What I’ Learnt from Ibikunle Amosun to be Ogun Governor
Chief Tolu Odebiyi, Chief of Staff to G Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, may be warming up to receive the baton of leadership from his b boss. He is from Ogun West senatorial di district. His father, Chief Jonathan Ode Odebiyi was minority leader i
As theth Chief of Staff to GovernorGov Ibikunle Amosun,Am How early do you get to office?
I get to work at 7 O’c O’clock every morning sinc since I became Chief of Staf Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogung Ogun S State. Even when I was in Lagos,g Lagos, I gotg got to w work at the same time. It ggives gives me time to assimilate a lot of thingsg things that have happ happened the day before and to have a clear idea of what is ahead of us before peoplepp people s start coming or before His Excellencyy Excellency com comes in. ByyBy the nature of my job, before I leave the office I tryy try to make sure that most thingsg things have wound down. I leave office lea leave between 6 and 7 pm. MyyMy role as the chief of staff is to ma manage His Excellency – manageg manage h his itinerary, his programmes and to oversee his immediate staff and make sure that things work seamlesslyyseamlessly and effortlessly around him and minim minimise any stress. You look out for yyo your principal. If you feel that certain things are not right, you step in.
What gives you the competence to do this?
My Myy years yyears of workingwork in an executive position.p I had been the MD of a real estate company. company.py I haveh been the MD of Agbara Agbarag Industries. I have worked in the banking bankingg sector when I first came back to the country. country.y I havehav worked abroad for over 15 years. yyears. I havehav had global and local experience at very highh level. Management, administration and oversight are definitely things that I have been able to handle effortlessly. To me, it is a matter of understanding what it is that we have to do and scheduling people in terms of priority. We have to understand the political dynamics of the environment. If you feel that granting an interview by His Excellency is not most ideal at a certain point, you find a way to pull it off.
How do you deal with politics and governance?
First of all, I was born into a political family. I am conversant with the political arena. It is also nice that you can bring in the confidence of the private sector to bear; the discipline that comes with the sector. It brings efficiency. Most important, you also have the understanding and the knowledge of the political environment. You should understand the needs and the expectations of the people to have access to you to be able to relate with you in order to reach their governor. I understand all these political dynamics very well because of my upbringing and also the nature of my job.
How old were you when your father died?
He died in 2002 in March. I am going to be 54 years in November.
Would you say you have risen to prominence in Ogun politics as a result of your political heritage?
I think it is a combination of everything. Let’s be honest with ourselves. If you have a good legacy and a good pedigree, it is
I think it is a combination of everything. Let’s be honest with ourselves. If you have a good legacy and a good pedigree, it is bonus. Having said that, character is also important. I always tell people that you may be the smartest person but if you don’t have character, then you don’t have anything. You may be an average person, if you have exceptional character, then you have everything. For me, character is everything
bonus. Having said that, character is also important. I always tell people that you may be the smartest person but if you don’t have character, then you don’t have anything. You may be an average person, if you have exceptional character, then you have everything. For me, character is everything. I have had the opportunity to serve this government as a member of the Judiciary Service Commission for about four and a half years. I am sure the governor must have assessed my character during that time. I have also had the opportunity to run for the senate in the party. I have been an active member of this party. I have contributed enormously into the party. I am not in the party because I am seeking a position. I joined because I believe in the party. I believe there is need for transformation of this country. I think all the factors that I bring on board are responsible for my nomination as the chief of staff.
Working as a member of the Judiciary Service Commission put you among a group of people, how was it possible for him to single you out?
You will have to ask him that. The governor is an exceptional person. He is a manager of men. He knows exactly what he is looking for in terms of character. I was among people, but he has his way of asking to find out what kind of person I am. I feel that he must have seen something or he felt the need to bring me on board based on certain traits that he is looking for. I have had the opportunity to work with him and he is somebody I have respect for. I have admiration for him. I have learnt a lot from him. I can also say he is the one that really brought me into politics and I consider him to be my political mentor. He encouraged me to run for the senate, even though the party later asked me to step down. However, I continued to be involved because he is an inspirational person. You cannot work with Amosun and not be inspired.
There are four things that you will learn from him. He is a man that is extremely compassionate. He genuinely cares for the downtrodden. He genuinely cares for the masses. He definitely wants to make a difference in their lives. Sometimes, when you are going on the street and he sees something he should act on, he takes action immediately. The other day we were travelling somewhere and he saw a young boy with a lump on his neck. Nobody even saw it. He just called on the radio, ‘stop, stop.’ Somebody, get the details of that boy, get his phone number and get his mother. That is compassion. He is somebody who is also extremely passionate. He wants to transform Ogun State. He is passionate about his job. He wants Ogun State to shine and that is one thing we share in common. The third thing is that he is spiritual. He is a man of faith. Before he does anything, he takes it before God. He is guided by the principles of his faith. To me, that says a lot. Number four is that he is very hard-working.
He is a hands-on governor. One of the challenges of managing a person like him is that sometimes you feel that you are not doing enough for him. Before you get up to it, he is already doing it too. It is not for frivolity. He just wants to get the job done and you can see from the transformation that he has brought to Ogun State. I am not kidding. There is nothing that you are seeing here that he was not actively involved in.
