Kunle Adelabu
-Calls for unity among leaders
In his usual accessible and always ready to listen manner, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council and the first Secretary to the Lagos State Government, recently engaged selected youths and journalists in Ikorodu Division on some issues affecting the development of the division, particularly on the allegation that leaders in the division have not been advancing the course of development in the division.
The old political war horse, in his contrary view to this assertion which has been making the rounds on the various social media platforms related to Ikorodu, stated that leaders in Ikorodu are doing everything within their powers to make Ikorodu Division relevant in the scheme of things in the state.
The Asiwaju of Igbogbo Kingdom also denied the accusation that those that constitute political leadership are only serving themselves and families and are not bothered about the development of division, while also stating that leaders in the division are not useless as generally believed.
While engaging his young invitees, Octogenarian, popularly called ‘Baba Aladura’, said that, “I have called for this meeting to see how the situation which Ikorodu has found itself and which has brought about accusations against its leadership can be saved and redressed”.
He revealed that the Divisional political leaders on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) compiled list of names of young and presentable Ikorodu sons and daughters that should be considered for Commissionership, Special Adviser, Senior Special Adviser, Board & Parastatal and Commission positions in the state.
Basorun said that the list accommodates various interests in the Division and can be picked from whenever request is made.
According to him, the list was signed by the Apex leader and former Deputy Governor of the state, Prince Abiodun Ogunlewe, his deputy and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, and himself, an exco member of the Apex political body in the Division.
He further revealed that the leadership of the Apex body represented by himself and Prince Ogunleye later met with the Governor but not until after the cabinet positions had been filled and announced.
“We thanked him (Governor) for giving us Oladeinde (Mr Frederick Oladeinde, the Commissioner for Transportation) and Olusanya (Ms. Bisola Ruth Olusanya, acting Commissioner for Agriculture), but we thought that we should get more but since we are not getting more, we are appealed to him that when making appointments for Board, Senior Special Assistant and other positions, Ikorodu should be considered”, Asiwaju Basorun stated.
“We cannot ignore those that have been running round during elections. Some of them are anonymous. They worked very hard but they are not getting anything. Going through the list, you will find out that we have recognized their worth.
“The issue is that some of them want to come first on the list and I was able to show them, when they requested to know what number their own people are on the list, that it is not only for Igbogbo but for the entire Ikorodu Constituency II. There are people that we have been sending around and whether they are here or not, we must recognize them. We had to consider top nominees each for Igbogbo, Imota and Ijede before others were also considered. The same thing was done while compiling the other list (Ikorodu Constituency II)”, Asiwaju Basorun said.
While stating that the list is not something that should be made public, the former Secretary to the State Government admitted that he has to speak on the issue “because of the situation we have found ourselves. I have to explain and in doing that, one also has to be discreet about it not because they are top secret or anything, but because it would not reflect age and experience”.
He further revealed that the leadership of the party has been sending memo since 2016 to the former Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on appointing lkorodu indigenes as Permanent Secretaries.
There are 53 Permanent Secretaries in Lagos State with just two from Ikorodu Division – Dr Allison, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, who will be retiring soon, and Dr Benjamen Eniayewun, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health Service Commission.
“We never kept quiet, we have been raising this issue with those that matter. We raised the issue again last year with the Governor (Mr Sanwo – Olu). After seeing the Governor, we also met with the Head of Service in October and discussed the matter with him but they said the Permanent Secretaries are being appointed by seniority”.
He also mentioned that they met with the Chief of Staff to the Governor on the same matter last December, while also adding that he has always been engaging successive governors on issue relating to Ikorodu since the time of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Asiwaju Basorun said that, though, the leaders are doing everything to bring about development, but that the lackadaisical attitudes of some people within the apex leadership in the division is not helping in achieving desired result.
He made reference to a meeting summoned by the Divisional Obas and some eminent individuals at the palace of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu around July last year to discuss issues affecting the division, especially the one bothering on the council chairmen.
Basorun said that he was the only one that was present at the parley out of the six political figures invited to the parley (the former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye was said to be abroad at that time).
Speaking on the threat by some youths that they will mobilised the populace to vote for another party in the coming Lagos East Senatorial bye election if an Ikorodu man is not considered to replace late Sen. Osinowo, Asiwaju Basorun said:
“You don’t start a process by declaring war when you don’t have the means to fight.
“It has been my attitude to engage successive governors on issues bothering on the division in particular and other divisions in general, especially regarding the balance in allocation of positions/appointments in the State”.
