I’m not taking sides..just expressing my opinion, this response is to a brother who commented on one of my posts on the matter,and this will suffice for others who hold contrary opinions who may not have seen this response on that thread. From now I ll keep
Daramola Temitayo I would have ignored this vacuous and very unreasonable response from you because it simply violates rationality and i owe it to myself if no one else to let you know that I got into politics with clear objectives, that does not include pursuit of personal gains and benefits.
This well defined and openly espoused self defined limits has moderated my actions from day one, suffice to say whatever I post or say enjoys the insularity of a man who has conquered greed and avarice a long time ago, rather one desirous of common good for all. If you care to , you may wish to double check that.
For clarifications, let me say this, the pawn feature in all social discourse is anyone who is politically exposed in one form or the other, and unfortunately nearly everyone finds accommodation in this erroneous soft place, once you have anything to do in the political space, then everything you do or say must be motivated by quest for some present benefits or the advancement of one’s political career. I am different by miles.
I contested for the first time in 2007, for the house of Representatives, having started my voyage in 2004-2005, for queen reasons, I lost , even my party then did me in, even after emerging as the candidate, I went into the election with two cases on the way, one in Akure and another in Benin! I soldiered on till the ruling party had its way.
I did not not lean on or enjoy the benefit of systemic support. I am trying to lay a foundation to let you know that my post has not got anything to do with one futuristic expectations of political benefits from Baba Afe.
Indeed at the time Baba was alleged to have sympathy for the other side and naturally disinclined to him.
I continued driven by my conviction that politics is a veritable tool for social transformation, and to the glory of God won in 2011, and was in the parliament for 4 years i.e till 2015. And to the glory of God, the bit I could do for my people we did.
I have not been in Government in any formal form since 2015, and it ll be TEN YEARS in another couple of months, Sir, heavens have not fallen, and to the glory of God, I have face my other areas of endeavour without any direct pecuniary benefits from politics. Meaning I can survive outside of politics and not being a life time bencher in politics, I DO NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO TAKE A POSITION IN THIS MATTER THAT SUGGESTS COMPLICITY OR ALLIGNMENT WITH ANYONE FOR ANY REASON.
In all of my life , I have only met Baba Afe, in thesame room less than three times, the first being in 2006 when my father shared my well articulated brochure stating why I was getting into the murky waters of politics with him , and he requested that I should come see him.
My father eventually took me to him on an introductory basis. And that was all.
No personal benefit in any form came out of that other than the benefits of his fatherly advice and good wishes.
The third time I think in recent time was when ABUAD, his University gave Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a honorary award, and I was on Asiwaju’s travel party, i only saw him fleetingly, I can’t recall seeing him any other time since then.
So in what way can I possibly be taking a position on this matter because I am ultimately hoping that Baba Afe will support my political ambition someday? And who tells you that I am keen on pursuit of any political ambition anymore?
I have contested four elections between 2015 and 2023, and I never went to Baba Afe once for anything, no doubts it will count worthily for something to have a Baba Afe support any candidate, from as little as a councilor to a President granted the profile and the success he has made out of his own career and life.
But I have not had that benefit and the future political ambition that you referred to as I speak not in contemplation.
Incidentally I share and have experienced some of the systemic frustrations that Mr Dele Farotimi had variously talked about for which many of us according him his earned credits.
However, this one is different because of the contentious nature, format and extent it has taken, to my mind.
I am also one who is courageous in alignment with my convictions just like Mr Farotimi, my not being at the forefront of fighting the military boys notwithstanding, but nobody will say i was an apologist, at that time, I did my part in my own space, which may not have been noticed by you or anyone, but I was not a bystander in that struggle.
I have taken the liberty to share all these because I don’t want innocent persons to read your comment and run away with your narrative innocently. My position is not informed by any expectations of anticipated support for any political ambition whatsoever, from what I have put here, you can guess how close I am to Baba.
But I must add that I believe that Baba Afe by reason of how he surmounted life’s hurdles to get to where he is today, and what he has done with ABUAD and the lives he has moulded with that institution, alongside his life of impact, he has become an ICON and I would think a learned and diligent man like Mr Farotimi would have been more circumspect with putting claims like that in a book in the manner in which he did, and until he would have the chance to prove all those far reaching allegations, he would be deemed innocent and I so believe he should be treated humanely.
I doubt if Baba Afe will ask the police to do otherwise.
But the crux of the matter is that fiery convictions of “presummed knowledge” about any matter does not vitiate the necessity and place of the “how to” regardless of the reputation of fighting the “military boys”!
Both sides presumed innocent until otherwise established.
My final Word.