Former Governor Ambode’s Main Man, Prof Abass Goes Down Low
There is something to be said for tree branches: they support the display, parade and colourful campaign of their fruits without drawing too much attention to themselves. More interestingly, the nourishing sap streams from the roots until it coalesces in the fruits – or so is the conventional narrative. If ever Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was thought of as the sturdy tree branch of his administration, Professor Ademola Abbas probably holds the spot for the fruit, and vice versa.
A man with networks reaching to the stars, Professor Ademola Abass was perhaps the warmest bedrock for the man whose governance in Lagos State is still reviewed in many quarters with bafflement and wonder, Akinwunmi Ambode. However, to infer that his Prof. Abass’ identity gained flesh with his association with Ambode is to colour things a bit.
For starters, Prof. Abass is a towering academic of prestigious descent. He was educated at the universities of Lagos, Nottingham and Cambridge where he obtained a PhD in International Law, previously taught law in various British universities and was Professor of International Law and Organisation. This was long before he was appointed Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor of Lagos State on Overseas Affairs and Investment. (Association does have its perks, after all).
Long before the SA appointment, though, Prof. Ademola Abass was the Head of Peace and Security Programme where he worked for the United Nations in Belgium, as well as African Union’s first Expert on Regional Mechanisms. The man has borne the title of Consultant to numerous transnational organisations (among which are ECOWAS and the European Union), played advisor to nations, multinational corporations and Non-Governmental organisations. For all intents and purposes, he was a man of Law, Peace and Security.
After his friends’ climb to power, however, Fortune blinded Prof. Abass with her smile, polishing his coffers with her minty breath and adapting/adopting the lifestyle of a peacock. Take his 50th birthday celebration at the Sky Lounge of the Eko Hotel into consideration: he had such dignitaries as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof Pat Utomi; the German Consul-General in Lagos, Mr. Ingo Herbert; and the ViceChancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, among other prominent Nigerians.
Curiously, after his friend’s untimely exit from power, Prof. Abass has disappeared from all view, academic, social or political. Much the same way as Ambode has faded from view, sunshine no longer touches the footfalls of Prof. Abass. Quite a shame and pity that branches and fruits do not flourish or wither apart.