Tag: Olusi

Prince Tajudeen Olusi, prominent politician and Lagos community leader, celebrates his 80th birthday this week. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the political career of the colossus and the lessons the younger generation can learn from his footsteps.

What he has not released to the public is his autobiography. But, the story of his life is on the lips of many Lagosians. Hale and hearty, Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, a prince of Lagos, prominent politician, community leader and servant of Allah, has cause to roll out the drums in celebration of his 80th birthday.

Apart from the fact that God has granted him long life, the political colossus has lived a productive life as a blue blood, public servant and Muslim icon. Highly disciplined, resourceful and thoughtful, Olusi has made marks as a counsellor, federal legislator, commissioner, party elder and elder statesman. The prince has led a life of integrity. Despite his long sojourn in politics, it is to his credit that his career has never been tainted with scandals.

Olusi has earned respect as a progressive, who is loyal to the creed of Awoism and the cause of Lagos State. He is a custodian of political history and etiquette, consistent and consensus-driven. In the period of tension, the wise counsels of Olusi and his compatriots-Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Alhaji Busura Alebiosu, Alhaji Akanni Seriki-Bamu, the late Alhaji Suarau, the late Pa Whenu Hundenyin, the late Alhaji Sikiru Shitta-Bey, the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, Prince Murphy Adetoro, Olorunfunmi Basorun, Alhaji M.A. Taiwo and Chief Rabiu Oluwa – have always fostered reconciliation and consensus building in the Lagos chapters of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

The Lagos prince is a chieftain of the Afenifere camp, led by Senator Ayo Fasanmi, who was selected as the deputy leader by the majority of members, following the ‘Akure Declaration’ on the AD crisis by the Acting Leader, Pa Rueben Fasoranti, which enraged the Fasanmi/Tinubu/Akande/Osoba/Durojaye camp.

During the pre-reconciliation meeting in the Ikenne home of the late sage, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the matriarch, Yeyeoba Hannah Awolowo, on sighting Olusi, described him as a loyal, gentle, quiet, easy going political son of Awolowo, who also has the traits of a diplomat. At the meeting were Tinubu, the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Michael Koleoso,  and the late Rev. Tunji Adebiyi. When Mama Awolowo was informed that Olusi would represent the faction, led by Fasanmi, at the peace meeting slated for the next day, she retorted: “Ha, Olusi, omo Oba Eko. Ko ni soro o. A kan maa woyin ni o (Olusi, prince of Lagos will not say anything. He will just be looking at you people)

Olusi is proud of his royal birth. He is kingly, not only in height, but also in public conduct. It could be argued that life for him has been full of ups and downs. For the bright side of life, he is grateful to his Creator. Self-actualisation may still be elusive in certain areas of life. But in the period of vicissitudes, he was undaunted and hopeful as he bore temporary political setbacks with philosophical calmness and understanding that tough times never lasted; only tough characters had a chance of  survival.

October 13, 1936 was a remarkable day in the life of his illustrious father, the late Oba Sanusi Matiku Olusi. That was when the monarch’s wife, Princess Kabitu Asake Olusi, delivered the bouncing baby boy at Dr. Akinola Maja’s Hospital, Ita Akanni, Lagos. A progressive and religious ruler, Oba Olusi understood the value of education. Therefore, he enrolled his son, Tajudeen, at the Baptist Primary School, Araromi, Lagos. Later, the young prince proceeded to Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro. Then, a tragic incident occurred. Before he could complete his primary education in 1947, his father had died two years earlier. He went to United Middle School, Tamale, Ghana between 1952 and 1954, emerging as one of the best students. Later, he returned home for further education on scholarship at the famous Ansar-Ud-Deen Collge, Isolo, between 1955 and 1958. Between 1959 and 1960, Olusi was at the Lagos Centre for Higher Studies. He completed his education at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

The eminent Lagosian began his working career at the defunct Lagos Town Council as a clerk. That was in 1959. He was at the council between 1959 and 1962. As a council staff, he was perceived as a big boy. At that stage, Olusi started shouldering enormous family and community responsibilities. Later, he worked at ESSO, which has now merged with Oando, as an Assistant Employee Relations Officer between 1964 and 1968.

