Jimoh Wahab Olumuyiwa is the lawmaker representing Apapa II at the Lagos State House of Assembly. He speaks with Segun Kasali about his life, background and politics.
How was growing up for you? Were you brillant?
Childhood was interesting. I am a frank person. I believe it is my classmates who can say if I was brilliant or not. But I know that I was not an average student. I don’t really think I played pranks. I could recall maybe telling our classmates then that one event was happening when it was not happening. It was just intended to make everyone of them laugh. So, in practical terms, I don’t belong to the category of those who played pranks. Growing up, we did not know we were going to get to where we are now. But, we were futuristic. Some of us were preoccupied with reading in those days. When you mention Obafemi Awolowo, we want to know his personality. If you mention Nnamdi Azikwe, we want to know those qualities that made him great. So, we started reading their autobiographies. From there, we discovered that every hero has made some sacrifices in one way or the other.
This must have shaped your childhood dream.
Yes. My dream was to become an academic, either in a research institute or be a teacher in a classroom. Even up till now, I still read. As you can see now that my staff have gone home, but I am still here to eat and do one hour reading because I know when I get home, my children who have not seen me since morning will not give me the opportunity to read, so that I can have more time to spend with them.
How did you meet your wife?
We were both at the University of Ibadan together. She was in the Sciences while I was in the Social Sciences. We regularly meet towards the library’s staircase. So, I said I should pick her amongst all those girls. I was thinking it was a joke until it became a reality. At that time, I was already getting to my final year while she was in her penultimate year.
She was very focused and I would see her all the time in the library. Anytime I met her around the hall, she would go gently and quietly. So I felt that is the kind of lady I would like to be the mother of my children.
Who among the children is taking after you?
Well, people say virtually all of them. But, I believe it is when they grow up that you know all these things. Like the female now, she walks the way I walk. So, I had to tell her to stop walking that way; that it is football that makes me walk that way (laughs). You would see Siasia’s younger brother calling me from Bayelsa. We grew up together, including (Henry) Nwosu, (Taye) Taiwo, Emmanuel Amuneke, among others. In fact, we had seven or eight persons in my community who played for the national team. I played good football too. I played for University of Ibadan and also my secondary school. While growing up then, we were being inspired by people like Nwosu. You would naturally want to become a footballer. You would feel that some are more qualified than you.
One would have imagined you would end up a footballer, what happened?
In a way. But it was natural for us to play football then because of the people we were looking up to and those around us. I chose Law but ended up in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Ibadan. I was coming from the Science background. It was in my admission year that they requested for Literature. Even if I had sat for Literature that year, it would not meet up with the admission. The cut-off was 251 and I scored 252 in the Faculty of Law that very year. So, it was the university that gave me Philosophy and Political Science.
Any regret not becoming a lawyer?
Not at all, I have no regret. Yes, I have registered for Law almost twice when I got here, but I discovered that I cannot combine it with being a lawmaker except I just want to be certificated.
Any football match still in your memory?
Oh, maybe between my school, TinCan Island and another school, when I did a pass from the middle and a team member was in the left wing. He just cut-off their central defender and from there, we scored. And that was the end of the match. It was a tough quarter final. That was the final in the principal’s cup of those days.
Footballers do have nicknames, what was yours?
So many (laughs). In the wisdom of some people, they named me after Professor Eskor Toyo, who is a Professor of Economics and a Marxist, whom I also admire. Some called me Kakamba; in Yoruba parlance, it means something that is big. When you call me by that name, I would know we grew up together. So, when people say Honourable, you are enjoying, based on my stature, I would say it is genetic. Physical stature does not determine affluence (laughs). In terms of biological formations, you take from your mother and also from your father. You may look like your father in character and thinking, but you may not look like him facially. You may look like your mother stature-wise, but in thinking and thoughts you may not. Biologically, it has been proven that the dominant donor will form how the child will look like. Genetically, my parents are big in stature. From how I interpret reality, I think I took that from my dad. My mum is very quiet and I am not the quiet type. I have to say that I am a proud Ijora-Badian.
That place must have been a theatre of experience then?
It is still the same Ijora-Badia. It is a proof to the world that good things can come out of Nazareth. People never believed Prophet Mohammed would come from where he did. But today, everyone wants to go to Mecca. Likewise this too, people doubt good things could come out of Nazareth and Jesus was a product of Nazareth. By and large, Badia is a community in central Lagos and we have been showcasing it to the world.
I recall when I was taken to school by my father and he told me that I would be going with my peers now because he could not continue doing that every day. He would leave his work to take me to school. So, I learnt that he was socialising me with others. I should not be separated from other students despite the fact that they were my senior
Have you experienced any near-death situation?
I don’t have such experience. But I have risked my life for so many other things. When I am fighting for a cause, I believe in the cause and in that process, I have zeroed my mind. It is not a death experience.
My philosophy about life is, do good even though some people will query God that you have not satisfied everybody. I am a core Marxist. I am a core Awoist. I believe that if you want to change your environment, you cannot leave governance for people. That does not mean you have to become a traditional politician.
Was that why you went into student unionism?
Yeah, I was in the student parliament. I was the deputy speaker of the student union in the University of Ibadan. The speakership could not come from the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall where I was but Bello and one other halls. So, Ola Adeosun was the speaker then.
I am still a political historian. I can sustain any argument in Political Science anywhere. I have some mentors like Professor Godwin Sogolo, Professor Olu Owolabi, Professor Adigun Agbaje, and many others. They have really inspired and influenced my thoughts. I enjoy listening to them articulating positions. I am not off the social space.
But my social life is dropping. I don’t club, but at my leisure, I only read or do some exercises. I dress causal. It is because I am here that I am official. How can only me be carrying agbada on my body for about 10 years now. I love simple wears.
Inspite of that, you must have a favourite musician
Bob Marley. His songs are revolutionary and I am also revolutionary. We fought for the actualization of June 12 as students and I belong to that category of pro-democracy students whose energy and sacrifices were behind pro-democracy and human rights activities in the country that gave birth to the democracy we are now experiencing. But the irony is that majority of those whom we fought together are not in government.
What is your understanding of life?
The human society I understand is far from el dorado. Life is a tough school and unfortunately, the examination comes first before the learning. So, the only advice and courage I can give to the upcoming generation is to think fundamentally. Otherwise, if you are addressing life from the general angle, you may not get it.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…
and then