INSU PERSONAL PROFILE contd 3

[OLALEKAN]

This was evident in the leadership indifference towards power problem, rough road and depleting structures of the community. My government, in addressing this, employed two basic principles of consultation and confrontation.
We held the belief that we had very short term to deliver as INSU constitution was very impatient, for we only had a year to wake INSU up from its slumber and to deliver our mandate. In this respect, consultation in our case was short lived in most cases. In some cases we did not need it as it could be a waste of time and scarce resources. For example, palace is a conservative institution and it hardly yield to advice or change its position on some issue. Why did we need to consult? Even while taking its decision nobody would be consulted no matter whose ox is gored.
The 1999 democracy, after the military came the ascendancy of our own son of soil, in person of Engr. Sola Akinwumi, who assumed the leadership as the secretary to the state government under the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD). There was a mixed reaction to this development. Nevertheless, Ilobu could not renegotiate his appointment. They resorted to fate. The conclusion was that if he could not bring good thing, at least, he would stall evil from coming. Ti ko ba le fa ire wo ilu, yoo dina aburu.
I was in the IDU meeting, Lagos branch when news of his appointment was broken by a member who was fresh from Ilobu and was at the palace’s reception of the new appointee. It was reported that Engr. Sola Akinwumi was not remorseful in his approach and used the forum to ventilate personal vendetta . Before this time, Engr. Akinwumi had difficulty in being reabsorbed to the community for sundry allegation of abuse of office, highhandedness, arrogance, the list is interminable.
After the government had settled down, and Akinrogun resumed his position at Abeere secretariat, we resolved to have dialogue with him concerning some issues in the community. Before our formal consultation, I had seen him personally to intimate him on INSU position and our request from the government as we felt that he stood as Ilobu eye in the government. We had it on our mind that the community would be better appreciated if we could be assisted by locating a tertiary institution in the community. This could be influenced by our eye in the government. We knew all along that, the existing institutions in the state came to being through that arrangement. Nevertheless, we presented a long list of our demand considering the feeling of the community. I was received warmly and promised to look into the list, he, however, advised that we should remove the item on the establishing higher institution for that was one of his priorities in the government.
We held a meeting later of which Akinrogun sent Engr. Lasun Yusuff, a senior officer of Alliance For Democracy, and a native of the community to represent him. It was a successful meeting as some of the leaders of thought were present. Our demand was presented and channelled through the representative who pledged that all our views would be channelled to Engr Akinwumi. We urged to create channel of communication so that there would be proper feedback from the led and the leader.
At the local government level, we initiated same dialogue with the elected representatives to monitor the activities of the government. To see to the necessity of government closing with the people. Series of meeting were held with the Local leaders in the government reminding them of their mandate and made sure that the mandate was delivered. At times, we presented our views by writing, visitation etc. There was a particular instance of the case of indiscriminate increase of issuance of the state of origin form. This form, oftentimes obtain by students and applicants. There was no reasonable justification for the increment. We approached the local government and was reverted.
Since Koleade administration, the local government had been shying away from the responsibility of paying bursary award to the students but on my campaign rostrum I did promise the students that not only that they would be paid. I would ensure the payment would be double.
I had been at the negotiation table before my assumption in office and I knew what it takes to make the government part with money from the local government purse. Ajala administration was frustrated as It had to forcefully abducted the vice chairman of the local government, in the course of protesting the refusal of the government to yield to their demand. This particular act culminated in detaining Ajala and some of the executive at State Investigation Bureau , Osogbo. I was part of the negotiating team during Alani Adeyemi administration, it was an hard nut. The one disbursed in Olaniran era was poorly managed and administered by the local government that the bursary list left out numbers of students. For example 95% of students of Osun State College of Education Ilesa could not benefit. This led to a factional protest at the local government. During Dare Insu presidency, the local government had been all along fooling the students that the bursary would be paid. The students had to pass through the rigour of list compilation till the last hour while the government broke the camel back at INSU- Eko Day Iree. It was adding insult to injury.
We were undaunted by this precedent, we did start our discussion early and with the certainty that the government would listen to us. One of the challenge was that our administration coincided with the boom in population of the students in the local government and the number of preliminary students was astronomically high. This was enough to scare the unwilling government from playing its duty and responsibility. Nevertheless, Ihad a good rapport with Olateju’s tenure. Though, we had area of disagreement but its comparatively, performance rating up to date is encouraging.
At the outset of the discussion, the government, traditionally insisted to pay 500 naira per person, which was unacceptable to us. Another, difficult area was the government insistence on restricting the payment to the matriculated students of the higher institution of learning not preliminary students. While the decision appeared plausible on the basis that non matriculated students were not technically considered as the main students of the institutions as they were yet to be fully inducted to the system.
The Prelim Students as properly referred to constituted the bulk of the students population. We often relied on their numerical strength in some of our activities. They were committed members of the Union. I had even decided that nobody would be left out from benefitting from the local cake.
While the local government took this decision, I resolved that we would not join issue with them on this but we would plan our way out without raising suspicion from our own end. I believed that members of the executive agreed on this. We had perfected our way out.
The first challenge came as it was conveyed by the Chairman of the local government that the council had decided to pay 500 Naira and discarded our proposal of a thousand naira. This pained me to the marrow. I told the chairman at the informal meeting in his business premises that the position could not be accepted by the Union and I was furious about it. Immediately, he conceded and promised to reverse the position. Having had everything set viz the payment I travelled only anticipating the commencement day for the payment.
