How Akala’s history may die if Olamiju Alao-Akala… || Sunday Adepoju
PanNigerianNews
8 min read
By Sunday ADEPOJU
After the death of a former governor of Oyo State and Ogbomoso-born politician cum philanthropist, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, one of the issues attending the ugly and monumental loss is the fate of his family and his son, Mr Olamiju Alao-Akala, in the political scheme of Ogbomoso, Oyo State and, even, Nigeria as a whole. It is recalled that Alao-Akala, born on June 3, 1950, breathed his last on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in his Opadoyin Akala Lodge, Randa area, Ogbomoso.
After his sojourn in the Nigeria Police, Alao-Akala rose from grassroots by becoming the chairman of Ogbomoso North local government area in 1999 on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP); Oyo State deputy governor in 2003; acting governor in 2006, executive governor between 2007 and 2011 on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alao-Akala was described as a man of the masses as evident in the years he held sway as a force in and around Ogbomoso and Oyo State. No wonder Vladimir Lenin said, “Politics begins where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions; that is where serious politics begins.” Still, “The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness of others,” says Martin Luther King Jr. These, it appears, are parts of what motivated and earned Alao-Akala the sobriquet ‘O yato Governor’ (Governor that is different) while alive.
The late Bobajiroro of Owu kingdom really carved a niche for himself by writing his name on the sands of time in his uncommon and unrivalled leadership. Apart from the love he enjoyed from across the state, the Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, acknowledged that he was the most experienced governor in the history of the state, having started from the grassroots to deputy governor, to acting governor and later deputy governor before he later became the substantive governor on May 29, 2007.
In fact, so many revelations greeted his passage. From communities to communities, the mantra ‘Oloore lo’ (the benefactor is gone) rend the air. Former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja also cleared the air that Akala never betrayed him as his deputy. Shortly after his demise, so many leaders across the country had paid tributes to the lost hero. A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governors Seyi Makinde, Rotimi Akeredolu, Gboyega Oyetola, Dapo Abiodun of Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ogun states respectively, among others, visited his country home, Ogbomoso, to pay their last respect.
So many people have affirmed that from Ibadan to Ibarapa, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso, government presence was felt during his tenure as the helmsman of the pacesetter state. He left many hopeless people hopeful. May be he chose to do that because he lost his father at the age of two years. If Alao-Akala could look back, he would beat his chest and say, “Indeed, I loved Ogbomoso and Ogbomoso still loves me, even, in death.” He would still say: “Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered).”
Many pundits would say that Olamiju should naturally step into the shoes won by his late father and even to surpass him. However, many children of late statesmen and politicians in the past did not sustain the political weight of their parents. If this assertion would be proven wrong, then, Nigeria should have had children of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first black president; Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first and last prime minister; Alhaji Aminu Kano, premier of Northern Region; Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, premier of Western Region; Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, another premier of Western Region; Alhaji Sheu Shagari, Second Republic president, among others, as presidents, vice presidents, senate presidents, and so on.
In essence, like very few others, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former president of the Senate, held a position greater than his father’s (Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki), who was Senate leader in the Second Republic. Vice President Yemi Oshinbajo is an in-law to Awolowo family. The families of Awolowo, Akintola, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Lateef Jakande, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bisi Akande, inter alia, have never been the deciders of who becomes governor of any state in the South-West geo-political zone. Uncle Bola Ige was the first governor of the old Oyo State, minister for power and steel, as well as minister for justice and attorney general of the federation because he was assassinated on December 19, 2001in his Bodija residence, Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Jakande was also pioneer governor of Lagos State. The rest are also notable.
The essence of this list of the venerated politicians and statesmen is to point to the fact, perhaps, that their offspring never had interest in politics due to the ‘dirt’ in the game or they don’t have wherewithal. A few of these families have benefitted from successive governments in appointive positions, though.
On Akala’s case, the ball is, therefore, on Olamiju’s court to immortalise his father who bequeathed to him and the family a platform to soar like an eagle. Popularly called Omo Oloore (son of a benefactor), Olamiju Alao-Akala is the first son of the late politician. He was the pioneer Chairman of Parrot 101.1 FM, Oke Baby area, Ogbomos. At a time, he was a caretaker chairman, Ogbomoso North local government area and, at another time, the 20th executive chairman of the council area. At another time, he was appointed as special assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Before Akala is forgotten
Observers of political trends have harped that this is the best of time for Olamijuwonlo to launch himself into the hearts of the people now that Akala’s knowledge is still fresh. It has been said that the far he would go shall be determined by how well he manages his reputation as a brand and coordinates the political dynasty of the acclaimed benefactor (Oloore). Before Ogbomoso and Oyo State forget Akala, Olamiju should emulate the qualities that made Akala a factor.
