It will be exactly seven (7) years November, 28, 2014, when late Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, CON, a man of strong moral standard passed on.
Until his demise, Late Awoniyi, a man of great integrity and deep sense of public service was the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
I am however not aware if there is any effort aimed at celebrating the ideals and principles for which these great Nigerian stood for.
The spirit of the moment may also not be ripe for any get together in view of the known challenge of: insecurity, poverty, heightened political atmosphere and others too numerous to mention that has characterized the nation’s democracy issues the late Awoniyi maintains are the essence the nation deserves good governance.
Late Awoniyi’s qualities as a consistent man of Industry, Courage, fairness, transparency, propriety in conduct, a sticker for integrity and a widely respected and trusted public administrator is what if for any reason calls for quiet thinking in our private corners and in public discussions.
Similarly, remembering late Awoniyi, an ardent champion of the cause of good governance and correct conduct in political affairs, when we are close to a period when politicians, especially those in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party late Awoniyi jointly formed, and other political parties would be electing candidates at all levels for the 2015 General Elections, makes late Awoniyi’s seven years remembrance to me, a food for thought and for politicians and their parties to play by the rule.
Quoting Shehu Usman Dan Fodio in a lecture, the late Awoniyi delivered in the year 2000, at the Arewa House on Sir Ahmadu Bellos’s style of leadership, at his 5th Annual Lecture. “One of the swiftest ways of destroying a kingdom is to give preference to a particular tribe over another, or show favour to one group of people over another, or draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near”.
Still quoting Shehu Usman Dan Fodio on the quality of men to serve in high positions, he said “The death of a thousand good men of high rank is less serious for the survival of the state than one man of low rank being elevated above the station he is fitted for … States decline through giving preference to men of low rank”.
Still on leadership but this time citing a quotation from the Holy Bible, as it relates to Jethro and Moses his son in law, late Awoniyi said.
“ … choose able men from all the people, such as fear God, men who are trustworthy and who hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of teens”.
The import from all of the quotations cited by late Awoniyi, a man whose brilliant and meritorious service in public and political life for me calls for deep reflection that; men with talent, honest, good and committed to cause of good governance, irrespective of his tribe, religion, his financial muscle as it is said in the Nigerian context, should be elected.
It is rather unfortunate that rather than have a political space that allows all who are competent aspire, the reverse is however the case, a struggle that until it is won, the wrong men will continue to dominate leadership position by reason of imposition, money politics and godfatherism.
I am also an advocate that in view of our diversity, the weak should be given the opportunity through rotation to also aspire to leadership position where necessary to emerge.
Late Awoniyi, a Nigerian politician of Okun descent from Mopa, in Kogi State was during the Third Republic, a member of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He was elected to the Senate of Nigeria for the Kogi West District, believes that the nation would be the giant it ought to be with the right leadership.
Late Awoniyi though a founding member of PDP, pioneered a well organized party primaries that led to the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as President, had a failed attempt in becoming the Chairman of PDP in 1999. A tribal aristocrat, Late Awoniyi started his political career in the First Republic as a District Officer for the British Colonial Administration, a post mostly reserved for Britons. After independence in 1960, he held several posts in the Northern Regional Government, including that of Secretary to the Executive Council, where he worked with the Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern Nigeria.
An Apostle of a united Nigeria, late Awoniyi believes that with the right leadership, a great and dynamic economy can be created in Nigeria.
Similarly, leadership in the words and thinking of the late Aro of Mopa, should be about an egalitarian society, through ensuring the rule of law principle as well as providing a level playing field for all competing interests.
Lastly, Nigeria according to late Awoniyi is a country whose land is bright and full of opportunities for all its citizens. The leaders he believe, should strive for a free and democratic society.
As the nation prepares for another general election in 2015 and as we remember late Awoniyi, his ideals and beliefs of having an improved politician by deliberate actions, punish electoral offenders by making them to behave responsibly, is what would make a success of our electoral process.
Recent happenings in the country has no doubt shown that the Nigerian politician has not learn anything from our past and recent experiences, to make them play by the rules. Not with the level and practice of lack of internal democracy, do or die politics, high level monetization of the polity, the absence for political tolerance and accommodation of opposition politician amongst other negative ideals the late Awoniyi stood against in his life time.
According to late Awoniyi, nothing is wrong with the system of democracy, what the country needs now more than ever before, he opined are leaders who are magnanimous and God fearing.
If good governance is about the people as the late elder statesman has always opined, why the fear of disintegration, fear, political violence, religious and ethnic disharmony that currently pervades the political sphere as the country prepares for another election.
Nigerians can only make the seven year memorial celebration of this acclaimed public administrator per excellence worthwhile only if Nigerians elect leaders based on standards of behavior below which the well born and God fearing man must not allow himself to fall. Only with such men, can correct conduct become a habit or norm in leadership.
Habits of self denial by our leaders that will inspire discipline, especially on the followers are conducts we must look out for as qualities the next generation leaders or set of Nigerians leaders we elect in 2015 must have.
A man whose career blossomed in the Northern Nigeria Region Administrative service, between 1962 to 1966 late Awoniyi served as Secretary, Provincial Secretary, Under Secretary amongst other appointments he held.
Between 1968 to 1975 late Awoniyi was Permanent secretary in several Ministries.
Born on 30th April, 1932, Late Awoniyi was a student of Holy Trinity School Lokoja from 1945 to 1946 and Provincial Middle School in Okene from 1947 to 1949. He proceeded to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology now Ahmadu Bello University from 1951 until 1956; University College now the University of Ibadan from 1956 to 1959 and the Imperial Defence College now Royal College of Defence Studies from 1970 to 1971.
Late Awoniyi passed on to glory November 28, 2007, at the age of 75 in a London Hospital, ten days after he had an accident on the Kaduna – Abuja expressway.
Late Awoniyi’s funeral which was held at Mopa on December 15, 2007 drew men and women from all works of life. Every one present at the funeral and those who were at the five year remembrance of the late icon, equally spoke glowingly about his life and times as worthy of emulation for the nation and its people. Though even years may have come and gone, Late Awoniyi’s great works, his life of simplicity, his thoughts, ideals on excellence, counsel on good governance and putting the people first irrespective of social standing as the cornerstone of representation, are the political realities on the ground which comes to mind that calls for sober reflected.
Finally, as we mark the seven year passing away of late Awoniyi, only a deliberate policy of the peoples resolve to work towards a greater nation, where peace and justice reign supreme will ensure that the lessons this legend of our time lives on.
Oshiomieh Micheal, sent in this piece from Lokoja.