Immediately, I got to town from my journey, I headed to the local government secretariat to confirm the status of things. On getting to the local government, I met the supervisory councillor on education and did inform me that a letter was received from us. This surprised me for no decision was reached to write the local government before I travelled and no formal meeting was said to be held in respect of that decision. Further enquiries revealed that some member of executive decided on their own, being apprehensive of local government decision of excluding the preliminary students from the bursary payment. Fortunately, the letter was channel via the supervisory councillor and It had not formally passed to the chairman. I sought for the withdrawal of the letter and the permission granted.
I viewed the act of the authors of that letter as uncoordinated and simply a breach of trust.
The aftermath of my action was totally un expected. Dramatis personae behind the scene summoned one another and confronted me on retrieving the letter , I found the confrontation surprising. Nevertheless, I had my own explanation. I realised later that joining issue with this cabal of conspirators was a mere waste of time. I put them to where they belonged.
Reaction from this encounter came like an assault blow to me. They threw caution into winds and resorted to blackmailing and name calling. The principal actors in this campaign of calumny were the secretary general, the assistant general secretary and some congress members. They recruited some members to this campaign of calumny and went around the town saying unprintable things. The allegation was serious as I was alleged to be collected some money from the local government chairman for the purpose of disallowing preliminary student from collecting from the bursary award.
To cap it all, plan to get me impeached was hacked and perfected by these agents provocateur. Adding insult to the injury was that the coup to get me impeached hatched at the tail end of my administration. In fact I was actually suspended and compelled to face a disciplinary committee on the last day of my administration. Members and non members were recruited and mobilised against my impeachment
One thing I got clear having made my position very clear to manipulated members of the congress was that my action was right . However, the congress having said that mandated me to tender apology. I considered this decision as laughable. The demand for apology was misplaced after judging my action as right. Soon, thereafter, I knew that my fault was serving the union after my generation had longed served. There was a communication breakdown. The bulk of students at that time could not appreciate principles and values of debates of such nature. Most of those students as I used to hammer it to their hearing could not sit and pass basic secondary school examination. It was evident, that a great numbers of them doctored their results. I knew that the principal perpetrators of the crime were beneficiary of the examination fraud. I recalled the words of Adebayo Williams vividly in The Remains of The Last Emperor that ‘Evil may triumph over good for sometimes but evil will never be vindicated’. The true test to this truism is that some of these black sheep were rusticated for academic incompetence, fraud from the university.
I could not be goaded to take apology for what was adjudged as right. Eventually, a committee was set up to try me. It was a paradox having the calibre of members of no consequential to try my person. I told the chairman of the committee that I was averse to the composition and membership of the committee. To me ,the members of committees with the exception of some few, felt short of the members stipulated by the constitution as persons of proven integrity.
One, majority of these members had not been attending or participating in the meeting and programmes of the union. Some were recruited to come and vote for the impeachment. Two, few of these members were versed in the constitution and convention of the union. Three, many of these members were bare literate. Four, all of these members were not disinterested in the crisis. Five, no serious allegation warranting disciplinary measure were levelled against only to be punished for my allegedly strong headed. I had to say apology which I had had refused to say before the sanction could be lifted. I thought I was in the another planet.
In the course of their ‘mandate’ I was summoned by the so-called Disciplinary Committee of which I dishonoured the invitation. The chairman of the committee persuaded me that I just need to come that the issue would be resolved in my favour. I called him bluff and pointedly revered to the committee as a bunch of inconsequential element. My mind was straight and I had decided to remain strong in my position and not to leave room for compromise. All I knew was that I would be vindicated by history, which till eternal is an incorruptible judge.
Some of them recanted and wanted to call for truce, I equally refused the proposition. I noticed that my vice president who was presiding having stepped aside via coup was not comfortable and was looking for ways getting me persuaded to reverse my position. I had known that he would resort to such step and I did tactically avoided him.
While he tried all efforts and failed he sought for the Grand Patron of the Union intervention of which he succeeded. The Grand Patron, Alhaji Kola Rufai now deceased, was a devout muslim, a retired director of Federal Meteorology Dept. ,Oshodi, Lagos, and a prominent community leader. Alhaji Kola Rufai leadership and personal life is a model to us. He was full of unprecedented humility and this made him to be deservedly referred in the community. Alhaji Kola Rufai breached in to my room was beyond being hit by a thunder. I was stunned and completely helpless. Following him was the pilot himself, my neighbour, friend and successor in office, Mr, Fawole Waheed, and to be followed by the ring leader, Abayomi Oyedeji, the secretary general of the Union.
Moreover, I spoke my mind to the Grand Patron. Having alleged by the secretary-general, that I was arrogant, highly opinionated and that I conduct Union affairs singlehandedly, among others. I answered by relating the secretary lackadaisical attitude towards the Union. He was lazy and did not carry the affairs of the union diligently I cited number of cases where the Union would make resolution and mandate the executive to carry it out. He would fail to carry his assignment. We almost missed the bursary award for his failure to write the local government and did the compilation of the list. I had to take this assignment up and my effort was complemented by the vice-president who worked with me to salvage that situation. While mobilising for the protest to Osogbo, having resolved at the general meeting which he attended and took minutes. He disappeared at the schedule point of mobilising the community to the palace. He had cases of running to the treasurer and financial secretary solicited for loan which he would not pay back to the purse of the Union. He used to be custodian of INSU ventures rents after several demand for the remission of the rent he refuse to bulge we had to retrieve rental chairs from him.
However, I could not state all his acts in the meeting as I enumerated above but I said while I could not persuade him to serve the Union was his personal attitude to his academic, which, he completely abandoned without just reason. I emphasized that service in the Union was voluntary.
I had credit of initiating Ayo Ojewumi Memorial Lecture, which did not hold without hue and cry from some quarters. I did put it in my manifesto, any way that I would organise the memorial lecture if I was given opportunity to do so.






