For Chief James Olorunfemi, a politician and community leader, he will not hesitate to describe Sokoto as a home far from home-state. The fact is that, as a sojourner in the city of the Caliphate, Olorunfemi is currently enjoying all the political privileges any indigene of Sokoto state could dreamt of.
An indigene of Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Olorunfemi currently serving as a Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, the first political office holder a Yoruba extraction would be given.
By virtue of his appointment, Chief Olorunfemi who is also holding a traditional tittle of ‘Majekobaje’ is a link between the government and Yoruba community in the state among other responsibilities that may be assigned.
Even on the home-front, Olorunfemi is also leading Sokoto community as its President General, a position he was elected few years ago and currently President of Okun Development Union (ODU) in Sokoto state.
In an exclusive interview with PLATFORM, Chief Olorunfemi described his appointment as an act of balancing political opportunities that have eluded Yoruba community in the state for so long.
According to him: “Previous administrations have been appointing a particular tribe but not a Yoruba as special assistant and I discovered that it was because Yoruba people in Sokoto have been apolitical. I met with some stakeholders and let them understand that the Yorubas deserve to be accommodated in the government.
“Fortunately for us, when the time comes for the state governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to appoint his cabinet, he requested, through the head of Yoruba to give him someone who can represents the Yoruba community for the nomination of a Special Assistant.
“They never wasted time or find it difficult to present my name to the state government. I never thought of that at a time. Since then, I can say the little time I have worked as a special assistant, I have never had cause to regret.
“I have access to the state government activities and maximised it to issues that bothered on the communities. It has also helped me to work directly with the governor in both governance and political activities of the country.” He further explained.
Acknowledging the role played by other stakeholders to ensure his emergence, the teacher turned politician said the recommendation of members of Yoruba Traditional Council was significant one.
“The Yoruba Traditional Council was involved in this and they never found it difficult to call for me. This is because of the little time I had used to manage the affairs of Yoruba community as their President General; they were very pleased with my performance. I think that was how the issue of my appointment as a special assistant came to reality.”
Speaking on his experience as a politician the Yoruba Chief described his new task as ‘wonderful’ saying that was a combination of his hard work and communal antecedents.
“My appointment as a Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is a wonderful experience and I will say that it is the reward of my political and communal antecedents, which predates my emergence as the President of Okun Community and President General of Yoruba community in Sokoto state.
“We thanked God for having a visionary and detribalized governor like Rt. Hon. Tambuwal. He is a performing governor and a blessing to Sokoto state.”
On his next plan in politics, Olorunfemi said thus: “That is the question people have been asking me. I am being inundated with calls from Kogi, my home state, urging me to return home and contribute my quota in the aspect of leadership.
“In as much as I will love to go back home one day, by the grace of God, to heed their calls, I believe the experience I am gathering in Sokoto state will be enough to let me make a positive impact by the time I get back to my state. I am still gathering the experience; I am not tired of Sokoto, even though, my attention is needed to move our state (Kogi) forward.”
The political aide however described as cordial the relationship that exist between Yoruba and other communities residing in the state, saying “basically, we have a good working relationship with the Igbo people, who are the majority, as far as other communities are concerned. There is a synergy between the Igbo and the Yoruba, which has gone a very long way.” Olorunfemi noted.
Credit: Platform