Did you move with him from ANPP to CPC and now APC?
I was neither in ANPP nor in CPC. I was a registered member of AD but I was not active. We had the ACN that later became part of the APC. That is when I came in
What do you remember about your dad that you would say is serving you well now?
First and foremost, he was a man of integrity. He was an exceptional human being. He was highly disciplined. He was well schooled. He did the right things. I think we owe people of that generation a lot. These are the traits that I remember. He was incorruptible, neat and had exceptional good character. Those are the values that I grew up with. Growing up, you were not even aware that you had any status. If you misbehaved, you would be disciplined right there in public. I grew up with very strong values but most of all what I picked up from him is his integrity. I have maintained my integrity and I try to be very thorough in everything that I do. I say what I believe is right. I try to look at things and try to do things methodically and make sure that they are done.
You are the only son of the family. Were you pampered?
When you have an only son, you want him to be a spitting image of you. You want him to do the right thing. I went to a private boarding school. You had to be upright. You had to button up. Those little things. He wanted you to be a good representation of him. He didn’t want you to be a slacker. He wanted you to be very disciplined. He wanted you to be respectful to people. It is not that he was unnecessarily hard, just that he wanted you to be well behaved. I look back now and I thank God.
As a young person, I might think he was unnecessarily too difficult. I have five sisters. I might feel that they get away with a lot of things and I didn’t. The pressure was that of expectation. Even when I went to school, I couldn’t afford to do all the wild things other boys did. I was aware that there were consequences. I grew up carrying that burden with everything I do. Up till now, without him around, I feel the burden that I carry the name of the family and that I am the one upholding his legacy. People look at you with expectations.
I told the governor at one point that of all the people that are contesting (to become gubernatorial flagbearer of the APC in Ogun State) I carry more burden than everyone else, because my name comes with expectations. Many people remember my father when he was in the Senate and his eloquence and what he did in the senate. People are looking at me and already there is a benchmark of expectations from me that I have to perform. Add that to the expectations from my area. You have the expectation of His Excellency’s achievements. He has done excellently well. He is leaving a high benchmark that one has to exceed. By God’s grace, I have no doubt that I will do my best to continue from where the governor would have left off and we will get Ogun State to where we all hope it will be.
Many see the chief of staff as wielding a great influence on the governor. How do yiou see that?
We have been fortunate in Ogun State. We work as a team. It is a process-driven environment. The governor is the leader of the team. The deputy governor is the second leader of the team. If the governor is not around, I defer to the deputy governor for advice or guidance. To me, it is not about the position. It is to work together; to get the job done. Positions and titles are immaterial. What is important is: are we succeeding? You have a governor, who if he needs to move a table, he will move it himself. He will not wait for anybody. If you have a governor like that, how can you say you are anything? I just want to succeed. I want to do the best I can and present myself well.
Would you agree that there is a feeling of disenchantment or alienation in Ogun State?
There is no process of change without some kinds of distabilisation to the polity, in the first place. It will certainly affect some people. People have been so used to certain norms over the years. Another governor was there and everybody just ‘chopped’. At the end of the day, nothing got done. It is difficult when somebody comes and he is just making changes and you are still trying to see where you can fit in. He is not talking to you the way the former ones did. He just wants to get things done. It is taking a while, but right now everybody is commending him. There has been indolence over the years. People were paid for not doing anything. If you look at people that are talking negatively about him and you do a critical analysis of these people and where they are coming from, you will see that there is nothing that is bothering them than fear. Once you are successful, you are going to have enemies. People have been there before him, these are the same roads, they did not do anything even when oil was $100 a barrel. When Amosun came in, oil was $20, then went up to $30 and he has been able to use his financial acumen to engineer the state. He has increased the IGR from N700 million to about N6 billion. It is unheard of. That is what is unsettling some people.
The truth is that for so many years his legacies will be there for people to appreciate. He did it effortlessly, and selflessly. He has been sacrificial in everything he has done for the state.
How is your wife taking your involvement in politics?
My wife is a pharmacist. She shares my vision and my interest. I have three children – a boy and two girls. I see my son in my situation as the only boy, but times have changed. These days, your children may even point the direction you should go.
Have you kept a good relationship with the Awolowo family?
It was such an exciting moment for a young person like me to accompany my father along with Papa Awolowo, Chief Ajasin and Chief Onabanjo on campaigns. I was a teenager in the Second Republic. I remember people shouting ‘up Awo!, up Awo!’. It was exciting. When I think about it now, I did not realise it then that somehow I would be drawn to politics. You don’t realise the seed you pass to young people at an early age. Gradually, as you get older those things have to germinate. The Awolowo, the Onabanjo and the Ajasin are part of my family. When Mama Awolowo died, I was the chairman of one of the committees for the burial. When Awolowo died, my father was the chairman of the burial committee. I have a relationship with the remaining children of Papa. I am, friend of the grandchildren.
How do you relax?