I did not aware or could appreciate better at closer range the leadership of Ayo Ojewumi. All I could know was my delinquent presence at his house warming ceremony of which I heard that the invitation was extended to every member of his community. The ceremony was well attended and food and drinks were freely
Nevertheless, report about his leadership was ever encouraging, I wished I could know him at closer range, I would have had the privilege of rating him well. What I knew from his background, his political associates, what he penned on paper, he must be sound and intelligent. This particular picture was enough for me to immortalise him in an era of flauntingly mediocrity. Without fear of contradiction, I have not seen the model of leadership replicated in the crops of the succeeding leadership. This, alone put a benchmark to our growth and development as a community. A writer could not be bettered by the truism of the fact that a leader could not be better than the society that produced him. There gaps to be filled with vacuum created by this truism. What had made our community deserved such leadership?
In the course for searching for the cause, we ended up in frustration and confusion. If the answer was elusive in our time, would solution be found in the next generation. How curious and committed are incoming generation? At the end of my leadership, I became frustrated, not in my own contradiction but in the process that became simple and confusing.
Ayo Ojewumi Memorial Lecture was hatched like coup and delivered in bomb manner not by its design but by its inadvertently execution. To save my breath, precisely I was bothered about form, design and structure of the programme. What would be the fitting topic, the better venue, the right audience and the competent lecturer for the maiden programme.






