus, legendary banker Fola Adeola, who is now in his seventies, and Tayo Aderinokun, who has passed on. The duo, Abiru recalled, invested much in technology and ensured that the operational goals of effectiveness and efficiency were achieved.
“I had a great career. I was there for 10 years, said Abiri, who later went to the National Bank, retraced his steps, landed in the First Atlantic Bank and finally settled for Firs Bank.
With fondness, he said: “It made a lot of sense going to First Bank. I spent 15 years there, got to the level of executive director. It offered much understanding.”
Abiru said in GTB, there was a lot of aggression and discipline, adding that in First Bank, he learned maturity.
The experience prepared him for public service as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State. It equipped him for management in a complex situation. “It helped me to cope with frustration,” he stressed.
Yet, while in the State Executive Council, reality dawned on him that he had not got to the pinnacle of his banking career. He resigned as commissioner, to the surprise of former Governor Babatunde Fashola, other colleagues in the EXCO and party leaders, to take up the turnaround job at the Sky Bank, a major assignment by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).
The odds weighed heavily against the previous management. That the CBN isolated the bank meant that a rescue mission was urgent. With 11,000 staff, Sky Bank, a merger of Eko, Broad and Renaisance banks, was stabilised, following an intense surgical operation, and placed on the path of profitability and survival.
Abiru had recommended divestment. But, after accomplishing the CBN assignment, he did not sit-tight. He left in a blaze of glory.
His foray into politics was not planned. Once again, he became an accidental public servant. The opportunity came after his retirement from banking. The death of the Kosofe power broker, Senator Bayo “Pepper” Oshinowo, created a vacuum. He contested the by-election and won. Last year, his mandate was renewed by the people of Lagos East
Abiru reminiscenced :”I did not know how deep the river will be. It has been very intetesting. I have learnt more about Nigeria, more about people.
“My friends were scared, coming from a corporate background. I consulted five people-Mohammed Hayatudeen, Kayin Ajayi, Oye Hassan-Odukale, Osunkeye, and Fola Adeola They encouraged me, telling me that what you owe the country is patriotism, and that if good people don’t go into politics, they should be prepared to bear the consequences.
“I consulted five people. Four said I should go. The fifth said I should not. I asked him to always pray for me.”
Abiru took his seat in the Senate on December 15, 2020. From January 14, 2021, when the Senate resumed from break, he began a new political career.
Immediately, he knew that the duties of legislation and oversight have to be balanced with the obligation of giving succour to constituents who looked up to him for leadership and assistance.
Lagos East is made of up Ikorodu with six councils, Kosofe with three councils, Somolu, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe.
After setting up his constituency office at Ikorodu, he embarked on need assessment. Expectedly, he realised that jobs for children were the major complaints of many committed party women and constituents. The lack of employment, in his view, could be attributed to the distortion and mismanagement of the past, which created huge economic challenges. Unemployment still occupies the totem pole of public yearnings.
Abiru remembered his Sky Bank days. While there, the transformational team he headed shifted to digital technology. Skill was required. No fewer than 250 people with digital certification were hired.
“Each time I recall the experience and I remember the women asking for jobs, I realise that there are still jobs, but the skills of technology have to be acquired.
“That led me to establish SAIL, an inspirational centre, so that youths can acquire technological skills and entrepreneurial experience. We set up the facility and engaged experts to manage it.”
“SAIL” has been in partnership with a foremost technology and innovation company in Africa, Co-Creation Hub since 2021. Its programmes include tech talent development, data science for society, startup accelerator, game development, stem for senior secondary students, and Lagos East Teachers’ Fellowship.
The Abiru family house was converted into the facility to serve people, without any dissenting voice from 10 siblings, made up of eight “boys” and two “girls.”
“People are in SAIL to acquire skills free of charge,” said the senator, who conducted reporters round the facility. “My focus is well mapped out. I understand my roles of legislation and oversight. But, I appreciate the need for employment, facilitation and endowment,” he added.