He said that he did the same thing with the incumbent Governor, referencing the consideration for the selection of cabinet members on Divisional basis and with equal representation during the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration.
He also spoke about the projects he discussed with the Governor which would benefit Ikorodu if considered but that these projects are not limited to Ikorodu.
On the allegation raised by some youths that the division among the Apex leadership has made it impossible for them to speak with one voice and has also denied Ikorodu some opportunities, Asiwaju Basorun admitted to the accusation, stating that a particular section broke away from the Ogunleye’s house to form another political unit.
The old Awoist, nonetheless, maintained that efforts are been made to unite the leadership and make it speak with one voice.
Other issues that Asiwaju Basorun said that the leadership of the Division has been pursuing are the proposed Shoprite and the rebuilding of the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat which he said the committee, led by Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, has produced a very useful report on, as well as construction of State VIP Chalet with conference and theatre.
“Just last week, I read in the newspaper that government is calling for expression of interest to build the VIP Chalet opposite Nichemtex at Owode, Ibeshe. There are VIP Chalets in other four divisions. I was at the Epe Chalet in 1980, but it has been rebuilt into a first class Chalet now. They just decided now, based on our efforts, to build one in Ikorodu division because we saw him (Governor) in December”, he said.
He, however, said that the emergence of COVID – 19 has prevented leaders in Ikorodu from seeing the Governor for follow-up on the projects discussed with him.
Also, Asiwaju Basorun said that pursuing such would make them to be seen as insensitive persons going by the ongoing fight against the ravaging pandemic which Governor Sanwo – Olu has been actively involved with.
As part of the efforts of the leaders, Basorun said that they intervened for an Ikorodu man recently, Dr Samuel Idowu, whom he said performed creditably during interview and other selection processes for the post of of the Provost of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, but that some else was eventually appointed.
“We have been intervening except that we are not aware about the development concerning the division. We have been intervening either as individuals or as a group”, Basorun said.
Recounting the issue of the Education Secretary which was recently resolved in favour of Alhaji Amusa who succeeded Lion Taiwo Oduloye, Asiwaju Basorun described it as a simple matter that was made complex.
“The issue became unnecessarily acrimonious. The body set up by the Apex body of the APC, in conjunction with the Council Chairmen that are legally responsible for the selection of Education Secretary, did not only report back that the man, who eventually got the job, came first, but also that he has all that it takes to do the job because he performed excellently in all the selection processes “, Asiwaju Basorun said.
“Fourteen of them appeared before the interview panel headed by the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa. This person came first with 88points, while the second person had 72points. The report said that it was not only the gap in the points that made him most suitable for the post, but also that when they were interacting with them, they found out that he is the most competent and experienced”.
He said that it was based on these factors that the Council Chairmen that are empowered by the law wrote to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) in December 2019 on the preferred candidate for confirmation.He added that LSUBEB failed to take action until March this year after he wrote them of prevaricating on the matter.
He alluded to the disunity within the leadership as the cause of the acrimony over the Education Secretary’ appointment that, according to him, should not have generated any problem.
It would be recalled that THE IMPACT extensively covered the intrigues involved in the selection process of the Education Secretary on its website and online media platforms.
“On behalf of all the leaders in this division, I will say that we have been doing our best. There are people who for their own personal interest have not gotten what they think that they should get. They must support us beyond their interest”, Basorun pleaded.
“To the best of my knowledge, we have tried. The only impediment that we have is the idea of breaking Ikorodu into two. When I was in government, Chief Alokolaro from Ikorodu was my leader. That was about 40 years ago. In that government, the leader from the area was always given recognition as to what is happening in the area and we were always attending meetings unlike what we are experiencing now.
“Look at our legislators, they were not attending meetings until Tinubu dissolved the group about three weeks ago. They were not attending meetings. They must be attending meetings to let us know what is happening in their territories”, Basorun said.
“The Council Chairmen too were not attending meetings. There was a time that we succeeded in making them attend the meetings and they usually give account of their performances for an hour. We always asked them what they have done since the last meeting that they attended and their challenges.
“Aside the oral presentations, we also asked them to present their report in graphical forms, so that they will not only be telling us stories at meetings. This they have to submit at every meeting”, he recalled.
Asiwaju Basorun revealed that one of the achievements of the monthly meetings and presentation of performance details by the Chairmen was that the leaders got to know that at a point, the chairmen were getting almost zero allocation during Ambode’s tenure and that the Apex body had to intervene.