The story of Akintola’s, Awolowo’s families and others whose names have gone to obscurity in politics is a charge on Olamiju to sustain the legacy. Is it not thinkable that the families of Akintola, Awolowo, and others should be the deciders of who become governors of Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Ondo states? Maybe they are only interested in appointive positions, and not elective ones.
The ‘Tiger’ made a line of many leaders who are now in different political parties. Olamiju Alao-Akala should remember that Alao-Akala got what he wanted in politics. Olamiju should remember that Akala was not perfect and so he, too, cannot be perfect due to man’s nature of fallibility. He should build more on the good. Alao-Akala has been copiously quoted saying, “In anything I do, it is Ogbomoso first. The second is Oyo State and the third is my pocket. Ogbmoso made me what I am today. Without Ogbomoso, I wouldn’t get here.” Indeed, Ogbomoso really loved him as this was conspicuously and massively displayed before, during and after his death.
Beyond the role Alao-Akala’s son may play to sustain the tempo, power brokers may not be sparing efforts towards the same goal. From the APC caucus of Ogbomoso, there are some who are currently occupying elective offices in the country: the two-term member representing Ogbomoso North State constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olawumi Oladeji; Senator (Dr) Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North senatorial district in the Senate; Hon. Segun Dokun Odebunmi representing Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency; Senator Brimo Yemi Yusuf. Beyond Ogbomoso, a mention must be made of a former Senate Leader, Chief Teslim Kolawole Folarin, who now bears the governorship flag of the party in the state.
Away from politics to the business and public service, the factors of Dr Sunday Adegoke (Maigida); Alhaji Monsur Ejide cannot be underestimated. The two, indeed, were good in the Akala’s kitchen cabinet as many decisions, PANNIGERIAN NEWS learnt, were made by Alao-Akala in consultation with them.
Another issue that may pose danger to the dynasty is the ‘I can’t-serve-both-the-father-and-the-son’ syndrome. PANNIGERIAN NEWS gathers that before the demise of the late politician, some of his die-hard disciples have been maintaining that it was impossible for them to serve the father and the son alike (‘Mi o le sin baba ki n tun sin omo’). This, though, has waned, except those who have traversed to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). How well Olamiju can manage the camp will determine the sustainability of his legacy of good leadership. Olamioju is, therefore, admonished to rise to the occasion by bringing everybody together, with the help of the political and community leaders around his father, then..
What Olamiju Alao-Akala should do
Alao-Akala’s life sends signal that it is good to be good. It also implies that occupiers of government positions should serve the people and the people alone. The people constitute the centre of democracy. Politicians should live every day as people whose lifespan will expire the next hour. The younger generation should not see politics as a means to amass wealth, primarily. Wealth should be secondary, just as his father said before he exited this side. He should be mindful of the people because people, no doubt, are the centre of democracy as Abraham Lincoln sums democracy in his 1863’s Gettysburg address. There at Gettysburg, Lincon redefined democracy as “the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Akala’s story, again, implies that no matter how poorly perceived a politician is, she/he can rise above that and become an angel par excellence. He should be admonished that the golden opportunity should not be squandered at this critical period in his political career. He should listen to the elders and right counsels. He should remember that what an elderly person sees while squatting, a young person may not see it while standing. Experience, they say, is the best teacher. He should learn from the cases of notable politicians like Azikiwe, Balewa, Kano, Awolowo, Akintola, Shagari and others whose issues had been raised in this piece.
Even though Olamiju contends with the incumbent occupier, Rep. Jacob Ajao; PDP’s candidate, Mr Olufemi Onireti, and others, he should be peaceful, pragmatic and issue-based in his campaigns/rallies as well as those of other candidates of his party.
LMJ, as fondly called, should marry his political career with business. One should not affect the other as a person of his age should not be totally dependent on politics. He should boost their business empires beyond what Akala bequeathed to the family.
Olamiju should not fight those who may be interested in the same elective position he eyes now. This critical moment is a litmus test to determine how long he will soar in politics. He should not trivialise his own family. Likewise, he should not toy with the immediate and extended families of Alao-Akala. Above all, he must not let down the political families, associates and numerous followers of his father. Most importantly, he should move close to God.
In the poll, expected to be keenly contested, the road to the seat of the Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire federal constituency this year will be among three major gladiators: Ajao, Onireti and Alao-Akala from Aaje/Ogunbado/Oke Agbede (Ward 1), Osupa (Ward 9) and Saabo/Taraa (Ward 10) in Ogbomoso North LGA respectively.
Therefore, the sustainability or otherwise of Adebayo Alao-Akala’s legacy depends on whether or not Olamiju wins or loses in the coming poll.
