Resolving Kashamu

THE excitement about PDP’s resurgence is understandable. APC, initially seen as the ideal beacon of the nation’s democracy, is now almost solely responsible for the nostalgia for PDP whose memory should ordinarily trigger a retching feeling. The unwanted of two years ago, are now the projected government-in-waiting. Strange things surely do happen. There are certain elements in the resurrected opposition who are averse to truth. Governor Ayo Fayose, the newest star of the party in the South-West, needs to understand that there are okunrin meta (heavyweights) everywhere. In PDP’s fold, billionaire senator, Buruji Kashamu is one of such man of men. He may lack all finesse and his ways, politics and business may not be pure, but his fighting spirit is commendable. Backing the undesirable Ali Modu Sheriff, he almost torpedoed other heavyweights before the Supreme Court rescued what was left of the party’s soul. With his investment in the party, particularly, the South-West, he deserves no disdain in the on-going reconciliation efforts. Who wants to be in limbo anyways? Who is also morally-qualified, among his traducers, to stone him for his past misdeeds during the leadership crisis. PDP will survive if Kashamu is thrown out, but having him within, will be a value added. Wadata should realise that without a strong showing in Anambra in November and outright win in Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial next year, all the fanfare of resurrection will be mere directionless balloons, filled with hot air. Kashamu isn’t my type but the realities of having him as a “within within” member, make it compelling for Wadata to side-step the one-sided reconciliation in the South-West and pointedly ask him “man, what is gwan?”. He also needs to stop being voluble. He is currently exhibiting worse symptom of verbal diarrhea than his punching-bag former ally.
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Ambodeism (II)

YES, the governor can be very firm.  When he is focusing on result, he puts his foot firmly on the ground. Yet, he is warm, loving, kind and considerate. He looks down on no one. He says: “If our practices do not favour the masses, we must find courage to voice them and abandon such practices.” He is humble enough to say, despite his numerous achievements, people owe him nothing, as he only serves them by the privilege they have conferred through the ballots, and will never take them for granted.

Indeed Ambode is among the few leaders past or present, who command loyalty, obedience, love and respect of his cabinet and other arms of government. He is a fantastic role model, providing direction and inspiration, always pushing you to realize a potential you did not think you have and celebrating your fantastic success in the end. To Ambode, every man has a hidden gift to annex and exploit to benefit individual and society. He challenges you for more, and you are surprised that you can transmit all of his noble values to others in your workplace, and achieve so much more than you think possible to the benefit of the society at large.

Over time, since the beginning of the Ambode’s administration, landmark results have been recorded, this is clear evidence that there is something right with the Ambodeism. Of recent, my Ministry won 7 out of 8 awards for the State, in respect of 2016 Hajj pilgrimage, this unprecedented record in Nigeria, occurred during Ambode’s Administration, a Christian. I pray to Allah to achieve much more in this year pilgrimage, hoping on greater inspiration from Ambodeism.

Strive constantly for the good purposes, and Allah will join in your effort. Your success is not measured by the amount of wealth you have, but by what you have bequeathed in advancement of humanity. That is your legacy. Amodeism is a Legacy that will endure.

• Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef is Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs.
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Owasanoye’s tough luck (II)

IF Nta, an early-life botanist and later-life political scientist and lawyer could decide for due process and less adulation when the route to cheaper public salutation waited gaping, Owasanoye will be dashing out his glittering records in International Economic Law; Human Development and Social Justice Activism, to the pigs, by trying to be mob-compliant, doing the policeman’s shameless “naming and shaming” without investigation and prosecution as demanded by acceptable global standard.

Owasanoye is too decorated as a legal luminary, despite his 54 years of age, to impress in illegal ways. As a recipient of the prestigious Taslim Elias Distinguished Professor of Law, he has a burden of handling with maturity, the expected hysterical turn-around which at the initial stage, is mainly going to be media accentuation of his immediate predecessor’s packaged cherry.

Despite his 15 years at the apex legal academic institution in Nigeria, The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) as Research Director, the new chair will end up “shining” in controversy and illegality, if PACAC doctrine, would be his main manual for cracking corruption bones in ICPC. He had constant interaction with the commission as PACAC “engine room” before now. He should know the commission’s wiring, was deliberately insulated from EFCC’s kind of destructive sparks.

The three substantive chairmen and equally number of acting chairmen before him, can’t all be “docile” in approach, if not by institutional design. Imagine a fiery jurist like Mustapha Akanbi running a quiet five-year mandate. He also firmly turned down a renewal.

While the expected media “shaking” by his handlers, is likely to ramp up early high rating for the professor, his biggest battle will be the carry-over of the war stoked at PACAC against Malami. I’m certain he won’t drop his alliance with other anti-Malami’s professors at his last duty-post. So, expect a maelstrom. Owasanoye is now constitutionally under the unwanted AGF and unlike when he owed the minister no ordinary courtesies as a Buhari surrogate, he must now be answerable to Malami, or be ready for Magu’s kind of meltdown with the AGF and trending accusation of insubordination.

Men of plenty “boko” like Owasanoye get into subconscious disdain for superiors with perceived inferior knowledge. Without doubt, there is a world of difference between a professor of Law and a SAN of just nine years. But by divine providence, the lesser-read is boss to too-much knowledge. Yoruba will say, boti wu Oluwa lo nse Ola (God in Unquestionable). Instead of starting his first day in office, with media scoop on Paris refund probe which he didn’t conduct, he should literally preen the hung portraits on the walls and take a deep breath.