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Fashola, Tinubu, Others Pay Tribute To Olawale Oshun At 60
• “The solution to our problems lies in genuine resolve to change things”, says Fashola

Mar 26, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday paid glowing tribute to the Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon. Olawale Oshun even as he admonished that the solution to the problems of the nation lies in the genuine resolve of Nigerians to change things.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the 60th birthday anniversary of the Afenifere Chieftain at the Banilux Events Place, Yaba, also advised the National Assembly that the quickest and most effective way to amend the Constitution is to effect changes in those provisions that emanated from military decrees and verdicts.

He urged the Legislators to also look at the those laws that have centralized and appropriated the powers of the states in areas like the regulation of hotels, collection of Value Added Tax (VAT), issuance of drivers’ licenses which, according to him, used to be done by Local Governments and the centralization of National Lottery with a view to amending them.

According to him, “Issues like Federal Character will not guarantee us unity; it will not guarantee us progress. It is a programme like the National Youths Service Corp (NYSC), inter-tribal marriages and such other things that make us human that can fully and continue to integrate our country”, he said pointing out that the damage to our Federalism is deep and intense.

The Governor said considering the role the British Colonialists played in the history of Nigeria, it is clear that the solution to the problem of Nigeria does not necessarily lie with any foreign input but a collective acceptance of the responsibility to change those things that are unacceptable.

Governor Fashola declared, “The liberation of Nigeria, the assurance of her continued survival, is a road that is worth going and there should be no short cut”, pointing out that the only way to achieve liberation and ensure the survival of the country is for Nigerians to take their collective destiny in their hands.

“I will like to ask, if we amend the Constitution, whether the amendments we are effecting are more Federal; whether the amendments will allow states to take the destinies of their Local Governments in their own hands; whether the amendments have gotten rid of the anti-Federal and military tendencies that have held back our country”, the Governor asked.

Governor Fashola poured encomiums on Hon. Olawale Oshun saying his experience and relationship with the former Chief Whip, Federal House of Representatives, revealed him as a “purposeful advocate of all that is good”. He added, “He is a very quiet but efficient servant of our party and his people”.

Describing the Afenifere Chieftain as selfless, the Governor declared, “Every time he calls or sends me a text message, that call or text message is always about others. It has never been about him. And when I say it is about others, I don’t mean others in the Mainland or Ebute-Metta. Sometimes, it is about people as far away as Jos or Haiti. It concerns every where there is pain and suffering”

“I bear testimony to the fact that perhaps he may not be the most vocal person, but somehow, he prods you, and continues to prick your conscience until you do what is right”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Action Congress would, perhaps not be what it is today in terms of its mass and popular appeal, its growth from strength to strength without the input of Hon Oshun.

Wishing the Afenifere Chieftain a happy birthday, the Governor thanked the Afenifere Renewal Group for organizing the event adding, “In your true character, you have used the day to mark a birthday anniversary of your Chairman to provide a platform for a rich debate and discussion on the Nigerian question”.

Governor Fashola also thanked the Guest Lecturer, Professor Ropo Sekoni who Spoke on the topic “The National Question: Imperatives for National Restructuring” for providing insight into how the nation got to the position she is today adding, “It is quite coincidental and momentous because this is the time when both the National Houses of our highest legislative body are considering the amendment to our Constitution”.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, the immediate past Governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Hon. Olawale Oshun as an astute politician, an incorruptible patriot and a silent goal getter, recalling that during the struggle to revalidate the June 12, 1993 Presidential Mandate of late MKO Abiola, Hon. Oshun as Chief Whip in the House of Representatives, refused to compromise his position in the face of attempts to buy him with money and also in the face of persecution.

In his Tribute titled “Wale Oshun: Patriot and Democrat at 60”, read on his behalf by Dr. Leke Pitan, former Commissioner for Health, Asiwaju Tinubu declared, “He was offered juicy but dangerous carrots to compromise which he refused. He suffered for it but that suffering gave rise to the formation of NADECO in exile.”

“He had to undergo a lot of sufferings but the more he suffered the more he got yoked to the struggle. This is one man that had the honesty and courage to stick to his ideals”, Asiwaju Tinubu said, praying that God would continue to uphold his ideals of others before self.

Also in his goodwill message, the National Chairman of the Action Congress, Chief Bisi Akande said, although Wole Oshun does not talk much and prefers to be invisible, he gets what he wants adding that but for his steadfastness, patience and forthrightness, the Party would, probably, not be where it is today.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Tunde Bakare said his paths first crossed with that of the celebrant when the ARG and his group met to deliberate on the Nigerian Question following the absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from the country adding, “To know him is to love him”.

Describing him as “unassuming but intelligent and knowledgeable”, Pastor Bakare said it was the input of the ARG Chairman that gave shape to what is today the Save Nigeria Group adding that he attended both the first and second March of the Group in both Abuja and Lagos.

In his Lecture, Professor Sekoni said political parties should not arrogate to themselves the duty of restructuring the polity pointing out that “the electorate, if given the opportunity to use their votes can tell the difference between parties and party leaders that use the excuse of political mainstream to avoid confronting the issue of unitary system that is parading itself as Federal System”.

He declared, “Those of us that are in the business of modernizing and democratizing Nigeria must not be wittingly or unwittingly become a part of the conspiracy to silence or ignore organizations that are pushing for cultural democracy”.

“Demonizing or joining to demonize groups such as MASSOB, OPC or MEND as militant organizations or militias whose activities should be condemned or punished can only slow down the holding of a National Conference that can lead to the restructuring of the polity in favour of more rights for the citizens”, he said

In his response, the celebrant implored the Action Congress Party leaders to maintain the peace in the State in order that the rapid development currently going on in the State could be consolidated.

The Afenifere Chieftain praised the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for his focused leadership and people oriented projects and policies adding, “Our State is wearing a new look and we are seeing development the way we want to see it and I pray that my brother Raji Fashola will continue in that trend”.

Also present at the occasion were Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, National Vice Chairman of Action Congress in the South-West, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Lagos State Chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale, Governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the 2007 election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, some former and serving members of the Federal and State Legislatures family members and friends of the celebrant as well as top government functionaries and private individuals.