Flashes of idea posed confusion and difficult than I imagined. Nevertheless, our purpose was to integrate the political community and the politicians to the programme as the right Ayo Ojewumi constituency. Secondly, to integrate his family into the programme as a rewarding system that his contribution to the community was noted and appreciated. Thirdly, to integrate what he stood for, his views, his vocation and his leadership.
Having appraised all the listed factors we opined that Democracy, Press Freedom and Education should be the focus point to be addressed against the background of our young democracy. We felt that the club well served and embraced by the late politician during his life was the one providing the leadership at the state. We felt that his ghost would feel better finding us executing this. We equally believe that the programme would be a moral lesson for his successors and other leaders in the community.
Based on the enumerated reasons, we chose Hon. Mojeed Alabi, the Honourable Speaker ,Osun State House of Assembly as the fitted lecturer for that occasion. This choice was looking at the issues, the message, and the messanger altogether. Hon. Mojeed Alabi had been teaching political science at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, particularly, he taught me PUL 104 in my preliminary year in the university before he joined partisan politics. He was very proficient in his field of specialisation. Equally, he is a legal practitioner and a card carrying member of Alliance for Democracy, the political party that held the reins of power in the state. Alliance of Democracy was dominated by core Afenifere members, simply Awo loyalists. This camp was Ayo Ojewumi constituency.





The staunch leadership the group provided and the fearless commitment to Yoruba nationalism and the revisitation of June 12 annulment and the fallout from this struggle that, however fetched us the minimum Obasanjo democracy, which though was not adequate but sufficient to get military out of governance. Hon. Mojeed Alabi considering the above fitted in as the right peg in the right hole.
The invitation to be our guest lecturer posed no difficulty as I walked in straight to his office without lobby through anybody. Worst still I got to know the honourable from my constituency after the speaker had acceded to my invitation. This enabled us to straightened the line up and preparation to the programme. Co-opting the family of Ayo Ojewumi was second immediate task. I set out to Ibadan for Mrs Mopelola Ojewumi, the widow was the natural host of this occasion. I met her and narrated our intention. I was received well but took exception to us choosing Engr. Shola Akinwumi as Chief host. I did not know until after that meeting that there was a rift between the late politician wife and our SSG since the demise of the late Ayo Ojewumi. I felt bad for I believed that our programme had nothing to do with the misunderstanding between the two. Personally, I detested Akinwumi style of leadership, but we had no option than carrying him along in our programme. It was undisputable that by virtue of his position in the state he represented the community as a leader.
Therefore, the programme would not carry the full symbol of Late Ayo Ojewumi political genealogy. Actually, Akinwumi was a political son of the late politician. He took the mantle of leadership from him. Akinwumi on the seat of the memorial lecture was not only to receive the guest lecturer but other invited political leaders who would grace the occasion.





Nevertheless, making Akinwumi relevant would save us from the wrath of politicians, his loyalists and some community members. His presence, I felt would provide us the right audience to the lessons that would be drawn from the lecture. Hosting the lecture by his presence would pitched us on the fence and draw us from the battleground . I convinced the widow that we had little choice and I could not see the basis for her action in as much she was not sidelined and she was equally a host of that lecture.
I faced similar reaction from the SSG on getting to his office in Abeere. He did not only react to our choice of the widow as the host. He felt completely not comfortable with our decision picking Hon Mojeed Alabi as the lecturer to the occasion. Coincidentally, that period there was no love lost between the legislature arm and the executive. I learnt later that he vowed that he would not honour our visitation. I saw this as empty threat, his presence could add to nothing. We only took all the necessary step honouring him with our invitation. This was to free us from easy blackmail by the politicians and his sympathisers.
We did conclude that three things are important in any lecture, the lecturer, the lecture and the audience. The programme was a success. All the stakeholders in the community, outside it, the political leaders, family and friend of the politicians attended the function. Ilobu House, the venue for the maiden Ayo Ojewumi Memorial Lecture was filled to the brim. The atmosphere was charged. The sirens of the distinguished lecturer and that of the SSG followed each other in succession, the long awaited dream realised. I had one of my manifestoes executed.






