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Understanding Ogunlewe
Rogers Edor OCHela
Politics
the world over, is a very serious business - an interesting and engaging
vocation. Misfits, political misfits, can only dabble into it to their own
detriment. It is not a vocation for moral Lillupitians either. In saner climes,
it is a call to (patriotic) duty. But back home in Nigeria, the reverse is the
case. Here people take a plunge into politics to satisfy their inordinate
cravings for all manner of despicable acquisitive propensities. Bereft of any
scruples, service to humanity is the least of their preoccupation. So in this
benighted polity, ageros, 419 kingpins, failed businessmen and other charlatans
hold sway as politicians and leaders. And the resultant consequence of this
unwholesome scenario is that successive government has been worse, less
patriotic and more inept than its predecessor. And each successive political
class has been more inept than its predecessor. Little wonder, the nation has
been engaged in ‘forbacky’ dance (dancing forward and backward and ending at the
exact spot where it started) 44 years after independence.
But in the midst of this sordid tale,
there are few Nigerians that have refused to be manacled by political
opportunism. They are oasis in the vast Nigerian landscape. Otunba Senator
Adeseye Ogunlewe, the incumbent Works Minister is one such politician. Born on
6th December 1945 at Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Lagos State, he had his primary
education at St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Idumagbo, Lagos. He followed it up
with secondary education at Oriwu College, Lagos. Those that attended the same
schools with him then paid glowing tributes to him testifying to his leadership
qualities during those formative years of his life.
He attended University of Ibadan and
graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in geography in 1971. He
later studied Law at UNILAG and graduated with honours in 1977. He was called to
the Bar in 1980. Ogunlewe who is also a prince with the traditional title of
Fuwagboye of Ikorodu is an essentially self-made man. He began his public
service career in 1965 as a Tax assessment clerk at Federal Board of Internal
Revenue. As a taxman, he exhibited an unparalleled degree of honesty and
transparency. At those early years, cut adrift as it were on the rough seas of
life, he knew he had only one way to go - up and away from the skull drudgery of
life. He grabbed his own paddle and with uncommon determination took his canoe
from, in a manner of speaking Ajegunle all the way to Ikoyi. He later became
Administrative Officer Grade (viii), office of the secretary to the Lagos State
government.
In 1981, he was catapulted to the exalted
position of General Manager, Lagos State works corporation where his leadership
qualities was brought to bear on the activities of the corporation. It was his
monumental achievements at the corporation that earned the then governor of
Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande the sobriquet "Action governor" and set him
apart from his colleagues as a performer extraordinaire.
Ogunlewe attained the pinnacle of his
civil service career in 1986 when he was appointed Permanent Secretary. While
his colleagues threw principles overboard for selfish reasons, his remained
intact and secured as a jewelry box kept in a chub safe and out of the reach of
manipulators. After retiring from civil service, and grounded us a technocrat,
he took a plunge into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. A two-time Senator
(1993 under UNCP and 1999 - 2003 under AD), he was adjudged the third best
Senator in the Senate tenure of 1999 - 2003. While in the Senate, his
contributions were punchy, lively and incisive. Apparently concerned about the
enormity of the problems that stared the nation in the face, he had to use his
personal fund to hire consultants to help research into issues that he was
deeply passionate about. Not only that, he used Senate recess period to tour
various parts of the country to acquaint himself with the urgent needs of the
citizenry.
On July 17, 2003 he was sworn in as
minister of works. He took the driver’s seat in the ministry courageously,
fastened his seat belt to withstand the bumps and shocks ahead. With FERMA as a
handmaiden or compass to guide him, he set to work with gusto. He fashioned out
"Operation 500 Roads" which has two major components of direct labour with the
ministry’s engineers, technicians etc using the available facilities to patch
pot holes, vegetation control, clearing of drainages etc. The second plank is
through contract/retainership.
Also to assist him is "Road Vision 2000,"
a document which is a product of his extensive consultations with experts and
stakeholders recommended the involvement of stakeholders in the funding of road
development and maintenance. It also recommended the concept of public private
partnership in development and management. This has already been concretised in
the ministry’s policy of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) after the operators
might have recouped their investment. With just one year in office, evidences of
democracy dividends (read good & motorable roads) are beginning to manifest when
many of his ministerial colleagues are still appreciating the comfort and
realities of their cozy offices.
