HE definitely would not be pleased that he lost his bid to return as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State in the last gubernatorial election in the state to an opposition party, Architect Yomi Awoniyi has nonetheless realised that it is not the end of the world. So the youthful looking third son of Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the First and Second republics politician and ebullient statesman, is looking beyond politics as he strives to find his feet in life outside government house.
Although he did not come across to many as a man of the wits, sagacity and carriage of his late father upon his emergence on the political stage in Kogi State, his years in office as deputy governor has caused many to acknowledge his nature as an urbane gentleman who did not only inherit the political genes of his father but would in all probability toe the line of the political genius.
Our correspondent caught up with him in the rural community of Iyah Gbede, Kogi State where he had gone to pay his last respects to the late mother of former military governor of the old Western State comprising the present Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states, Gen. David Jemibewon. Here, the former deputy governor spoke about life after office, his lifestyle and other issues.
First, we asked him if he is pleased with his experience in politics so far and if he considers himself capable of wearing the shoes his father left behind. After a deep thought about the question, he said jokingly: “My shoe size was bigger than my dad’s while he was alive. He wore size eight while I wear ten. So my shoes are much bigger.”
Amid laughter, he continued: “But on a serious note, there is no way I can describe my father or even try to fit totally into his shoes, because the very essence of his being was very close to utopia for somebody like me! I wouldn’t even try to match that! He was indeed a very respectable man.”
Urged further to elaborate on who his father really was, especially as it relates to the controversy on his father’s identity as a northerner or a southerner, Awoniyi looked up and declared: “My father was a northern Christian called Sunday Awoniyi, from a village down the road called Mopa. Having said so, I believe and want you to know that he was a major inspiration and influence in my life. He educated me, nurtured me, I think that he instilled some profound values in me, which have stood me in good stead in all my life.”
Asked about life outside government house, he retorted: “Don’t I look a little more relaxed?” The smile that accompanied his question remained on his lips for some time before he continued. “There is actually nothing strange or different about being in power and being out of power. You go into power with a strong belief in the knowledge that one day you will leave the office. That, of course, is if you are wise enough to go into power with such a belief.
“Yes, we are out of power right now. Yes again, we have battles that we are fighting at the Supreme Court. But having said that, I actually give thanks to God who took me in there and brought me out. I give thanks to God Almighty for giving me the benefit of having served at that level. It opened my eyes to so many things. My political horizon has been further deepened by serving as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.”
But doesn’t he miss the perks and perquisites of office?
“No,” he retorted with a vehement shake of the head.
What then is his message for the people of Kogi State?
“I wish everybody well on my own, I cherish the respect that I am presently getting from having served at that level in the state. I have however reclaimed my private life. As you can see, I feel very well rested.”
In the cool air that pervaded the serene atmosphere of the rather obscure Iyah Gbede community, we asked the former deputy governor about his mother and what influence she had on his life.
He said: “Like any other mother, she has had a very profound influence on me. As you can see, I am really picky with my words and response about my mum because no one has ever asked me this question. My mum has been very humane to me; very loving, very accommodating and always wanting to carry everybody along. Oh yes, she is still very much around and alive. She is presently in Canada holidaying.”
Considering his diction and the ease with which he spoke the English language, our correspondent was compelled to ask how much of his life he has spent abroad. It was another question he appeared not to have expected as he held his breath for a while before saying: “If you think I lived most of my life abroad, you are making a very big mistake. I schooled in Balewa College, Zaria and I studied Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I am a fully homely educated Nigerian.
“My late father made it compulsory for us to listen to the BBC and to VOA while growing up, and you know when you listen much to radio, you definitely pick one or two things. But sincerely, I do not see anything strange about my accent at all. I am a thoroughbred Nigerian. It is just an evidence of what education was in my own time.”
Does the current state of the education sector make him sad then?
Again, he chose his words: “Yes, it does make me sad. I feel sad. Even after serving in Kogi State, I have come to realise that unless we come to reality, education cannot be free. We must pay tuition. That is because when education is free, it loses its content and quality. Our experience has shown that free education is not qualitative. When I see what our universities are charging as school fees, there is no way they can deliver.”