Abiru explained that the empowerment programmes are implemented under the foundation set up by him and his wife, Feyisola Abiru. Eminent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who had visited the centre, applauded the couple for their creative service to the people.
Noting that “what develops society are entrepreneurship and capacity development,” Abiru said the service rendered to constituents has made the foundation a big spender for empowerment.
However, he said the empowerment initiative, which he described as an enduring endowment, is beyond politics. He also apprecciates the fact that sustenability is key.
He lauded his friends in the corporate world who have lent support towards the cause, particularly the public-spirited colleage who provided the Internet and promised the same for the proposed project of the foundation along the Ibeju-Lekki corridor.
Abiru said “what develops society are entrepreneurship and capacity development, “adding that “the social value is that those passing through here will do the same thing for the society in the future.”
Beyond these, the legislator has given bursary to 600 indigent students from the district and over N150 million as cash support to over 2,500 vulnerable people under the Covid 19 Relief Support Scheme. He has distributed manual planters and financial grants to 200 rural farmers. Also, the “N100,000 – N1 million” loan scheme for medium and small scale enterprises at six percent interest rate is on.
Abiru has attracted many constituency projects, from the Senate and the Presidency, to his district. These include the 960-capacity mini-stadium and Oluwo Fish Market, comprising 339 shops, in Epe; numerous education infrastructure for primary and secondary schools, water projects in communities, facilities for hospitals, health centres and teaching hospitals, and transformers to some towns and villages. The senator’s pleading has led to the rehabilitation of inter-township federal roads in the district.
In the Senate, Abiru is not a bench warmer. “I have sponsored over 13 private members bills and co-sponsored others,including motions,” he said.
Prominent are the Copyright Bill 2021, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari; Central Bank of Nigeria Act Amendment Bill 2024, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation Amendment Bill 2024, Nigerian Insurance Reform Bill 2024, Franchise Regulation Bill 2023, Federal High Court Act Amendment Bill, Industrial Inspectorate Act Bill,,Company and Allied Matters Act 2023 and the Institutionalisation of the inclusion of Digital Technology in the Curriculum of Public Education Bill 2023.
The APC chieftain believes federal legislators from Lagos have an unfinished business in the National Assembly. He renewed the call for a special status for Lagos as former federal capital, urging the Federal Government to return to the 1976 agreement by the Murtala/Obasanjo administration that Lagos would be accorded a unique status, following the relocation of the federal capital to Abuja.
Abiru said Lagos deserved a special economic assistance, in view of its past and current contributions to the country.
He said the economic potentials of the state has made it to attract people from across the federation and beyond, who treasure it as the economic nerve centre and a haven of peace and progress.
Abiru said it is imperative that the agitation for a special status should be renewed on the floor of the Senate by legislators from the state.
He said:”I agree that we should renew the clamour for a special status for Lagos. When the capital was being relocated to Abuja, the former military Head of State, Gen. Muritala Mohammed, said Lagos would be given a special status. There is need to keep to the agreement. Lagos attracts people and busineses.”
Abiru reflected on the unnecessary budget padding controversy, saying that it is avoidable if there is a correct understanding of the role of the legislature by critics.
The federal legislator said many Nigerians are not conversant with the role of legislature in democracy.
He said once the budget is presented by the Executive, it is the constitutional responsibility of the parliement to look at it and pass it into law.
Justifying the inclusion of constituency projects, Abiru added:”The Executive does not know Nigeria better than all the federal legislators.”
He also spoke briefly on his leadership of the Southern Senators’ Forum, saying that the forum is not new in the Senate.
He said the aim of the forum, which was previously chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is now Senate Leader, is to promote the cause of unity in the country.
Abiru said Southern Senator’s Forum is not meant to serve as as an antagonistic bloc or adversary of the Northern Senators’s Forum, but to serve as a bridge of unity, harmony and understanding.
He said:”Southern Senators’ Forum exists to further the cause of a united Nigeria. It is not for division.”