I enjoy sitting down with my people in my home town or my staff to discuss whatever issue there is. I am happy when they are happy. I like to go to my hometown in Iboro. It is serene, full of trees and calm. I also like to read a good book; perhaps biographies of people that inspire me.
What book are you reading now?
The Citizen’s Book on Governance by Adekunle Osibogun
There is no process of change without some kinds of distabilisation to the polity, in the first place. It will certainly affect some people. People have been so used to certain norms over the years. Another governor was there and everybody just ‘chopped’. At the end of the day, nothing got done. It is difficult when somebody comes and he is just making changes and you are still trying to see where you can fit in. He is not talking to you the way the former ones did. He just wants to get things done
Aisha Buhari and the Aso Rock Clinic
When I read this piece where the First Lady – kai, the woman still fine sha - was complaining bitterly of the situation in Aso Rock Clinic, what came to my mind was her Husband’s coup speech when he took over government in 1983. In that earth-shaking speech, he had alluded to the fact that our hospitals had been turned into mere consulting clinics and immediately, I threw back the challenge to her doorstep. Mummy, what would you do about the situation and this time not just the Aso Clinic with their N3billion budget but to the whole consulting clinics that litter our nation? The challenge is now on you to use your huge moral capital to independently galvanise resources and support towards enriching our hospitals for the betterment of our people. So you see a clinic with that kind of budget directly under your nose not having the basics, then come to Shomolu and see what our hospitals look like. Mummy, I tell you the level at which people are resorting to herbs and quacks for medical solution, you will not believe. So, your Excellency, no be to call press conference alone, what are you going to do about it? That is the question I am respectfully throwing at you. Let me suggest something, why not put a privately structured endowment fund, that would leverage on your popularity and raise private funds with the sole aim of sup- porting at least six tertiary hospitals across the nation while also building another six well-funded and well-run ones? That way, you would not need to go to any hospital run 100 per cent by foreigners to get your paracetamol. Let’s see some action from your side just this once and you would have written your name in the book of history. Oya mummy, let’s do this, ball is now in your court. God bless you. Rotimi Amaechi – Are You Sure You Said This?
Dear Honourable, I was just thinking the other day that you have been kinda quiet and this is very unlike you. I am sure maybe you have been on vacation. But anyway, I am just reading a report that quoted you as saying that only Odili can abuse your mother and wife and go scot-free. Well, I really do not believe you made this statement because nothing can be further from the truth and I am ready to prove you wrong. I know so many Nigerians that can carry out this national assignment and not only go scot-free but you will also send them bottles of champagne thanking them for the honour. In fact, I know 10. Should I start naming than? Ok, let me name a few, our President Buhari is one. In fact, you will even give him their full names so he doesn’t make a mistake when he is pronouncing the names. Another person is Ibrahim Magu. Make I continue? Make I stop abeg because I no believe that statement for all I know it could be fake news or that you were misquoted. You remain a great guy, I personally have missed hearing from you. What is the plan o. Let me know o. You know Wike has started warming up. How are we moving so that I start getting ready for action? Gov. Udom, Super Eagles and The World Cup
My Governor, yes o he is my Governor. A lot of people think that because I am the Duke of Shomolu that I am from that place. I am a true-blooded Ibibio man from Nsit Ubiom In Akwa Ibom. I am a child of immigrants who came to Lagos in search of the golden fleece and settled in Shomolu, intermarried and today have produced a host of descendants with dual heritage. But that is story for another day. Well, Obong Udom had in the recent past promised our gallant boys the tidy sum of $10,000 for each goal scored hoping that the game would end in a goalless draw. But these boys decided to take up the challenge and I think scored about four goals which made my lord rush to the State House of Assembly to seek a budget readjustment to enable him meet this pledge. Well, this time around, we waited for a pledge. But it was total silence we got from the State House. So I placed a call to my Governor. Immediately, he picked the call, I said, “Ete, are we not pledging anything on this match? My humble suggestion: Let’s pledge like $100 for each goal so that even if they score 100 goals, we would not need to deplete the state budget and start looking for Dangote and the Paris Club to assist us.” My lord smiled and said I should not worry that he had everything under control and that Saraki was coming, that he would push that one to make the pledge guaranteed by the state Government. So my people, you see why we saw only one goal since the Akwa Ibom State treasury was firmly locked against the super Eagles, since we are still recovering from the last one. Anyway, we thank God o, those boys showed us the true essence of our being as a nation. They played in one accord not minding which political party or which region of the country the other player came from and in so doing, united us as a nation in this victory. Obong Udom I think we should do something mbok, nothing is too small for these boys have done well. Thank you my lord as you consider this plea. Jumoke Odunye: A Shout-Out
I know say you will be shocked when you see your name on this page. Shebi I told you that it is me that write this column that you love so much and you said it is not my Joseph Edgar; that it is another Joseph Edgar. It is me abeg. How many joseph Edgars are in this country sef that went to school and have a title given to them by the good people of Shomolu? The only other one wey try small na Police Commissioner, even that one no fine like me. If you still doubt, then there is nothing I can do. How are you though? Please send the cup cakes now that I have proven that it is me.