Why Soyinka/Gbadamosi leadership remains the best according to concerned indigenes
By Job Osazuwa
MAY 17 next year is not just an ordinary day in the history of Lagos State. On that day, the centre of excellence will be 50 years old.
The golden jubilee is indisputably worthy of celebration, therefore, the state government is already warming up to roll out the drums to commemorate the landmark journey. Apart from popping champagne and clinking glasses, wide consultations are in progress to explore the full benefits of the country’s commercial nerve centre. Many see the event as a golden opportunity to open up, strengthen and cement diverse economic relationships with other states and indeed the world at large.
To make the event remarkable, the governor , Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has appointed a planning committee to be co-chaired by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi. The committee is to hit the ground running towards ensuring that the event is colourful and glamorous and this is quite a Herculean task.
However, Soyinka and Gbadamosi’s leadership of the committee is generating some ripples among some elites in the state. These people have some reservations about the two who are saddled with the responsibility of hosting a successful celebration. They’re wondering that instead of Soyinka, the organizers could have looked more inwards and picked a statesman who “will flow with the people”.
At the forefront of those opposed to the Soyinka / Gbadamosi leadership is Eko Foundation, but some other indigenes of the state have challenged them, saying some members of the foundation were only screaming in order to be included in the scheme of things for the anniversary celebration.
Those opposed to the leadership of the duo say Soyinka is not a Lagos indigene, while they also reasoned that Gbadamosi is not fit for the role.
A renowned son of the soil and octogenarian who prefers anonymity expressed confidence in both Soyinka and Gbadamosi as well as the other 10 members of the planning committee saying they have contributed in no small measure in uplifting the state and the country at large.
An email made available to Daily Sun purportedly sent by one Kunle Ughan to Gbadamosi for signature and thereafter for onward transmission to the governor of the state and dated February 17, 2016 titled “Re: Appointment as co-chairman, committee for the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of Lagos State, inability to serve in that capacity” reads “I hereby express my most sincere gratitude and appreciation to your Excellency for appointing me co-chairman of the above committee, which has the distinguished Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka as its chairman and also consists of prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various capacities.
“I wish to inform you that I decline this appointment on personal grounds. However, please note that I would be willing to interface with your Excellency and all the distinguished members of the committee, whenever I am required to do so. It is my prayer that your Excellency will continue to excel in the administration of Lagos.”
The Concerned Natives of Lagos told Daily Sun that for this individual to have gone to the extent of writing the letter, when Gbadamosi had not asked him to do so, calls for investigation. They went further to accuse those behind the letter of some ulterior and selfish motives to be part of the committee.
According to the Concerned Natives of Lagos “The committee nominated by Governor Ambode and co-chaired by Soyinka and Gbadamosi couldn’t have been better chosen, but the main disgruntled party has been Eko Foundation. The concerned natives refuse totally to allow such foundation to be any part of golden jubilee anniversary committee.”
They expressed dissatisfaction over some ‘unfortunate rude’ remarks made against Gbadamosi describing them as unreasonable and unethical comments coming from the foundation’s top echelon.
They condemned the remarks, which read: “It is important to emphasize that the appointment of Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi, an ordinary popular choice, is deceitful and made in utmost bad faith , because he is at present indisposed and unfit to carry out an assignment of that magnitude and it’s true that the governor of Lagos has been briefed about this.”
Spokesperson for the concerned natives, said when the foundation failed to provoke Gbadamosi, the said Kunle was designated to do the hatchet job to talk the chief to voluntarily quit the job.
“He had the effrontery to put it in writing and sent it by electronic mail on February 17. The lack of response to the suggestive letter resulted in various remarks by the foundation and other Lagos indigenes. He wrote the letter to Gbadamosi and wanted him to sign it and send it to the governor. Gbadamosi was not stupid to sign such a letter that he didn’t write.”
He called on governor Ambode to investigate and punish those behind the purported letter, describing the writer as desperate and selfish.
According to representatives of the concerned indigenes, Gbadamosi should be celebrated because he was among the first set of natives of Lagos that worked with Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, the first military governor of Lagos State “whose economic blueprint is second to none.”
“Gbadamosi is of a sound mind and he is mentally alert and not senile. His brain is what Lagos needs and the background of his exceptional achievements when others were dosing. Today, he is an accomplished entrepreneur that provides employment to tens of thousands of Lagosians. Gbadamosi did not only serve Lagos State meritoriously, but also the Federal Government where he rose to become a minister under both Military and civilian governments,” the group said.
They also said the choice of Soyinka was the best that can happen to the golden jubilee anniversary committee, lauding him as a citizen of the world who prides himself in humility. They pointed out that his inclusion in the committee would not only facilitate worldwide acceptance but attract universal voluntary involvement.
They opined that those opposed to Soyinka-Gbadamosi’s appointment must be scared of their known zero tolerance for corruption.
“Gbadamosi has always been a force to be reckoned with concerning Eyo Festival , which is the most celebrated festival in Lagos. Though a devout Muslim, Gbadamosi spends millions of naira to ensure that core festivals and other ceremonies of the natives are steadily on course,” the group stated.
Similarly, Olatunji Dare, in his column published in The Nation of March 15, 2016, describes Soyinka as famed culture icon, who has been a key contributor to Lagos and a standing consultant to the Lagos Festival, celebrated around Easter annually.
He wrote: “With all due respect, the Eko Foundation does neither themselves nor Lagos any good by their shocking xenophobia against a rare toast of global culture and first African Nobel Laureate for Literature.”
In the same vein, The Punch’s editorial of Friday March 14, 2016, page19 reads in part: “Eko Foundation’s misguided position negates the “accommodating renown” that it touts and we are persuaded that they do not reflect the sentiments of the majority of Lagos indigenes.
Eko Foundation should return to the drawing board; the world is leaving it behind. Ifueko Omogui- Okauru, whose appointment to the state’s job-creation initiative it had also unwisely opposed, has just been appointed by Kaduna State to drive its internal revenue generating reforms. Ben Akabueze, another non-indigene, was part of the team that created a revenue and budget process in Lagos that is second to none in Nigeria.
“But ignoring the uniqueness of Lagos in the 21st century, as Eko Foundation has done, can only be explained away as ignorant, selfish or mischievous.
“It is time for Eko Foundation to cast off its parochialism. Its leaders should explore more mature and intelligent ways to advance the interests of the indigenes of Lagos.
The concerned indigenes urged all true Lagosians and others who love the state to team up to ensure its golden jubilee becomes the talk of the century and to make Lagos not only the centre of excellence, but the only melting pot for diverse cultures.
The Nation’s editorial of March 11, page 17, describes Eko Foundation’s stance as shameful.
“It’s ridiculous that Eko Foundation wanted Soyinka to have a “family house or compound in Lagos ” as pre-condition for his appointment. How many indigenes have their own houses in Lagos? The reference to Ogun State’s 40th anniversary as a sort of model for Lagos is puerile. It shows that the Eko Foundation lives in Lagos but is out of touch with the stature of Lagos.”