Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-His appreciative gesture is rare – leaders
Like the Biblical Samaritan that returned to Jesus to thank him after he was cleansed of his leprosy among others, Dr. (Hon.) Adeola Banjo, the immediate past Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), despite his tight schedule, on Friday, began thank you visit to notable political leaders in Ikorodu Division, to appreciate them for their support in the last 10 years that he was at the helm of affairs as the council administrator of Ikorodu North.
Banjo, first served as Executive Secretary for about two years before his election as the Executive Chairman, a position he served for two – terms of four years each, before handing over to His Vice Chairman for those eight years, Hon. Ameen Ibrahim Apanisile, who succeeded him as the executive chairman about two weeks ago.
According to the former council boss, the thank you visit for individuals to stand by him during his service would also take him to royal fathers, community leaders and other stakeholders. He started the appreciation tour with the community media journalists and bloggers about a week ago, when he met them for an appreciation gathering.
In the second leg of his noble endeavour, Dr. Banjo visited the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince (Sir) Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to the State Government and also a GAC chieftain, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, former Commissioner for Agriculture and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Division, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya and another former commissioner and APC chieftain, Prince Lanre Balogun in their respective houses. He presented special frames to the leaders visited.
Dr. Banjo in his appreciative message which was literary in nature, emphasised that his journey in the last 10 years or so, was never alone but a shared one with leaders and critical stakeholders who stood by him throughout.
“Our dear father and distinguished elder statesman, revered guardian and pillar upon which our hopes have leaned. I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and lightened by the knowledge that my journey was never a solitary one.
“In the corridors of leadership, there were moments, when strength faltered, when vision was blurred, and when the winds of challenge blew without mercy.
“In those moments, I found not only my footing, but my compass in your steady gaze, and in the unwavering hands of those we all recognize and acknowledge as the living testaments of honour in Ikorodu.
“Ten years ago, I was sent forth, not in my own name, but under the banner of service. The river of responsibility could have swept me away, yet it was your watchful eyes that guided my strokes and your enduring belief that kept me afloat,” he said.
Emphasising how his return as the Executive Chairman was supported after his service as an ES, Banjo, said that he is fulfilled having served without betraying the people that he served and the leaders that trusted him with power.
“When the call returned, you did not merely endorse my service, you affirmed my purpose. And when the tides swelled again, threatening to overrun the shore, you became the walls that would not crumble.
“In your presence, I learned that leadership is not sustained by power alone, but by the embrace of those whose loyalty is without price and whose wisdom is without end.
“We often speak of achievements; of milestones and of visible gains. But the truest achievement is to have walked the road of service without betraying the trust of the people and without losing the blessing of our elders. That is a crown no office can bestow and no title can replace.
“And as I now look back, I carry not just memories of battles fought and victories won, but the sacred knowledge that I was shaped, refined, and steadied by a generation that understood that the highest calling of a leader is to leave the path clearer for those who come next,” Banjo expressed his thanks in flowing prose.
While stating that he has bowed out of the office gracefully, the former council boss also emphasised that he will still be in active service and will be ready and willing to serve again.
“And so, having had the privilege to serve, I took my bow from office, but not from the journey. Let it be said that though I stepped down from position, I did not step back from purpose.
“Standing, serving, working, and walking with a group of like minds whose sole resolve is to ensure that the best of us shall define the rest of us politically, economically, and artistically, I am still here delivering the commands of our elders.
“I am still here carrying out the instructions of our fathers, marching beside our leaders, cheering them on through our activities and lending my voice to the dream we all share, a dream now carried forward through, able comrades in progress,” he said.
Former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, welcoming Banjo who said he knew through his mother who supported his own aspiration some years back in Lagos Mainland, and his entourage, said that the former LCDA chairman emerged as the Executive Secretary, Ikorodu North LCDA through a divine intervention.
While noting that he performed well in office, the political leader attributed his success to his background and humility.
“I can say emphatically that Adebisi Banjo did well in his service to the people and that the success that he achieved could not have been his own without his partners – his vice, who incidentally is now the chairman, the SLG, Leader of the House and others who supported him.
“Shortly after he assumed office, he took a step that was striking to me. He saw a problem in Ikorodu North LCDA and he came to me, telling me that for him to be able to perform, he will need partial restructuring there.
