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  • Govs, Ooni, storm Abeokuta as Tinubu becomes ‘Field Marshall’

    Govs, Ooni, storm Abeokuta as Tinubu becomes ‘Field Marshall’

    GOVERNORS, former Heads of States and prominent Yoruba monarchs will converge in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, tomorrow to witness another feather to the cap of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Tinubu, the National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will be conferred with the Chieftaincy titles of Aare Ago (Field Marshall of Supreme Eminence) and Yeye Aare Ago of Egbaland by His Royal Majesty, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo(CFR), Okukenu IV.

    Aare Ago (Field Marshall of Supreme Eminence), an established war title, began originally as Aare Ona – Kakanfo.

    The Balogun Ika from Gbagura area of Egba, late Chief Anoba, was given the consent to import the title from Ibadan by the Aare of Ijaiye, late Chief Kurunmi.

    Anoba became the pioneer bearer of the title of Aare Ona – Kakanfo of Egba nation in 1845.

    When he died years later, the title was modified to Aare Ago of Egbas.

    The late Chief Saibu Balogun from Egba – Alake was then appointed the first Aare Ago of the Egbas.

    But since Balogun passed on in 1910, the title of Aare Ago of Egbaland remained vacant.

    Palace sources said the 102-year interregnum was due to the “enormous power and responsibility” associated with the title, stressing that it cannot be conferred on lesser mortals.

    It was gathered the visitations and consultations leading to the appointment of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the Aare Ago of Egbas began in 2011.

    Sources said it took almost two years to convince Asiwaju to accept the title of Field Marshall of Supreme Eminence of the Egba nation.

    An Alake Palace source said Oba Gbadebo arrived at the choice of Tinubu for the highly revered office in recognition of his “invaluable service to Egbaland, the entire South West geo-political zone and our country.”

    The Regent of the Alake of Egbaland, Chief Alani Bankole, said the choice of Tinubu was predicated on the need to continually recognise and compensate the Tinubu’s family for their vital roles in the sustenance and growth of Egba nation.

    Tracing the contributions of the Tinubu family from the famous woman trader and merchant, late Madam Tinubu, who later became the first Iyalode of the Egbas, Chief Bankole, who equally doubled as a kingmaker, said the Tinubus assisted the Egbas economically, especially in prosecution of their many inter – tribal wars.

    He stated further: “A lot of people do not know that the Tinubus are actually from Egbaland. Late Madam Tinubu and former Police IG, Late Kafaru Tinubu have root in Egbaland.

    “That is why Alake conferred the title on the highly- respected Asiwaju Bola Tinubu first to compensate the family because of the contribution of the late Madam Tinubu to the development of Egbaland.

    “She was the first Iyalode(king of women) of Egbaland, she supported the Egba soldiers, buying arms for them and supplying them food as they engaged in the series of wars to defend Egbaland from the external invaders and other inter – tribal wars of that era.

    “And being a successful trader, she developed Egbaland economically even more than some of our men.

    “Now we are calling another descendant of Tinubu family to contribute in like manner towards the defending of the interest of the Egbas. Tinubus are Egbas and they are part of Yoruba nation by being Egbas. They are Egba heroes and heroines.

    “We are looking forward to him(Asiwaju Tinubu) to defend the institution of the cultural heritage of Egba dynasty as a nation. That is the implication of the title,” Chief Bankole said.

    Bankole, a frontline politician and father of the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, said Aare Ago is for Egbaland but also of value to the Yorubas in a way because of the place of Egbaland in Yoruba culture.

    He added:” The importance of Egbaland in Yoruba culture is that the mother of the Yoruba obas, Omonide, was buried in Alake Palace in Egbaland.

    “Omonide is also mother of all kings in Egbaland. Most Yoruba obas always come to Alake Palace to pay homage to the tomb where their mother was buried because they believed Omonide followed Alake, her beloved son, to Abeokuta and she died here.”