His style of administration that hinges on
a high display of humility and disposition to accessibility was brought to the
fore when he caused his personal telephone numbers with that of his minister of
state, permanent secretary, directors, federal controllers of works in all
States and other Principal personnel of the ministry all over the country to be
published so that members of the public can access them with complaints, views,
queries and suggestions for making our roads better.
Ogunlewe has by his string of successes
broken several records in the history of F.M.W. Providence has been rather
generous to him. What makes his case unqiue is that in a nation where people
plot their ways to position of leadership with the basest of desperation and
using the most violent or diabolical of means, Ogunlewe attained his through
exemplary leadership qualities. Just by being at the right position at the
opportune moments, Ogunlewe has come to approximate the fate and fortunes of the
hoi polloi. More than any other Nigerian in history. That perhaps accounts for
why his supporters and critics alike now weave all kinds of myth around him
perpetuating the view that he is "as straight as a pole", morally, that is.
He has taken leadership to a high level of
politics of performance. He has demonstrated within the short time that he is
not only a visionary, but also a goal-getter who sees possibilities where others
see difficulties. With all his actions, he has demonstrated that it is still
possible to be in position of leadership without being besmirched by the murk
and dirt symptomatic of Nigerian politics. Without mincing words, Ogunlewe has
internalized Pa Awo’s work ethics. In the immortal words of the late Sage: "I
have never regarded myself as having the monopoly of wisdom. The trouble is that
when most people in public life and in the position of leadership are spending
whole days and nights carousing in clubs in the company of women of easy virtue,
I like a few others are always at my post working hard at the country’s problems
and trying to find solutions to them. Only the deep can call to the deep".
Truly, only a man of deep patriotic
inspiration like Ogunlewe whose leadership as a distinguished reformer is
sufficiently powerful to turn around the fortunes of our hitherto dilapidated
roads network. He is quintessential reformer whose vision and foresight can
hardly be equalled. He symbolizes, perhaps, the very best of success in an epoch
where everything including service is up for sale to the highest bidder. A man
who is self-reliant, positive, optimistic and undertakes his work with the
assurance of success has drawn to himself the creative powers of the universe.
Undoubtedly, Ogunlewe is a reflection of that statement. He is one Nigerian who
has never appeared to want to be anyone else, anything else but Ogunlewe, an
undisputed humanist.
He exemplifies the Ghandian exhortation;
to live so that others may simply live. To be in his presence or to follow the
trajectory of his public career and private conduct, is to become aware that
here is a man who judges people to paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr., not by the
tongue they speak but by the content of their characters. He is indeed an
engaging personality, a stimulating intellectual in the finest tradition,
whether in profundity and originality of thought or in verbal mannerisms or in
social conduct. According to Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, a press officer in the
ministry; "His passion for work is overwhelming. His humility as a person is
incomparable". Paying attention to road maintenance has not diminished his close
interaction with his constituency in Lagos State. His tight and punishing
schedule has not distracted him from his old habit of philanthropic and
community based support services.
Infact, few have been so steadfast in
pursuit of a common cause. Few have professed as much social commitment to the
burning issues of our time. He stands poles above his contemporaries in his
vision of a modern Nigeria. Many have tried to copy his charisma with little
success. Infact, writing about Ogunlewe bestows an air of satisfaction because
he represents a class of Nigerians who combine intellectual prowess with
organisational ability and political astuteness. No study of Nigerian history
would distort his role - that he is a man of fearless disposition, a strong
believer in the workability of the Nigerian project.
His indefatigable Chief Press Secretary,
Lawrence Ojabo, captures his essence thus: "Senator Adeseye has come to the
ministry with very grand ideas and vision for turning around the ministry in
accordance with the finest and best traditions and philosophies of the
democratic government. He has shown himself versed and knowledgeable on the
applicable legislation, ethos, and principles for running an efficient,
responsive, accountable and result-oriented government and is determined to
uphold, re-invent and apply them in the ministry. He has also shown that he has
the correct mix of tact, patience, maturity and firmness to weather the storms
of opposition that are sure to ensue as the implementation of his policies and
programmes upset established interest and privileges."
•Ochela wrote from Zuba, Abuja.
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