Olusi was fascinated by the Action Group (AG), led by the Obafemi Awolowo. On its platform, he won a councillorship seat at the Lagos Town Council in October 1962. He was 26. Having distinguished himself as a true representative of his ward, he was re-elected. It was around around that period that he assisted his cousin, Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, who is now the Eleko of Lagos, to be recruited into the Nigerian Police. Olusi’s contemporaries at the council were the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu and the late Chief Adeyemi Lawson, who later stepped down as chairman. The prince was a councillor until the coup of 1966, which drew the curtains on the First Republic.

Unlike many politicians of today, Olusi had a second address. Following the sack of the councillors by the military, he went back to his business, which he has been running successfully. In recognition of his popularity and personal worth, the military governor, Brig-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, appointed him as a member of the council’s caretaker committee. He served until 1975.

In 1976, Olusi, a member of the Committee of Friends loyal to Awolowo, contested for the councillorship and won on a non-party basis. Parliamentary system had been introduced into the council administration by the Obasanjo regime, following the Etsu Nupe Ndayako Report on Council Reforms. Although he won the in-house contest for the council chairmanship by 17 votes to 13,the election was annulled by the military. He was denied the opportunity to serve as chairman because he was very close to Awolowo. The people of the council were enraged. But, they dare not challenge a regime that brooked no opposition.

Three years later, when the ban on politics was lifted, Olusi was a founding member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He was the first Lagos Division Secretary of the party. In 1979, he became a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos South Constituency. He was 43. He was a member of the Rules and Business, Social Welfare and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. The former legislator led committees of the House on various missions both in Nigeria and abroad. In 1982, he led the House delegation to the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. Although he was re-elected in 1993, his tenure came to an abrupt end, following the military coup.

The truncation of democracy did not herald political retirement for Olusi. In 1990, he was a key figure in the progressive fold who midwife the SDP in Lagos State. He was elected as the vice chairman, and later chairman, until 1993 when the military terminated the Third Republic. Olusi was a prominent member of Primose, led by Chief Dapo Sarunmi. Other members included Senator Bola Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, Hamzat, Alebiosu, the late Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, Hon. Omotilewa Aro-Lambo and Hon. Olufemi Lanlehin. The group fought the SDP camp, led by former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande, to a standstill during the struggle for the governorship ticket between Sarunmi and the late Professor Femi Agbalajobi. When both aspirants were disqualified by the military, the two camps threw up Abiodun Ogunleye and Yomi Edu. Although Edu won the ticket, he lost the general election to the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, the late Chief Michael Otedola.

Later, there was a split in Primose, following the decision of Sarunmi to serve as the Secretary(minister) for Communication under the Interim Administration headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. The group to which Olusi belonged was agitating for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election results and the restoration of the annulled mandate of the late Chief Moshood Abiola. The split led to the birth of the Justice Forum.

In 1994, Olusi was appointed as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The former Secretary to Government, Mr. Fidelis Adeyemi, described him as the informal leader of the cabinet because of his experience. His colleagues in the State Executive Council were Agbalajobi, the late Mr. Funsho Williams, Prof. Ekundayo Simpson, Abel Yusuf and Ogunleye.

In 1998, Olusi naturally became a chieftain of the AD. It was the party to beat. He was among the leaders who worked for the emergence of Tinubu as governor in 1999. Unfortunately, crisis hit the party, shortly after the election. The party chairman, Dawodu, was at loggerheads with the governor. During the post-election party congress, the Justice Forum rallied support for Ogunleye, who succeeded Dawodu as the chairman.

In 2007, the AD was under the federal threat. Lagos AD leaders anticipated the danger. Thus, they were the first to embrace the formation of the Action Congress (AC). Olusi later became its National Vice Chairman (Southwest). When the political earthquake swept the region in 2003, only Lagos survived the onslaught. But, the zone later regained the lost states of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti. Currently, Olusi is the apex leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos Central District.

Olusi also has a track record of community service. He is a grassroots mobiliser, organiser and father figure. He is a life member of the Boys Scout. He was the first National Vice President of the Zumratu Islamiyyah Society of Nigeria. Currently, he is the National President of the society.

