Development expert, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, in flashback, 23 years ago, in this riveting narrative, recalls how a chanced-encounter with Senator/Comrade Oshiomhole, turned into a win-win unbreakable bond… the rest he asserts is still history in the making… Excerpt:
It was in December 2002 (23 years ago) I was privilege to Chair the Planning Committee of some young professionals (Banking, Insurance, academic, Oil and Gas, we were all in our middle 20s) who insisted on hosting the then recently promoted Professor of Development Economics and a role model in nation building, Pat Okedinachi Utomi of the Pan Atlantic University (Lagos Business School).
As we brainstormed, shopping for a Guest Speaker, my friend and ally Dr Benedict Okhumale had suggested we zero in on the then Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Adams Oshiomhole because he was going to speak for the youths.
Despite not been sure if he got our invitation due to limited communication facilities, the high table led by Prof Anya O. Anya, Dr Chris Asoluka, Dr (Mrs) Njideka Anyadike, Oby Ezekwesili and the general audience were in utter shock as Comrade Adams Oshiomhole showed up and made our day at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi. My senior brother, Dele Ogbodo who was then an AGM in THISDAY gave the event the desired publicity and mileage in major national dailies.
Fast forward to December 2008, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had just been declared the winner of the 2007 governorship election of Edo state a month earlier and I was a Senior Assistant Manager at the old Afribank, when the issue of my possible engagement came for discussion at an informal discussion at Federal palace, on sighting my most recent pay slip, he expressed shock and said my salary was way too high for Edo state to match (a salary of more than half a million naira monthly), but my response which was around my commitment to serve my motherland convinced him that I was ready to serve even with a discounted salary. I was later to assume duties as SSA on Policy and Economic Planning.
Since then, we’ve had numerous encounters (formally and informally) including the dramatic threat to sack me in 2010 when we disagreed on our approach to the handling of a particular public policy. He subsequently promoted me as Special Adviser/State Coordinator of the Public Finance Management Project, A world Bank assisted project until 2016.
I remember with fond memories the wonderful team of men and women that worked together in his government and made our task easier such as the Late intellectual mobile house, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde the highly influential Principal Private Secretary, Osarodion Ogie Esq the Chief of Staff, Yemi Keri then MD of the ICT, John Inegbedion ACA, three time Commissioner for Finance, Prince Clem Agba, the hard working Oil executive and Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities and Late Dr Simon Imuokhueme, former Head of Service and later Secretary to the State Government, the Imperial College trained Igbinidu Inneh who was the pioneer ED of the Public Private Partnership office, Oxford trained, Dr. Ese Owie of the Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service and financial guru, Chief Oseni Elamah of the Due Process office.
There is no doubt that Senator Oshiomhole is a living legend with indelible footprints across sectors in our nation today especially as he marks his 73rd birthday today and I also celebrate my 23 years of unbroken relationship with a man who has seen it all, a man who has seen trust and bare faced betrayal, the ups and downs of life yet he remains unbroken, unbended, undeterred and looks healthier than most of his peers, I pray for good health and God’s divine grace upon you sir.
One good virtue of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is his ability to forgive those who trespass against him so easily and ability to keep men and women with such ease for a long time even without being in power and having the capacity to dispense patronage. He is a rare African leader with a large heart.
Cheers to 73.
Taiwo Akerele was SSA on Policy and Economic Planning Edo state (2009-2011)