    The ceremony will coincide with the 7th Coronation Anniversary of Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo.

    A palace source confided: “We are expecting the crowd to be like the kind witnessed during the coronation of Alake on November 19, 2005.

    “Asiwaju is a man of crowd. We wanted to have a low key ceremony but when we learnt that he had accepted, we changed the venue to the Cathedral of St. Peter Ake to mark the 7th coronation anniversary.”

     

  • Jonathan, Mark, Tinubu others mourn

    Jonathan, Mark, Tinubu others mourn

    Tributes have continued to trail yesterday’s death of eminent jurist, Justice Kayode Eso.

    In a message by Dr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, President Goodluck Jonathan described the death of the retired Justice of Supreme Court as a great national loss, adding that the President received news of the death with sadness.

    “Eso was an eminent jurist, a courageous judge and consistent advocate for an independent judiciary.

    “His long and exemplary life was dedicated to the service of law and order, and the dispensation of true justice, equity and fairness to all.’’

    The president, on behalf of himself and the Federal Government, extended heartfelt condolences to the Eso family, their friends, associates and the government and people of Osun State, urging them to take solace in the fact that Eso would forever be remembered as a very bold, fearless and courageous judge who contributed enormously to establishing the independence of the judiciary.

    “Members of the legal profession owe a debt of gratitude to the late Eso for his immense legacy of learned, erudite and seminal judgments, prodigious writings and major interventions in national debates.

    “He urged members of the bar and bench to emulate the dedication, discipline, integrity and activism that Eso exemplified, even up to old age.’’

    In his message, Senate President, David Mark, described the death of the Supreme Court Justice as a monumental loss to the nation, especially the Judiciary.

    Mark, who reacted to the death of the foremost jurist, lamented that the country has lost one of the best and fertile minds in the judiciary.

    A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, quoted Mark as saying that Late Eso was one of the proponents of the legal reforms that ushered in the era of dignity and the independence of the nation’s judicial system.

    “As a legal officer and jurist, Eso was a voice for the voiceless. He defended the defenceless and was there for the oppressed.

    “He was forthright and a distinguished officer. Nobody doubted his integrity and where he stood on national issues were clearly unambiguous. He was a patriotic Nigerian.”

    National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the death of Justice Kayode Eso has left a gaping hole that can never be filled in the Nigerian judiciary.

    “Nigeria has lost in Justice Eso a golden heart and an irrepressible soul burning with justice, fairness and equity. He packed so many good traits: scholarship, character, modesty, boldness, honesty, integrity and candour. He was the quintessential judicial role model,” he said.

    Tinubu called on the Eso family to be comforted, saying that their patriarch was a Nigerian gift to the Justice universe.

    “His loss is no doubt painful. But you must rejoice in this gift to the world. Even as you grieve, you must thank God for this rare gift, who has nevertheless, been called by his creator, after he had lived to a ripe old age,” he said, adding that Justice Eso was one of the “classical,” justices in the golden age of Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

    “Our Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, once famously declared that justice was the first condition of humanity. But Justice Esho was one of those that ensured, through his wisdom and rigour of judicial pronouncements, that basic justice never escaped the average Nigerian, even if he served for most part under military rule. He ensured that justice was done, even if the heavens would fall.”

    Tinubu described Justice Esho as a patriot-guide, who by the instrumentality of the law, pointed his compatriots to the right way, and insisting on the rule of law.

    “Justice Eso never shirked his judicial responsibilities, even when the powers-that-be were involved. His minority judgment over the 1979 presidential election, in which he rejected the latter day idea that two-thirds of 19 states could be anything than 13, and nullifying President-elect Shehu Shagari’s election.”

    Tinubu said Justice Eso was one of the justices that fired his administration in Lagos State to institute far-reaching judicial reforms, aimed at increasing access to justice and fastening the pace of the courts and ensuring fairness for all. He therefore called on all to preserve his legacy, but added: “We can only do that if all our judicial officers rededicate themselves to the cause of justice. That is the only way we can preserve the Esho legacy and make our country truly great.”