“As at that time, it was the Mandate Group that was in total control of the council and he felt that for success to be achieved, nobody should be left behind and everybody should be carried along.
“His humility, rich background and team work were catalysts to his performance in office.
“I congratulate and thank him for that which has accounted for his success in his two terms as chairman after his tenure as the Executive Secretary, because everybody seems to support him,” Prince Ogunleye said.
Prince Ogunleye’ describing the former chairman as a hardworking person, cool headed, cooperative and good person, added that he was not expecting his appreciation after office.
He said that he did his job creditably and assisted the party in resolving many problems.
In further appreciating the former council boss, Prince Ogunleye said that Banjo’s service after his exit as the council chairman will still be needed while praying for his good health.
“I don’t know that this is the level of appreciation that Banjo is bringing to me. He has shown that he is somebody that is appreciative and who is not an ingrate. I still don’t know what my input has been to be recognized like this. I was just serving, which has been helping me for a long time.”
He also commended him for carrying along many of the cabinet and legislative arm who are still with him and part of his entourage which he said shows how he has been able to maintain relationships in and out of the office.
Asiwaju Basorun, in his own remarks also appreciated the former council boss and likened him to leaders that never forget themselves in office.
The GAC chieftain charged Banjo to always pursue truth and narrated how someone came to his house on January 24th this year, quoted a quote he pasted in his office and accused him of not being truthful because he was not ready to do his bidding.
While congratulating the former chairman and acknowledging his sense of thanksgiving and appreciation, Asiwaju Basorun emphasised that the person that came to insult him and his wife has been going around as if he was the one that was offended.
The elder statesman also added that he has done nothing for which Banjo is showing appreciation for, except to stand by the truth.
“It is very rare to serve for 10 years as a chief executive, not even the governor except those in the legislature, but two of you had the opportunity in this area because of what you did and showed us when we started with you. We could not have done otherwise, because people believed in you.
“Look at the members of the team that you brought. This is unique. It has never happened before around here for somebody to look back and say thank you after leaving office. Thank you.
While stating that Dr. Banjo has age on his side and all that it takes to be given a higher position of responsibility, Asiwaju Basorun charged him to not let his present challenge weigh him down and also assured him of his prayers.
Former Commissioner, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, also speaking during the visit said that the hallmark of public office is to serve. He appreciated Banjo for looking back in appreciation and maintaining friendship with his political circle.
“The hallmark of democracy is service and no matter how good you are you must serve for a stipulated time and go. But the most important thing is leaving your footprint when you serve. Your service must be in tandem with the desire of the people.
“Therefore, a political office is about service and we are all going to be former but we must be mindful of what we are going to be remembered for while in office.
“I thank God for the life of Banjo for serving very well for 10 years without blemish because it is grace of God for you to serve in public office without a dent. His service and happy ending call for thanksgiving.
“I sincerely thank you and I want to state and emphasise that in and out of office, it’s important that you hold on to your friends. Our relationship should not be about the gains of office alone. You must maintain your association to keep you going.
“What you have done will speak for you tomorrow, the more so because you have age on your side and with good academic qualifications, with your Ph.D, which I am just pursuing. He just needs to build the connection within our party and make himself visible.”
The party leader who said that the council office is just the beginning for the former chairman added:
“We thank God for Banjo’s life and how far that you have come. You have shown that you are appreciative of what God has done for you and the support that you have received from men and once you are known for this, you will definitely get more and have more reasons to be appreciative of.
“There are many others that have the same privilege as you but don’t look back until they are in need of people’s support again. I thank you for your recollection and heart of thanksgiving.”
In his own response, Prince Lanre Balogun said that Banjo has invested heavily in developing himself and in relationships, emphasising other leaders’ observation of the former council boss’ maintaining of his friendship with those that they work together in government.
Balogun too described what Banjo is doing as rare because it is uncommon for people after office to go around thanking people for their support.
Among those that were part of Banjo’s team were Hon. Niyi Odugbesi, former Secretary to Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Adekoya Ayo Abiodun, former Council Leader, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Ambali Adeleke, former Supervisor for Works, Ikorodu North LCDA, Chief of Staff to Banjo as chairman, Ikorodu North LGA’s women leader and wards women leaders among others.