If I did not choose the right lecturer or the right hosts I knew deep in my heart that I had picked the right person for the Master of Ceremony that was needed for the conduct of the programme beyond what I wanted! He undoubtedly lived to the expectation. My sin was I had underestimated his extremism. It took divine intervention before he was persuaded to call the SSG to the high table!
The programme was but a success, there were impressive turnout, the audience, the response the lecture generated and the patience of the Hon. Speaker, all had contributed into the launching of a successful maiden Ayo Ojewumi Memorial Lectures. The rest is now history. What had made the programme more successful was the sharp reaction generated from the SSG himself. It pained him to the bone marrow for he got all the message right, as the very lecture packaged and designed to call and wake up the leader to their responsibility. If such reaction came from the SSG that meant the programme had produced expected result. The reaction was personal and direct as he did see it as a deliberate efforts to malign his person.
I had encounter with the SSG on a Sunday evening following the programme. He seized the opportunity of our unscheduled meeting to make his grievance known. First, he alleged that we did not appreciate all he did to make infrastructures work in the community. That all we did was to attack his leadership for non performance. He, characteristically, talked harshly on the MC and Mr. Suleiman Ajala who made some passes at him via the citation read by the latter and some allusion made in the former comment. I could see the man burning while expressing his discontentment. I stated our position and corrected the impression that our comment and remark on Ayo Ojewumi was to exhibit his quality leadership not to disparage anybody.





We did evaluate the state of infrastructures decay in the community was to call the attention of the stakeholders and leaders of the community to this decay. That the true state of things attested to the fact that Ilobu was in complete darkness, suffering from acute irregular power supply, bad road and host of others. I explained that the student union position was non partisan and we involved had involved politicians in the programme only because Ayo Ojewumi was one of them and based on this, we have no apology for what we had done. He did not leave for his government lodge that night, without a fight. He pointed at his brother in law who incidentally a lawyer, and allegedly his personal assistant, who, he said lie low for him to ascend position of leadership, and that we should lie low for us to reach position of leadership.
Some close ally of Akinwumi, especially, Mr. Lasun Yusuff , who was the AD public relation officer, had made good of his threat that he would not attend the forum. He considered our step as an affront on the leadership. Their position to me represented a self righteous, and self importance stance. They, having the privileged of being in the position of leadership turned themselves to demi gods to be worship and referred by everybody. I believed and I knew that as far as i presided on the union, I held the forte. I could not place the union surrogate of anybody, individual, group or institution. I was the state.
Nevertheless, those who did not share the mind of Akinwumi leadership, appreciated us very well. Particularly. Ilobu Descendants Union did appreciate our programme. As the Grand Patron of INSU would put it, you had done us proud. Based on our success, Ilobu Descendants Union gave us an honorary membership. I felt elated in the letter written to me expressing the union appreciation for making them proud. Insu popularity rate in the community was astronomically high. I felt happy that I delivered.




Before we left the office, we ensured that we stocked the office with books. The best legacy we could leave was education. We left the idea of how a principled, independent union should be run without fear or favour. Though my exit was without celebration but left a footprint of steadfastness, doggedness and courage to stand on what I believe in. Standing for justice in the face of threat and intimidation. We still hold our faith in history which we believe is incorruptible judge, we shall be judged accordingly.


