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also extolled the extraordinary virtues of integrity of the Late Justice Kayode Eso.

    Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said the late legal luminary was notable for his courage and integrity because of his role in saving the image of the judiciary from the nadir of moral eclipse.

    As a judicial activist, he said the late Justice Kayode Eso was always on the side of justice, regardless of whose ox was gored.

    The former Vice President also recalled that almost every administration in Nigeria had invited Eso to head one judicial inquiry or another because of the recognition that he was a rare man of probity.

    According to Atiku, “honour counted above money in the eyes of the late Eso and even his enemies must privately find themselves admiring his unique uprightness.”

    He said Eso deserved a special place in the pantheon of Nigeria’s judicial heroes and that judges and lawyers should imbibe his virtues to make our judiciary more vibrant, unbiased and fearless.

  • Oshiomhole has made us proud, says Tinubu

    •Governor urges police to find Oyerinde’s killers
    •Dangote to site N300b plant in Edo

    National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s performance in his first term has made the party proud.

    Tinubu said with such performance, the ACN is poised to take over power at the federal level in 2015.

    He spoke on Monday at a reception in Benin, the state capital, shortly after Oshiomhole was sworn in for a second term.

    Tinubu said: “I thank you for your courage and dedication to duty. We will take power in the centre in 2015 with this performance. Oshio Baba is a bundle of achievements and vision.

    “He is a short man with the tallest brain and fattest vision. He took himself from an ordinary agitator to a performer. We thank you for making us proud today. In the last four years, you have made us proud indeed.”

    The former Lagos State governor said Oshiomhole has made Edo State the centre of trade and development and has swept through Nigeria like a colossus.

    Governors Babatunde Fashola (Ekiti), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Senator Chris Ngige and other ACN chieftains described Oshiomhole as “an inspiration”.

    They said Edo people have insisted on having more development with their votes.

    President of the Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the foundation of a N300 billion fertiliser plant, the biggest in Africa, will be laid in Agenebode in January.

    Dangote said the company, which will be completed in three years, would create over 10,000 jobs.

    He said: “Oshiomhole has delivered on roads and infrastructure. Now, he is going to deliver on job creation. We will partner him to create jobs here.

    “We will build the biggest fertiliser plant in Africa here in Edo State.

    “It will cost us $2 billion. I assure you that in the next three years, we would be exporting fertiliser from here to other parts of Africa.”

    Oshiomhole thanked everybody for standing by him.

    He said by God’s grace and with the support of the people and the ACN, he will remain focused on improving the state.

    During his swearing in at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Oshiomhole urged the police to apprehend the killers of his former Principal Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

    He said he has the capacity to make the state uncomfortable for the police until they apprehend Oyerinde’s killers.

    The governor said he would ensure that policemen “stop harassing innocent citizens just like they did to the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor”, in the search for Oyerinde’s killers.

  • Campus journalists honour Tinubu

    Campus journalists honour Tinubu

    Participants at the Conference of Campus Journalists, which was held for a week at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), honoured the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his contribution to the promotion of freedom in Nigeria.

    The programme, hosted by the university’s chapter of the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), was held at the Oduduwa Hall.

    A welcoming programme was held the first day for participants and the invited guests. They were taken round the campus on a tour of places such as the new museum.

    Mr Sunday Akere, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, gave the opening address.

    In her address, Mrs Tosin Dokpesi, of African Independent Television (AIT), who was represented by Don Pedro Obaseki, counseled the audience on the ethics of journalism.

    “Journalists are the very few ones who are being persecuted for what they do. Those of you present here, today, note that journalism is not an interesting profession where you will relax and fold your arms as things unfold,” he said.

    Seye Kehinde, the publisher of City People magazine, who spoke on social aspect of journalism and its effect on the society, described journalists as less-social individuals but key instruments of the society.