The community leader was a member of the Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture for about five years. He was a member of the Governing Board of the defunct Muslim Teachers College, Surulere as a government’s nominee between 1962 and 1965. He was the first General secretary of the Muslim Students Society, Lagos at its inception. He was a member of the Education and Service Committee, School of Nursing, Lagos (1972-1979); member, Special Committee on the History of Lagos; Chairman, Lagos Island Adult education Committee; Chairman, Cabinet Committee and Amirul Hajj, Lagos State (1994); Amirul Hajj for Lagos State(1995); Director, Eko Hotels Ltd; and Chairman, Asake Nig. Ltd).

Olusi is the Mogaji (Head) of Oba Sanusi Olusi family and the Head of Yeru  branch of the Akinsemonyin Ruling House, Lagos. He is the Baba Adinni of Oke-Arin Mosque and the Baba-Oba of Apa Kingdom, Badagry Division.

At 77, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, former House of Representatives member and Lagos State Commerce and Industry Commissioner, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, reflects  the vision of the founding fathers and the country can be repositioned for progress. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU.

What were the dreams of the founding fathers, who agitated for independence?

To the best of my knowledge, the founding fathers were men, who were dedicated to the development of Nigeria. They were determined to build a prosperous and united Nigeria. One nation under the federal system of government where even though we are divided by ethnicity and language, we will take ourselves as brothers and live together under the entity called Nigeria as one nation. And it was common in those days to find leaders of people say ‘ “Nigeria, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

Also, it was agreed that they should practice what they called unity in diversity. So, they realised that we are of different backgrounds and that Nigeria is made up of different ethnic groups. But in spite of that, Nigeria, having been created and declared an independent nation, must survive. So, that was their dream and one needs to add that because of the diversity, they agreed that we are going to have regions. Each region will be made of different tribes. There used to be the Northern Region in the North you have Hausa, Fulani, Berom, Anga and the Kanuris and so on.

These are different ethnic tribes, but they were ruled under the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. He led a unified populace and it has to be remarked that there were also Christians in the Middle Belt, people like Joseph Tarka and so on, and they still submitted to Sardauna’s leadership. And these founding fathers, not only had dreams, they also worked towards the development of these dreams. Chief Awolowo developed the Western Region and this was seen in the building of the Liberty Stadium, first television, Cocoa House etc.

Even in the East, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara also did their very best to improve Port Harcourt, Orlu,Enugu and a host of other places. That was the dream of the founding fathers; to have a united Nigeria based on a federal system of government that will allow them develop at their own pace and ensure that no section of the country will lord things over another. For example, for a very long time, Chief Awolowo had prescribed that federalism is the best form of government, even before he held public office. I remember he wrote a book “The Path to The Nigerian Freedom,” where he enunciated that Nigeria can only be ruled successfully and meaningfully through the federal system of government. He made reference to what happened in some other European countries where you have the Federal system, I think Switzerland or so.

Above all, his sole principle was to minister unto the needs of the people that is where you have welfarism and democratic-socialism. Socialism aims at improving the lots of the common man, to uplift them from the lowest ebb, give them meaningful education. Now coming to the Nigeria we fought for, the Nigeria of our dream. Certainly, we have not reached the Promised Land. I repeat; we have not reached the promised land.

But having said that, we have to accept the fact that necessary foundation has to be laid. Our founding fathers laid examples; they set standards which have not been met by any present crop of leaders today. Though I must admit the fact that we have others who have made tremendous impact people like Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the incumbent governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), they are all watering the foundation laid by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But the truth is, we still have a long way to go.

What should be done to reposition Nigeria?

I do not belong to the group of persons who will come out with wholesale condemnation. The Yorubas will say ‘If there is no yesterday; there will not be today’. If there is no foundation, you cannot have a building standing. The foundation has been laid by the founding fathers of Nigeria; it is left to us to continue where they stopped. I believe with devotion, determination and seriousness, we can have the Nigeria of our dream.

Has the dreams been fulfilled?

The answer is capital no. From my experience, it has been a sad one. I was brought up in Lagos, which then was a mirror of Nigeria. All Nigerians will flock to the city of Lagos. They earn their living here. Most of the eminent Nigerians traded, worked and lived on the Island of Lagos. The great Ojukwu family had a house in Epetedo in Lagos Island. Dr. Azikiwe was at a point in time living in Sabo. Lagos was a peaceful place that was secured for living.