“When the matter got to Ambode, in his own wisdom, he sent for Ogunleye (Prince Abiodun Ogunleye) and l because he knew we should know about the problem. If we had not been meeting, we would have had nothing to tell or brief him about.
“After telling him the problem, he agreed to give them N15million. The following day, the money was announced at a meeting that was summoned and that was the end of it…”.
While acknowledging the importance of an Ikorodu person attaining the Governorship position as been clanmouring for by residents, Asiwaju Basorun recalled the statement of the late APC woman leader, Chief (Mrs) Folake Shokunbi, popularly called ‘Iya Kalokalo’, that we cannot get all that we desired and that until we (Ikorodu) get the green biro (an Ikorodu person becoming the governor of the state), we will just be wasting our time lobbying and agitating.
While also blaming people in Ikorodu for fear of contesting for positions to fulfill ‘Iya Kalokalo’s’ dream, Basorun said that he wasn’t a money bag when he aspired for the governorship position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2002.
“I was not a rich man in 2002 when I came out to aspire for the Governorship position on the PDP platform but I had my programmes and I criticized that of the Tinubu who was incumbent then. That time, he was building the Millennium Schools and my major point was that instead of building those schools, we should use the money to develop and improve other schools…”, he recalled.
“Although, I couldn’t take part in the primary because I fell down on the rostrum while campaigning and had to send someone to represent me. That was my trial, but many of them do not want to try”, he said while encouraging young Ikorodu people to contest for positions.
Commenting on the vacuum in the Lagos East Senatorial seat due to the death of Sen. Adebayo Osinowo, Basorun cautioned those that always go about to say it is Ikorodu’s turn whenever there is any vacancy in the political space.
He advised that any interested party should openly signify his or her interest in the race and campaign for it.
He also revealed that the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) at its meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2020, had resolved that anybody interested in the Senatorial position from the five local governments in the district should come out to contest.
“We resolved that anybody that’s interested in the position from the five local governments in the District should go and apply and then start campaigning. Such person must, however, be a party (APC) member”, he said.
Basorun did not end the session without speaking on the impact of caucuses on party politics. He was of the opinion that caucuses have been used to destroy political parties.
“They have used caucuses to destroy politics. They are misusing caucuses. It is only useful when you are contesting an election and you have your people together. Immediately after the election, you all go back to the party, but here, it is a permanent pillar”, he explained.
“It is all over the state and not only here (Ikorodu). That is why the APC must work hard, because we go to elections scattered due to the caucuses. We should go to elections united so that our votes can be optimized, rather than anyone feeling that a mandate was taken from him or that he’s annoyed because he wasn’t given the mandate.
“These days, you don’t get to see people on the voting queue by 1pm, whereas, before, you will see on the queue by 3pm still waiting to vote.
“See what is happening in the north, it is not inflated votes. Once the Village head delivers the message from the Emir through the District head to them that this is where we are going, they will all troop out to vote. That’s why you will see a woman carrying her baby on her back and still hold another one while waiting on the queue to vote.
“It is not the same thing here (Western part of the country). This is a general matter which everybody must address. It is very important that we must all be awake. There is no how we can get the position of the President unless we get the north (to vote for our candidate).
“There must be a change in the attitude. Once we come together, we can work together. There must be disagreement but we must disagree to agree”.
He stated that elders in politics are not tired to still engage in active politics and help in bringing development to Ikorodu.
He also charged that youths to continue to forge ahead in their quest for relevance and take charge when elders are no longer active.
“We are not tired. At the end of my contributions on the platform (THE IMPACT) the other day, I thanked you all and prayed for all our youths. We are all in this matter together and please, continue to forge ahead. I am going to be 82 very soon and there’s little that I can do, but I am still managing and by the time I add another 5 years if possible, I may not be this useful again”.
Basorun also stated that he has been using his old age to document his thoughts in form of books aside engaging in active politics.
Basorun has three books to his credit. His first book was published in 2008 and was titled, “Life on service lane”. The book depicts his foray into banking, politics and law, his second book, “Nigeria of my dream”, published in 2013, was about governance in the country.It was concluded in the book that, “The democracy that we are practicing now is the government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. Until we work and bridge the gap, whereby 5% of our entire wealth is in certain hands and remaining 95% in the hands majority, there will be no progress”.
“Until we are able to bridge the gap, whereby nobody sees himself as an unwanted member of this society, we are not going anywhere. That was the major thing that I focused on in the ‘Nigeria of my dream”, he said.
He commissioned someone to write his third book, “Paramole O k’oro Iwosi” , which was used to mark his 80th birthday two years ago.