MY FINAL EXIT
Union was my pet project, despite challenge I faced during my presidency, my love for the union never knew bounds. I had for a decade grown up with the union to the point of no return. I wished our sweat, the seed planted and nurtured for a decade must be prevented from destruction.
I voted Ogunsola, for I believed could do better than his opponent, I would not want the union to be traded off. Managing and presiding on union had to do with aura and personality involved. A union to succeed must correlate with personal success. Whoever has failed personally in life cannot run organisation successfully. Particularly, when such failure traced to indolence and moral laxity. Therefore, whatever had been the excess of Ogunsola, it had nothing to do with incompetence and fundamental failure in life. This I considered in my vote and in my support thereafter.
Ogunsola consulted me on his intention to launch INSU magazine. I bought this idea wholesale for we had made similar attempt during Wole Alabi administration which could not hold. He notified me that he would want me as the chairman to which I fully consented. I began imagining what would be a fitting magazine for the union. Having conceded that such magazine would be a local one, but could still enjoyed national patronage. To achieve this would need to project issues beyond our local constituency.








I pencilled down Prof Lai Olorode of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile – Ife, then President of JACON Human Rights, a no-nonsense human right crusader to be our main guest writer, The Chairman Editorial TELL magazine, Nigeria, Nosa Igiebor for an exclusive interview on contemporary issues, Dr. Wumi Onigbinde of USAID, a native of Ilobu as guest writer and State Union Secretary Nigeria Union of Teacher, (NUT) Comrade Wale Oyeniyi, for a guest talk on the state of the state, particularly the teachers welfare and some of educational policy of Akande administration.
We intended to get sponsors and adverts within and without. I was determined to get all these done. I had a formidable team to work with. My vice president, Waheed Fawole was dependable, resourceful and an experienced hand, Mojeed Alabi of English and Literary Department, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile – Ife is a prolific writer, creative and talented in the work of art. Ayinla Awodele is Ogunsola’s friend, I thought, his nomination was not unconnected with this. An eye for Mr. President in the editorial team forged a balance team! Ayinla is committed to the Union and always lent for whatever support he could muster. Akeem Olaiya was a member. He had had an impressive contribution to Iree branch of the Union. He had flair for politics, and his humble input in the board was often to persuade us to give politicians prominence in the magazine. I had a total different approach to his style and the way he conducted editorial affairs.
Nevertheless, we set out as mandated and we did have a good start by successfully got Nosa Igiebo down to speak for hours on a burning national issues. The interview was exclusive, addressing burning issues in the polity. We of course persuaded him to commit to our publication through paid advert.






Everybody was happy with this success. On this, I had to work throughout the nights to get the interview transcribed from the recorded audio cassette.
What I really appreciate most in my life is human ingenuity and entrepreneurship in any field of human endeavour. Alh. Rabiu Olawale an Islamic cleric and a professional in herbal medicine attracted my curiosity for his rare ingenuity in the making and packaging herbal products. His products which attracted customers within and without Nigeria are uncommon in their quality production and packaging. I believe justice would be done to his product if a deserving column allocated to it in our magazine. It was intended towards promoting our own things. I booked appointment with Alh. Olawale and I was impressed with the interview which nearly converted me to lover of herbal products.
Another striking features of our magazine was to provide graphic details of INSU activities from the outset. This was to be interspersed with pictures of events and activities. On this, I dug into Insu record included my personal keeping to bring out a permanent comprehensive record of student union activities from 1991 – 2000. We intended writing Ilobu history as a prologue to Insu birth. We had laid our hands on document including the one documented by Olufon and written by a professor of history from Obafemi Awolowo University. Incidentally, I had once been co-opted into History Writing Committee of Ilobu Descendants Union, so I had sufficient materials to bank on for this project.








Apart from this, we had called for articles from members of the Union and response was encouraging as lobby was also started to get the articles published. We aimed a cartoon column and a very good student of fine art had been employed to take care of that.
As a committee we decided that group pictures would be entertained from the executive to give rooms for space. We agreed as committee that our own pictures would not be accommodated. We believed that the publication though was the idea of Ogunsola exco but not withstanding was a publication of the Union and that prominence had to be given to issues not personal promotion.
I learnt later that our decision was leaked to some of these members of executives who unanimously disagreed with our position. I saw this as unnecessary interference on the committee work. I believed that we ought to be allowed to work, in as much our decision was still subject to congressional approval.
What pissed me off most was the unauthorised manner Akeem Oaiya and Ayinla Awodele were going about on the committees work. This duo without our consent went ahead using our hard earned resources to interview a supervisory councillor, a non Ilobu indigene on some of local government issue which in principle were not aligned with our position. They did a lot of unprintable things.