    The Special Guest of Honour, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was represented by Mr Sam Omatseye, the Chairman of The Nation’s Editorial Board.

    In his address, Omatseye narrated how he started as a campus journalist in his undergraduate days at OAU.

    The ACJ Staff Adviser, Dr. Funsho Adesola, presented the Man of the Year Award to Tinubu. The plaque was received by Omatseye, who thanked the association for the honour bestowed on the ACN leader.

    Tunji Awe, president of the ACJ, Ekiti State University, told CAMPUSLIFE that the conference, though the first of its kind, was a success. He hoped the agenda of the congress would be achieved through consistency of the programme.

    Also at the event were campus journalists from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Ibadan (UI) and Lagos State University (LASU).

     

  • Lawyer to Mimiko: beg Tinubu

    AN Akure lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to apologise to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He added that he should ask for forgiveness for lying that he did not receive moral and financial assistance from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader.

    Ogele enjoined Mimiko to visit the graves of the late Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati in company with those he described as “credible Yoruba leaders” to seek forgiveness for betraying them during their time.

    He said it was obvious that Asiwaju Tinubu spent a fortune to assist Mimiko reclaim his mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lawyer, who spoke with The Nation in Akure, said Mimiko has a culture of deceit and betrayal.

    He said: “The news credited to Governor Mimiko that Asiwaju Tinubu did not give him any money shows that he is an ungrateful person. It is an open secret that Asiwaju Tinubu raised a team of lawyers to prosecute election petitions in Osun, Ekiti and Edo states. The same legal team stood for Mimiko to reclaim his undeserved mandate.

    “There is no doubt that Tinubu must have paid the professional fees for the legal team he raised.”

    He also brought a forensic expert to support the prosecution of election petitions in the four states.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu must have paid the forensic expert a professional fee worth millions and must have been responsible for his hotel accommodation, transportation and other logistics.

    “Apart from this, Tinubu gave him a bullet-proof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth millions of naira when he lamented that some people attempted to assassinate him in Ondo State.

    “During the inauguration of his administration at the Sports Stadium, Akure, Asiwaju Tinubu led a team of Yoruba leaders to the ceremony. He equally sponsored the inauguration with millions of naira.

    “Any river that forgets its source will become dry.

    “If Papa Ajasin and Adefarati were alive today, they would have told the whole world about their experience with Governor Mimiko.

    “Adaba FM became the mouthpiece of Mimiko during his trying period. He placed adverts without paying a kobo. He now sees the radio station as his number one enemy.

    “Mimiko should seek the assistance of the likes of Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Agbi to apologise to Tinubu.”

  • Tinubu is my mentor, says Akeredolu

    The standard bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has debunked the insinuation by Governor Olusegun Mimiko that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is supporting him in order to play the role of a godfather and share Ondo State’s wealth.

    Akeredolu, who spoke through Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, the Director of Media, Research and Publicity of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), said: “To us, this only exists in the imagination of Governor Mimiko. I do not only regard Asiwaju Tinubu as a leader of leaders, a Yoruba hero, but as a politician of note. Having had a successful stint in the private sector during which he was a treasurer of a multinational company, Mobil and having governed Lagos, the most complex state in Nigeria, I believe I have a lot to learn from Tinubu because of his success in governance where he has built an enduring legacy.

    “Besides, for every generation, there is always a leader. For example, at difficult periods in the lives of the Israelites, God raised Moses, Aaron and Joshua to lead them.

    “Also the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, provided leadership for the Yoruba. The late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya led the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) struggle against the military. Now by fate, at this critical period, God has chosen Asiwaju Tinubu as the political leader of the Yoruba.

    “However, if Mimiko and his drowning Labour Party (LP) said Tinubu is my mentor, so be it. After all, Mimiko ran to him in 2007 for help. I’m better off being a political godson to an iconic Yoruba leader, instead of Mimiko’s godfather, Dan Nwanyanwu, a political nonentity who is feeding fat on the resources of Ondo State as the Pro-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University. Is he saying there is no eminent Ondo State indigene who is qualified to occupy that post left vacant by Dr. Bode Olajumoke, an illustrious son of the state? The man has run the university aground as it is unable to pay 28 months salary areas of its workers.