“I decided not to write the third book by myself and so, l gave it to some else to write it. In that book, which is a biography, I wanted to sell who Olorunfunmi Basorun is, ‘the rattle snake’ (It is called, ‘Paramole’ in Yoruba). I hate anything that will dent me”, he said.
As promised at the beginning of the session, Asiwaju Basorun gave autographed copies of the book to each of the members of the team that visited him.
According to him, the book, apart from using it to sell himself, also contains gazettes from 1955, before the formation of Lagos State which can be referenced and serve as guidance for people willing to know what Ikorodu and other parts of the state were before the creation of the State.
The octogenarian, who stated that he has not wasted his time in the community he has been living in since and which has been good to him, also quoted Winston Churchill, “the mark of a great man is to have handled events in his lifetime, so that the course of events after him will always have recourse to him”, to buttress why he has been documenting his experiences.
He revealed that the creation of the six Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) out of the old Ikorodu Local Government was due to his presentation at the Ayangbure palace which the then Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, and late Chief Nurudeen Alowonle had to pour encomiums and prayers on him in acknowledgement of his presentation.
Asiwaju Basorun said that he actually made presentation for eight councils for Ikorodu, but six was later approved, adding that the division would have gotten more than two councils since early 60s if there had been no opposition from Ikorodu.
Speaking about his person, the experienced politician said that he is being misunderstood by some people, adding that he detests deceit.
“Some people misunderstood me a lot, though, I am not an angel, I joined this ‘clapping’ Church (Cherubim) since August 1959. My membership of the Church will clocks 61years next month and I have not look back since then. It has been my pillar in whatever I have achieved.
“I cannot stay where they are placing anything under the table; lying or deceiving people. It doesn’t reconcile with my life. If I make any mistake, that’s human and if anyone can point it out to me, I will apologise. Although, I am a politician and want to win elections, but certainly not to the extent of going behind and say let us kill him, remove him”, Basorun said.
As a wise old man conscious of event after his sojourn on earth, Asiwaju Basorun appealed for unity among political leaders, stating that he’s ready to work with anybody towards bequeathing a lasting legacy to those coming behind.
“If you have the opportunity, do appeal to others to let us work together to give those coming behind us a legacy that would be used to further develop Ikorodu Division.
The Coordinator of the team, Dr Abiodun Fatai – Abatan, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, responding, commended Asiwaju Basorun for his efforts over the years in advancing Ikorodu Division’s development, while also charging him to ensure that there is unity among political leaders for proper coordination.
“There’s nothing new to someone like me. It’s like you are refreshing it. You have said most of these before now and I have also confirmed some myself”, Dr Abatan said.
“For some us, we appreciate the experience and the efforts that you have put into Ikorodu. They have been very deep and massive efforts over time, but the challenge that we have been having is the division among leaders in Ikorodu which you also confirmed.
“This disunity is robbing off on those efforts because when there is issue with coordination in an organization, it doesn’t bring out something good and that’s why we are in this dilemma”, the young scholar added.
”We need to work on common purpose in Ikorodu and not at cross purpose as it is presently”, he charged.
Mr Monday Ohi Obadan, a public commentator and community developer, also contributing, charged Asiwaju Basorun to ensure that paradigm shift is sustained in the division for active youths to take over rein of leadership while elders give advice.
He commended the former State Scribe for his efforts in developing youths and contributing to the development of the division.
“The problem with Ikorodu politics is that there is always division and in-fighting among leaders. But from what you have said so far, backed with documents, it gladdens my heart that we have roadmap.
“I have been saying that Ikorodu should be able to have a register or document of qualified people that can serve in any capacity and from which they can pick from whenever request is made to produce materials for any position. Today, you have been able to confirm to me that there is and that is very commendable”, he said.
“I was also glad that people like you and the Chairmen of the six councils in the division and other stakeholders came into the campaign to give support to Biliamin – Oba in his quest to clinch the Chairmanship position of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter.
“I am beginning to see crop of leaders that are following the path that leaders like you have laid. I think that we should continue in that direction. You should continue in the direction that will build leaders that will come after you”, he charged.
“We are beginning to see that paradigm shift. I am beginning to see that cohesion but we have to sustain it for the future.
“Sir, you have laid a very strong foundation and I believe very strongly that it will blossom and in this closing chapter of your life, I have no doubt that you can sit back and witness the fruits of your labour blossom. I have seen that and that’s why l am so passionate about unity between you and other leaders”, Obadan said.