The executives summoned us and we spoke our mind to them. At the meeting, none of them could raise a superior argument and no categorical position reached before we departed that night. Members of Committees repaired to meeting immediately thereafter and by a divided vote with ours carried a majority we decided to go on as planned.
The day following our meeting with executive council, a meeting where the said executive conceded with our position and decision to accommodate a group photograph of the executive members was the Congress Meeting. Since my problem with the union during my tenure, I had resolved that my attendance at the congress meeting would be unnecessary and did stay away from the congress. Nevertheless, one of our committee members attended. The matter was presented to the congress in a way to attract the executive sympathy. Our representative in the meeting was not even given fair hearing. It was resolved there and then that all pictures of the executive taking individually must be published and this was justified by exclaiming that at least the Union would bear the cost!
Honestly, I did not know how to react to this other than simply resigned my position of the chairman of the editorial board and handed over my file to the secretary of the Union. Mojeed Alabi did same. I thought my resignation would be received in good faith but reaction followed this was unexpected. The executive members and their threw caution into the wind and went about maligning my name and reputation. The reaction was so sharp that my photograph in the secretariat was brought down and threatened that my record and service in the union would not be spared.






Following this reaction , the committee was reconstituted to carry on with the work, with in principle I agreed with for my position was not to truncate the good thing we had started but to wriggle myself from undue influence and control of executives and their collaborator. To distant myself from dirty things that had been going on in the Union. What happened had further reiterated my conviction on the level of decay and decadence in the Union. The tyranny of mediocrity and permeating socio-economic crisis in the nation. The poor and quality of reason of most of the members was intolerable.
The Union that had been brought to fore on a well founded principles, was hijacked by some self seeking fraudulent individuals. The quality of magazine produced thereafter was thrash. The committee playing the scripts of the spoilers devoted its energy substantially, unnecessarily on my person. It went even beyond its legitimate mandate not only to remove my name from the record as the secretary of the Union, the service dates back to 1993 when some of them were toddlers and even erased my name from the chronology of the past serving president of the Union.
My only sin for receiving the deserved punishment as published in the magazine was my stubbornness. I told Ogunsola subsequently when we met at a friend place in Ife that I decided not to react to the publication because what I was alleged could not sustain a defamatory action for my name based on the allegation of stubbornness was far from being defamed. It only reinforced my principle stand. That was why I did not take the matter personally with him.







The only person that I took up personally was Akeem Olaiya not for anything but he disappointedly played the role of spoiler and conspicuously displayed stupidity in the way and manner of his contribution in the committee. Particularly , his unauthorised interviews and the quality of his contribution that below the standard of a reasonable man in his station in life. Ayinla Awodele might have his undoing but he was pardon on some of his good contribution in the committee.
That was my last service in the Union and eventually I left with the satisfaction that I was privileged to serve with my utmost best. It greatly afforded me to play a role in my community. It made me to interact better and gave me the needed advantage to acquaint with people and problems confronting them.
Nevertheless, I had learnt in the hard way from my mistake and weakness as a leader in my own right. It equally convinced my belief in the service to humanity and that people needed not a leader that could deliver but the one that they could be trusted.
I learnt that courage was a good weapon in the pursuit of a vision, I did not stoop to conquer in this truism and my achievement was attributable principally for some courageous steps I took facing daunting challenges.
In the last leg, I felt satisfied satisfying my constituency. I did not disappoint those called me to serve and ultimately delivered happiness to the majority. Leaving a stage does not end the performance. Our leaving left a remains of what we had struggle to avert, the carcass, heap of garbage, a dead Union, an end of an era. For this I remain sad bitter and disgusting to the state of the Union.