    “Mimiko has no hiding place. He and his co-travellers will be voted out on Saturday.”

  • Tinubu, Osoba, Olowude, others pay tributes to ‘a great leader’ Adegbite

    Tinubu, Osoba, Olowude, others pay tributes to ‘a great leader’ Adegbite

    National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman, Industrial and General Insurance plc (IGI) Chief Remi Olowude, former Lagos Deputy Governor Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu were among the dignitaries at the Fidau for the late Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr Abdullateef Adegbite. They took turn to eulogise the former Egba High chief.

    They described the Seriki and Baba Adinni of Egbaland as a “great leader.”

    The three-day Fidau organised for the late Adegbite held at the main bowl of Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos yesterday. The event featured prayers and recitation from the Holy Quran led by Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim and Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou.

    Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah in Southwest of Nigeria (MUSWEN) Prof Daud Noibi and National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, delivered soul-inspiring lectures before floodgates of goodwill messages opened.

    Those who spoke include; Chairman, Jaiz Bank Alhaji Umar AbdulMutalab; Dr Abdullateef Adetona of the Lagos State University (LASU); Alhaja Okunnu; Asiwaju Tinubu and Amir (President) Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen.

    Tinubu said the deceased contributed immensely to ensure many students acquire education.

    He said: “Dr Lateef Adegbite was a great father, a great brother, a great leader and an icon. He was a man we all must emulate at all time. The simultaneous prayers holding here in Lagos and Abeokuta showed that he had a great exit. This, confirmed the blessings of Allah on him.”

    The former Lagos governor marvelled on the day the Pioneer National President of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) answered Allah’s call, describing him as a “rare blessing.”

    Tinubu said: “He died on a great day – Friday and his Fidau is holding today – when Nigerians are marking the 52nd anniversary Independence Day. It is extremely instructive. He was truly, a bridge-builder and fearless fighter of his religion.

    “He related with the Christians, quoting copiously from the Bible to preach tolerance. No doubt, he died well because he lived well. You cannot fault him on uprightness – he says things as he sees it and his judgements were also sound.”

    Alhaja Okuunu described Adegbite as a man with good listening hears and good servant of Allah.

    She said: “He nurtured many of us; as women, he was always there for us. He was extremely accommodating, caring and loving. I do not know anybody who did so much for the society like the late Dr Adegbite.”

    Chief Olowude who saw Dr Adegbite two days before his demise, recalled how the deceased spent long time praying for so many people and Nigeria as a country.

    “He lived a life of a blameless individual. If there is anything called a ‘saint’ he was truly a saint,” the IGI chief said.

    Alhaji AbdulMutalab, who had related with the late Adegbite for 25 years, said he received his death news with a big shock.

    “It is going to be difficult to replace him,” he said.

    Dr Adetona said the deceased wanted nothing but perfection.

    Among the dignitaries at the event include Lagos Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Minister of Communication Technology Mrs Omobola Johnson; former governors of Ogun and Ekiti States, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former Lagos Deputy Governor Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; Chairman, Business mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mr Goddy Ibru; Chief Rasak Okoya; Secretary to the Ekiti State Government Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi; Justice Ishola Olorunnimbe; Justice AbdurRashid Sahid; Prof AbdulFatah Mabadeje, his wife Prof Saida; Prof Taofeequat Odutola; Prof Muhib Opeloye; Prof Yahya Oyewole; Prof Is-haq Akintola and hosts of others.

     

  • Tinubu, other ACN leaders storm Akoko for rally

    Tinubu, other ACN leaders storm Akoko for rally

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu , National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and other leaders will storm Ondo State today for the beginning of the state-wide mega rallies at Ikare-Akoko in the Ondo North Senatorial District.