Reminded that people are complaining that the private universities are charging bogus fees and asked if their operations should be regulated, he said: “No. I even think that the private universities are being considerate with what they charge. We should remember that education is not cheap. A university anywhere in the world charges about $35,000 per annum. But here in our universities, some of them charge N35,000 for the whole year.”
Yomi’s father, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, was reputed as one of the longest serving politicians and public office holders since the First Republic. We asked Yomi if that translated to having a privileged background and why dad insisted that he should study in Nigeria.
“I don’t think you are right there,” he said. “My father was just a civil servant. He was never a rich person. So the option of schooling abroad didn’t even exist. Secondly, when we went to school, believe me, Ahmadu Bello University was just as good as Oxford University. It was that good! I mean, most of my lecturers were expatriates from Poland, UK and education was very sound. It was later in life when it was time to do my master’s that my father said, ‘Okay, expose yourself to the UK.’ So I went to the University College of London.”
As an educated handsome man with reasonable political clout, we asked the former deputy governor how he copes with pressure from the opposite sex. The question provoked him into serious laughter. Then he said: “I am very, very much married to a beautiful woman! I don’t have to be on my toes at all. In her, I already have everything I need. Right now, she is at the Redeemed Camp because this week is our church’s annual convention. If it wasn’t for General David Jemibewon’s event this week, I would have been right there by her side at the camp.”
He further shared the joy of his sweet home and marital bliss.
On how he met his wife, he said: “Our families have been friends for long. We had known ourselves for long too. Our families have been interacting too for a very long time. Incidentally, the day my mother met her mother, she was being christened. I was strapped on my mum’s back. They said that somebody from Kabba was christening her daughter. My mum went there, and when she saw her mother, she jokingly told the woman, ‘Omo mi lo maa fe omo yin o (it’s my son that will marry your daughter). Behold, those words became prophetic and it happened.
Asked how his marriage has fared over the years, he replied in the mood of one who has found happiness and contentment. “It has been 29 years and it has been fantastic.”
The former Deputy Governor took time to comment on the lots of marriages that have suffered breakages in recent times, offering advice to couples, young and old, on ways to keep their marriages going. He also seized the opportunity too to touch on the secrets that have sustained his marriage through the years.
He said: “Married couples just have to be very patient with each other. For me, I pray that God gives every man enablement to be able to provide for their wives. That is my prayer for every man. That is, may God give you enablement, to be the provider for your family. Anybody who tells you that the ability to provide for the family is not fundamental to marriage is just deceiving you.
“Having said so, it is very good and helpful to have a wife who understands, because life is like this, today you are up and the next day you could be down. May God give you the patience and may God give you a wife who is very forgiving.”
Since Yomi Awoniyi attends The Redeemed Christian Church led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, it became pertinent to recall the pastor’s recent advice to young men to marry women who can cook and can pray for one hour, at least. Does Awoniyi’s wife pray like that, and can she cook?
It turned out an easy question for him. He smiled joyously and responded: “Oh yes, she does. My wife is a prayer warrior. She is a worker in our church parish (laughs). Surprisingly, when we first got married, I was the one that was more of a prayer warrior. But in recent times, she has found so much of peace in prayer. When she prays now, I become tongue-tied.”
How stylish is the ex-deputy governor?
“I don’t know if I am that stylish, but I know that I have a very good tailor in Abuja. He has a gift. He is very talented at what he does. I do not even think of a style or design for what I wear. That is because he knows what to do for me. He only tells me that he wants to do so and so for me and I give him the go ahead. But one thing with me is that whatever I decide to wear, I want it to be well sewn. The lines straight with nice curves; very decent and not necessarily frayed.”
Take it or leave it, there are people who believe that the former deputy governor could still become the governor of the state. Confronted with a question on this, he shook his head in the negative. “I don’t think so, because I know it doesn’t work that way,” he said.
But is it possible for him to still return to service in Kogi State?
“I decline to answer for now,” he said.
Asked if he has a role model, he said: “Sunday Awoniyi was and is my role model.”
