A former member of the House of Representatives Dr. Wale Okediran, has described the late Attorney General of the Federation and former governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige as a respected mentor who never behaved like a godfather.
The medical doctor-cum politician and author said on Tuesday, this while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola.
Okediran further said the late for her minister’s style of political leadership is worth emulating, adding: “Bola Ige was a mentor and he never behaved or conducted or portrayed himself as a godfather.
“He was my mentor and he was well respected by me. He was the one that persuaded me and the likes of Professor Sola Adeyeye to join politics.
“He was a respected politician and once he has groomed you, he would not harass or torment his mentees to bring him proceeds or threaten them with ‘second-term’. He was a leader of leaders.”
Okediran, who has written over 14 novels, also told the story of how the former leader of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) got him to become a politician.
“I met Chief Bola Ige at his home during one of the meetings of our Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He was one of us because he had books he wrote and published.
“One day, he interviewed me to know more about me and I told him that I am a medical practitioner. He was thrilled. He then declared there and then that he was appointing me as his personal physician. I accepted and, along the line, I started to follow him to political meetings and campaigns.
“Their meetings used to amuse me and I used to laugh. He noticed and asked me what I felt about joining politics. He then encouraged me saying we professionals should not keep away from partisan politics. I will say it here that I have also been encouraging fellow professionals to join too.”
Okediran also disclosed that the living politician in the country that he has respect for is the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum.
“I respect Professor Zulum for his forthrightness. He has improved the educational, health and economic sectors of his state despite the prevailing security situation there,” he said.
Okediran said lawmakers at the national level are always under pressure from the people at their constituencies, as it relates to their expected roles, including checking the excesses of the executive arm of government.
“When they send representatives to Abuja, the message they pass across to them is that they should not go there to be speaking ‘English’. They impress it on them that they want to be taken care of. Stomach infrastructure is more important to them.
“When you go home for any event and you are not able to provide for the needs of the people of your constituency, you are seen as an unserious fellow,” he added.
Okediran who presently lives in Accra, Ghana because of his present assignment as the Secretary General of Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA), said the political situation in Nigeria and Ghana are not quite different.
He revealed that the political scene in Ghana is equally not free of thuggery, ethnic politics, corruption, maladministration stating that Ghana is a little bit better in terms of security arrangement and constant electricity supply.
Speaking on the calls for restructuring of the country, the sports enthusiast said: “State police should be put in place because the federal police cannot do much.
“Secondly, revenue generated from each region should be used to develop the different regions just as Chief Obafemi Awolowo did during his days as the Premier of the then Western Region.”
Oyediran however charged Nigerian politicians to be considerate and humane and urged the electorate be less demanding and not put undue pressure on their elected representatives so that they will stop resorting to treasury looting to satisfy the needs of their constituents.
