Reminiscences with Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi
the meeting, just got up and prostrated, begging everybody to forgive him.
When we were preparing our petition, some of our members had nominated me to run as replacement for Odeku. But I said no and suggested that Alhaji Rauf Williams, now late, should rather run. ‘Raw Raw,’ as Alhaji Williams was called, was six years older than me and was willing to run. When we conceded to the elders’ request, I told Raw that the council’s life remained only six or seven months and he would have the opportunity to be councillor.
The councillorship position was rotated among the different areas in Lagos Island. The Balogun area had produced a councillor, Olowogbowo, too, had produced, but Oke Arin, where I lived, had never produced a councillor. So when Odeku’s term expired, some elderly people in our area insisted, “It is our time, and you, Taju, will be going there to represent us.’’ I told them I had already given Williams my words.
The election was by electoral college. Initially, I manoeuvred my way out of the election by not going out to campaign. After voting, Alhaji Williams scored eight votes. My Oke Arin people voted for me and I scored four votes, making it 8/4. Some hours after, I saw the elders of Oke Arin coming. They accused me of not going out to campaign and that I had allowed Balogun area to defeat us. They were furious. I told them, “Ok, you want me to be a councillor, and by the grace of God, the day Williams would be sworn in, I would also be a councillor.’’ They asked how I would be able to do that when I had endorsed Williams, and I replied that they should not worry.
The following morning, I went to the home of the late Baba Raji Gbajumo, the chairman of the Action Group in the area, to tell him that I wanted to be a councillor. He took me to the late Chief Aminu Kosoko, who was a prominent Lagos traditional chief and supporter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, well respected and feared by people. Baba Gbajumo told Chief Kosoko, “Baba, your son, Taju Olusi, wants to contest election as councillor.’’ Chief Kosoko simply replied, “Taju, you want to contest to be a councillor. You are a prince, but if you want it, you have my 100 per cent support.’’ He approved it. Later, he and some other leaders called an electoral ward meeting and everybody unanimously endorsed my candidature.
However, my guardian, my brother, who brought me up, didn’t want me to be a councilor. He didn’t want me to go into politics at all. They called a family meeting on me and said I wanted to soil the name of our father and family. They asked whether I didn’t see how politicians were destroying one another. But I told them I had been attending meetings for a long time and they didn’t ask me to withdraw. They arranged another meeting and called family elders; many of them were above 70 years.
They were not pleased and I looked like a stubborn boy. But I maintained my stand. That was how I came into the arena of politics.
How would you distinguish between the nature of politics in your days from what is obtained now?
In our days, the younger people were more active and would argue and pursue issues that would be of benefit to the people. We would go to
Chief Awolowo with our petitions and argue in respect of party activities and decisions. We were not induced or given positions. My generation went into politics with the simple conviction of improving the welfare of the people and fighting for the rights of the common man.
Today, many people blame politicians for the ills of this country. While I have sympathy for those people, I want them to know that the generalisation is misplaced. The problem of our country today should be shared by all of us. Most of the politicians during the colonial period were not induced with positions.
We also talk about the police as corrupt, but policemen are not angels. If you say they are corrupt, the mosques and churches that minister into our religious activities should ask themselves whether something is definitely not wrong about their own functions and activities. It means our ministering activities are not being properly performed.
In the banks, there is unimaginable corruption. This is what you see in all aspects of our life. The point I am making is that we should sit down and look at what is wrong and what we can do to put things right instead of apportioning blames.
Until the military came, the percentage of corruption was very low. One of the ills in the society that the army claimed to have arrived to correct was corruption. But after they left, corruption grew to unimaginable proportions. During the military rule, contracts were awarded and unaccounted for. A large number of roads were paid for but uncompleted. Accounts were not properly kept. Where I am leading that to is that many friends of the military officers that served in government became contractors, big business people. And when the soldiers were exiting, those friends simply keyed in to take over the running of government. They simply moved from the arena of business to the arena of governance. Therefore, the arena of politics was flooded by business people, people who wanted and still want to make money at all costs. That is the cause of the present problem of our country.
Politics and governance should be left for those who are truly concerned about the rights and welfare of the people, not those who want to make money. The orientation of the business people is to make money. We need to re-educate ourselves and make sure that our children are put on the proper road.
I heard in the news that some people wanted to start a new political party. Is it really a new party that we need or a re-reorientation of the people? With the political parties we have now, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the All Progressives Congress (APC), it is fight to finish. It is because of the orientation we have. Nigerians believe that once you are a councillor, governor or lawmaker in the national or state assemblies, you are in paradise. People are not willing to make sacrifices. These days, it is about what material things politicians want. That is why you see state governors leaving one party for another inexcusably.
You will be 84 years old in October. Would you say you have any regret?
As a human being, you sometimes have regrets in respect of this or that. Human regrets are mostly on desires and ambitions. But I thank my God for giving me an in-built control. I have been able to control ambitions. I have been able to believe that the welfare of the people overrides my personal ambition. I have also been able to control my worldly desires or love to acquire wealth. Sometimes, I think of why I shouldn’t have been in wealth like Dangote? But the truth is that I don’t have the capacity to work for wealth like Dangote, so I must be contented with what I have.
I love a peaceful environment. I just want people to be happy. I have held top unelective positions in political parties. I have been made chairman of many reconciliation committees because they know I am happy doing that job.
In management, there is what we call aptitude - you have to look at the aptitude of every person. Somebody is looking for money and you ask him to go and settle a quarrel, especially a political problem; of course, he won’t settle the quarrel properly because he will collect money.
Until the military came, the percentage of corruption was very low. One of the ills in the society that the army claimed to have arrived to correct was corruption. But after they left, corruption grew to unimaginable proportions. During the military rule, contracts were awarded and unaccounted for.
The news that our military has just reintegrated 601 ex-Boko Haram terrorists into the society is quite a disturbing one. How are we sure that we are not causing more havoc than good? These so-called ex-terrorists, have they really repented from their acts or are they camouflaging to gain reintegration, have more access to the society and cause worst harm. Dear leaders, it is not enough to sew white clothes for and give them green caps with white socks and brown sandals. The government should ensure they monitor their activities and have a backup plan in case of any eventuality.