    The governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), will unfold his manifestos for the 18 local governments to the electorate.

    He will be accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, whose choice has resulted in the increase in the number of ACN supporters in the Ondo South Senatorial District.

    Also expected at the rally are Southwest governors such as Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); National Assembly members, leaders, elders and well wishers across the country.

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo will also begin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigns in Akure today, where the Zonal Leader, Mr. Segun Oni, will raise up the hand of the governorship candidate, Mr. Olusola Oke.

     

  • PPA backs Tinubu’s call on scrapping of Senate

    The National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Sam Nkire, yesterday threw his weight behind the call by the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, that the Senate should be scrapped .

    Asiwaju Tinubu, speaking at the Leadership Group of Newspapers’ award ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, had advocated a unicameral legislature to reduce the cost of governance and improve the lives of the people.

    The PPA chair, speaking in Abuja, said the PDP-controlled Federal Government would be deceiving Nigerians if it says it has no knowledge of how to reduce the cost of governance.

    Nkiru said government must be willing to reduce costs, not only in the Legislature, but also in the Executive and Judiciary, to provide the people with basic security, food and shelter.

    He said the government must not wait for more Nigerians to die of hunger or be killed or displaced before realising the need to cut down on its excesses.

    The PPA chair said the government must also take a look at the size and structure of government at the state and local government levels to reduce wastages, which prevent the people from being protected and taken care of.

  • Re: Sons and fathers

    Re: Sons and fathers

    A reader of your column in The Nation of Thursday August 23, excited by your generous comments about me directed my attention to your piece entitled“Sons and Fathers” of that date. I thank you for the said comments and salute your courage for expressing them even as a regular columnist in The Nation.

    However, permit me to react to some of the facts, opinions, and conclusions expressed in the said piece. In an attempt to justify Tinubu’s imposition of Fashola as governorship candidate for Lagos and the imposition of candidates that is the order of the day in ACN today, you said Tinubu was only following in the footsteps of AD elders who “handpicked” him as AD governorship candidate for Lagos in 1999 when “it was general knowledge that Tinubu was already campaigning for the senate.”

    As the National Chairman of the party at the time, I state categorically that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you are being unfair to Tinubu when you said he was handpicked to be the governorship candidate of the AD in Lagos in 1999 when the truth is that he contested and won a three-cornered fight at the primary with Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele and the late Funsho Williams. It is true that the late Funsho Williams (backed by the late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu the Lagos State chairman of the party and also one of the AD elders) disputed Tinubu’s victory claiming Funsho Williams’ votes had been short-changed by not adding the results of polls at Ebute-Metta Mainland and Ikorodu constituencies. The electoral body from Oyo State set up by the party to supervise the Lagos State primaries rebutted this explaining that their representative was not present when the polls in the two constituencies were counted. The leader of Afenifere at the time, the late Pa Abraham Adesanya ruled that the results submitted by the party supervisors should be upheld. I was therefore directed as the National Chairman of the party to forward Tinubu’s name as the party’s candidate to replace Funsho Williams’ name which had earlier been forwarded to INEC by Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu in his capacity as state chairman of the party.

    Please check to confirm the above facts from Asiwaju Tinubu, Senator Afikuyomi and Mr. Dele Alake. From the above facts, therefore, Afenifere elders could only be accused of following “Due Process”. It would be certainly mischievous and uncharitable to accuse them of handpicking Tinubu as AD governorship candidate in 1999.

    With respect to your statement that the recent attendance of Afenifere leaders including myself at Governor Mimiko’s second term declaration rally at Akure “was informed more not by love for the acclaimed hardworking Mimiko but by disdain for equally successful Tinubu and ACN”. You state as reason in support for this charge that although I acknowledged the good work being done by Fashola yet I have not led a solidarity visit to him even after his successful performance in his second term.

