AFE BABALOLA: A TIMELY AFFIRMATION
The last time I wrote about Baba, I found myself in his office in Ekiti prostrating and being asked to cut my hair and remove my earrings. I received the bollocking of my career and I took it all with humility because it was a huge privilege to be abused and heckled by an iconic figure like Afe Babalola. I come dey use am as a badge of honour because everywhere I went after that time I will be telling people – Baba Afe yab me ooo with pride, kai.
Today, however, I want to be on the same side of the street with the massive legal luminary. During the inauguration of a hospital recently in Ekiti, he was quoted to say that the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji was the very best to govern the state and wondered why he didn’t come earlier.
In the reported speech, Baba was said to have lampooned all the others that came before him. I agree with Baba to a large extent on the other past yeo men except for my big brother Kayode Fayemi who in good conscience cannot be lumped with the other “gringos” that Ekiti has had the misfortune of being saddled with as governors.
Mr. Oyebanji, I must tell you, is in a class of his own, I swear. See, I have interacted with many state governors both past and present and you guys must agree that I can talk on the matter. My close interaction with Mr. Oyebanji threw up a huge respect for the man, I swear. A thorough Ekiti man who did “everything” in Ekiti. Schooling, marriage, career and all put him in a very strong position to better understand the challenges and how to push for their solutions.
His humility not blinding him to the need to pull very strong human resources around him. I have heard stories of how my brother, Niran, was recruited by a consulting firm to run their internal revenue service. Niran used to tell me how “he did not know anybody” and how he was not a politician but was recruited strictly by merit and how when he started performing, Mr. Oyebanji would work into his office and say thank you to him.
In tourism, healthcare, infrastructure and the rest, the man is trying, doing things with his N6 billion monthly FAAC allocation that my other afang eating and happy hour punching brother and oga with his N26 billion monthly FAAC cannot do.
Aghhhh!!! I agree with Baba Afe on this one o, especially as you guys know that Baba at his age is not one for frivolity. I totally agree and do send my very strong commendations to Mr. Oyebanji. Thank you.