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Olaleye Olawale wrote on his Facebook page …..
‘Look Not at the Man, But the Lessons’
And so, I got this late night call, which haunted me all through my sleep. Another prominent Nigerian and foremost Lagosian – a politician with active office – it is always a delight speaking to him, because of the many instructive takeaways. Honestly, you never get to know those who read the stuff we put out there, often at leisure.
He started by helping to correct some facts in one of my posts of yesterday, which was on BRF’s loyalty and the significance of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s symbolic transfer of leadership mantle at the Osun APC rally.
He confirmed there was indeed a swap of agbada between BRF and Asiwaju, but that it was because BRF complained his agbada was too short, jocularly alluding to the size of Dr. Chris Ngige and co, and Asiwaju asked him not to complain any further and gave his own, which was longer, whilst the one in his (BRF’s) hand was clearly Asiwaju’s size.
That was it about the swap. Whatever meaning we eventually read to it may not be out of context, it was however important we got the actual story right, he said.
But on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s re-election debacle, he had some thought-provoking positions that I could not dismiss. He started by saying, “Wale, we must learn to look at the lessons and not the man.”
According to him, “Let’s not delight in his misfortune. There are more inherent lessons than the ongoing ‘tear him apart’ singsong that is prevalent. The whole world is on tenterhooks on how Lagos manages this situation. I’ve had calls from all over the country with people warning us about the possible fallout of a mismanagement of the situation, because Lagos isn’t just the Centre of Excellence but is known to always set the pace in all corridors.”
He contended that there was no problem with a one-term governor or president. “The system can choose what it desires. US had such one-term presidents. We’ve had one-term governors before. In fact, Jonathan was a one-term president. But how we manage the situation along the provisions of the system such that does not diminish the institution is very crucial. What is being said about the governor is not really about his person but the office and that office must be protected.
“Did you know that during his time as governor, Fashola was one of the few African leaders that the late Lee Kuan Yew met? Did you also know that the late Singaporean leader hardly spoke to certain class of people for more than 10 minutes, because of his time? But, hey, he spoke to BRF for over 40 minutes. Did you think it was because he was Babatunde Fashola? Hell no, it was because he was the Governor of Lagos State, even though cerebral and cosmopolitan.
“We must dutifully look at the larger picture and not destroy the institution. What is happening in Lagos now constitutes huge threat to that institution. Lagos is like a functional vehicle that is conveying the mass of the people. If we choose to change the driver, we must do it with wisdom. But if we let him crash the vehicle with the way he is being harangued and harassed, we will all not get to our destinations and might be stranded mid-way.
“That same vehicle was driven by Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and even our military administrators like Mobolaji Johnson and Ndubuisi Kanu. Shall we then on account of certain differences with the latest driver crash it? Now, don’t get me wrong. If the people he is leading say they do not want him again, fine, but manage it in such a way that the bus is not crashed maliciously.
“If you tear him apart and by extension destroy the government of Lagos as an institution, who do you think will respect you guys in any part of the world, when Lagos is mentioned? BRF was going all over the place delivering lectures, while the world and professionals rise to give him standing ovation, what did you think gave him the platform? Isn’t it the same seat as governor or was he not existing before he became governor? Look not at the man, but the lessons and the implications. Importantly, do not gloat over his misfortune,” he said.
He espoused a lot more that I could not recall now but the few above were the thrust of his phone call and they set me thinking all-night. I personally recall that BRF himself is a product of many chances and therefore, Ambode could be handed such privileges too, but if… I’m not also oblivious of the fact that such a decision at this time that many had thrown caution to the winds and re-aligned as ‘instructed from the top’ could be suicidal, albeit politically, it is however not impossible, only if Ambode has learnt his lessons and sincerely so.
I will always vote to protect government at all levels as institutions of nation-building