    But Jide, Governor Mimiko specifically invited me and other Afenifere leaders to attend his rally. In fact, he pleaded that I should arrive the night before with comfortable accommodation provided for me. On no occasion has Fashola invited me to any of the government functions since he has been in office. On the contrary, I have challenged him on more than two occasions why I was not being invited to his government functions. One such occasion was when I met him at Senator Biyi Durojaiye’s house when both of us were on a condolence visit to Senator Durojaiye when he lost his wife. I remember on one occasion I told Fashola “Bi ko ba si eni ana ko ni si eni oni” (meaning literally “Without yesterday’s men there will be no today’s men”).

    On more than two occasions, I also have sent him text messages to congratulate him on his performance during television interviews such as when he painstakingly explained his role as head of government and that of Tinubu as leader of his party and that there was no clash of authority. Fashola acknowledged none of the text messages. May I ask, when I am not invited to any of Fashola’s functions, how can I then demonstrate my support for him? At my age Jide, you will not expect me to attend any functions I am not duly invited. The Yorubas say “Omo ti o ba na owo e ni iya re ma gbe” (meaning “a child who stretches forth his hands is the one the mother will lift). Mimiko appreciates and acknowledges the political leadership of Afenifere leaders but this cannot be said of Fashola and ACN leaders. In fact the body language of ACN leaders is to keep Afenifere leaders at a distance when they cannot spite us. They forget that a river that forgets its source will certainly run dry. Afenifere leaders’ attitude to ACN leaders can aptly be illustrated by the Yoruba adage which says “Ewure o ni oun ko ba aguntan tan, Aguntan lo ni Iya oun ko bi dudu”, literally meaning, “the she-goat does not deny her relationship with the he-goat, it is the he-goat that says his mother has no black child”.

    I don’t know your source of information that I ever supported Oyinlola against Aregbesola. This would certainly be inconsistent with what you quoted me as saying in your article that “I feel proud that the ACN have done well…For instance I feel proud that the ACN has succeeded in taking power from the PDP in the South-west. If I have to make a choice between the evil of the PDP and ACN, I will choose the ACN. PDP is an evil in this country.” As a matter of fact I sent congratulatory text messages to Aregbesola after his victory in the court. Ditto to Dr. Fayemi who acknowledged his own text but Aregbesola did not, but confirmed to me that he received the message when I met him sometime later.

    As for Afenifere”s solidarity visit to ex-governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, our visit as we stated then was to dissociate ourselves from the newspaper trial and conviction of Daniel on the allegations leveled against him. We went to hear his own side of the story and as we stated then, we were satisfied with his explanations and would not join in condemning him until the court makes its pronouncement. On our part we so far feel vindicated as the EFCC after over a year’s trial has failed to get Otunba Daniel convicted on the charges originally leveled against him, but rather has reduced the charges of fraud from a whopping sum of over N58 billion to N200 million.

    Finally, you inferred that our visit to Daniel was informed more by an attempt to further fuel the secret rivalry between Tinubu and Daniel who were once political allies in AD. This is rather unkind to put it mildly. As elder statesmen, Jide, what do you think Afenifere stands to gain by fuelling the rivalry between two eminent sons of Oduduwa? If you know our pedigree, you would recognize it is not in our character to fuel rivalry among our children but to reconcile them for the progress of Yoruba land.

    I believe your criticisms and observations in the piece “Sons and Fathers” were written in good faith. Some of the issues raised are indeed of public interest. I will therefore appreciate it if you don’t deny me the right of reply by giving this rejoinder adequate space and publicity in your paper in order to keep the records straight.

    NOTES: The son knows the father and the father the son. I am not one of the privileged few that know intimately the highly revered fathers or their illustrious sons. Mine was therefore an opinion of an outsider, a labour undertaken in good faith, as part of the freedom guaranteed by our highly developed culture, to look at our leaders in the face and ask questions without prejudice to the fact that they earned their positions. I hope Pa Adebanjo’s clarification reassures those who are nervous about the present schism between fathers and sons.

    • Jide Oluwajuyitan