For instance, in those days, people can walk from the Island of Lagos to Agege at night unhindered, without any fear of harassment and molestation from any marauder or armed robbers. Therefore, if you look at that time and compare with Lagos of today, where we are not even secure in the innermost chambers of our houses, then, you can imagine what we are talking about. And that is the general position in the whole of our country today.

I remember when I was a young man, I have a friend name R.S. Alawaye; he is a town planner and also represented Surulere Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives at one time. During our days, Alawaye lived in Oyo and we will leave Lagos around 7 or 8 p.m in the evening and drive down to Oyo. We usually got to Oyo around 11 p.m passing through roads like Abeokuta, Shagamu, Ilogbo, until we got to Oyo. Who dare venture that in this our day and time. I gave that example so that you can see the difference. And it, also visible in the area of education, when in those days in the Western part of the country, and in fact, the whole of the country, regional government were awarding scholarships and it was a competition in the area of education. the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo, came up in the time of Awolowo; at the same time Ahmadu Bello University also came up in Zaria, which used to be Institute of Management Technology at that time became a university.

All these foundations were laid, but today, the present conditions with which we find ourselves contradict the past and is akin to making the labour of these our heroes past be in vain. Today, there are series of strikes in our universities and currently the lecturers are on strike while the students are idling at home. At that time, the economy was booming. You have multinational companies, contractors and construction companies like Costain, Cappa D’alberto making business across the country without fear of being kidnapped or armed. One will describe those period as the ‘good old days’ of Nigeria and I think, instead of wasting time and resources celebrating independence, we should use this period as a moment of sober reflection to pray for the return of these good old days to our country.

So, what do you think is the way forward, if Nigeria must return to the good old days?

The way forward is like I said is that we have to pray to God to show us the way and bring back the lost glory of our country. Not only prayer, because that prayer must follow with the word ‘change’. A change of our vision, a change of our life, a change of our attitude and a change of our attitude. Because today, in this country, corruption is at its highest. Most of us are greedy. The elites in this country wants to have everything to themselves. Everywhere you turn, you see avarice and insatiable appetite for wealth on people’s faces. You see people looting the treasury of the country with impunity. Only few days ago, a political group made an accusation that the crude oil of the country is being lifted illegally and being sold by some powerful people. These powerful people are the greedy ones ruining this nation today. Having said that, those of us who are followers, ordinary citizens, police, Army, civil servants, artisans must have a change of heart and a rededication to live an honest life. A policeman must be able to perform his responsibilities with all sense of commitment, dedication and honesty without taking bribe, without miscarrying justice and killing people unjustly. So, all of us must change to follow the path of honour, change to follow the rule of law not by words alone, but in our deeds and also to eschew corruption and greed and ensure justice and equity. All of us must decide to depart from our evil ways and decide to earn a decent living. A person earning a decent living will not engage in robbery, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, drug pushing and the likes. Most of our people today are living a life of parasite. People hang on to those at the corridors of power all in the name of getting their share from the national cake. Nigerians must begin to see themselves as persons, creature of God who has the right to live a decent life. The Bible, Quran and even the religion of our forefathers emphasize the dignity of labour and earn our living honestly and God will help us. That is the only path that we can follow to change our country and return it to the path of glory. There are no two ways about it.

We are celebrating Independence while ASUU is on strike and our young minds are idling away at home. As an elder statesman, what solution can you proffer, which can help in putting an end to the crisis?

One has to appeal to ASUU for a change of heart. They need to make sacrifice. They have made their case; maybe, they have a very good case. They are asking for the improvement in the educational sector, that government should fulfill the agreement it had with them over their allowances and improve funding for our universities.

That is a genuine case I must admit but on the other hand, the government is saying we are committed to honoring our pledge, but please bear with us because we cannot do that now. Few days ago, a faction of PDP made a statement that the Federal Government is broke. And some people are alleging that the government is owing states their monthly allocations and contractors their salaries. If that is the position, then we must adopt the philosophy of the Yorubas. That philosophy says, if a masquerade asks you for money, and you give him peanut, the first thing the masquerade will do is to first grab the money.