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What Dr. TUNJI ABAYOMI Told City People
Dr. Tunji Abayomi is a renowned Constitutional Lawyer. He has put in over 45 years experience in Law, which cuts across Commercial and Corporate Law, Intellectual Affairs and Government Policy, Civil and Criminal Litigation . He is the Group head at Tunji ABAYOMI and Co. Law with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
He is also the founder and Chairman of Human Rights Africa, a Human Rights group in Nigeria. He is the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Ondo State. Recently, FAKEYE ADERONKE met with him at Okeagbe Akoko, his home town, where he attended the burial of late Pa. Micheal Oladunni, the patriarch of the notable Oladunni family of Okeagbe. And he spoke extensively about the late man and about the current economic and political situation in Nigeria, plus what President Tinubu and the people can do to salvage the situation.
How will you describe late Pa Micheal Idowu Oladunni and why that special rendition for him?
He was a community leader, a mentor , an Inspirator and encourager. The Oladunni family has made lots of contributions to Okeagbe community. One important thing about them is that they have not forgotten Okeagbe. The reason for that special rendition is because I thought it was appropriate to honour him in that way. The late Oladunni was a singer too.
As the Pro Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University and a Constitutional lawyer, what has been your achievements and how can you describe yourself?
As the Pro Chancellor, I shouldn’t be the one to talk about it. The University Community should be in a better position to do that. In terms of welfare programs, now we are going to have power in the University, there are lots of things we’ve done. And as a Constitutional Lawyer, well, I have been vocal in terms of constitutionalism. I’m in the forefront of the struggle for Democracy, I’m a community man too, always in Okeagbe.
What do you think is the way forward to the challenges we are facing in Nigeria?
I think we have to be patient and continue to insist. Government needs to build faith in the people and the people need to continue to agitate for the rights of the citizens because the essence of government is to meet the needs of the people, so the people too must not keep quiet.
Do you think President Tinubu is really taking Nigerians on the right path?
I think he is on the right path but he still needs to do more. I think he met on ground a very difficult situation. He needs to do more because the people at this point need good government and the government too must ensure that they win the affections of the people.
In Ondo State right now, do you think the politics is being played right?
I think it’s okay. The more internal democracy when we have laws or rules , we must obey them. They need to be very strict about this, they need to be very firm. That is how a society is built and that is how institutions are built with regards for rules that guide democracy and institutions.
You are so close to former President Obasanjo, what can you say about him?
Obasanjo is a very outstanding person. Easy to be underestimated, brilliant, very intelligent. A man of lots of ideas and very hardworking. He has contributed to the growth and development of Nigeria both when he was in Military and as a civilian.
Tell us about your Contemporaries?
Wole Olanipekun and all of them, we are all contemporaries.
What are your views on the agitations for restructuring? Do you think that could be the solution to Nigeria’s problem?
No!. A nation that has no constitutional structure agreed upon by the people cannot restructure what is not structured constitutionally. A nation that has no constitutional structure in what has not been constitutionally agreed upon. Now, Nigeria does not have its own constitution of the people by the people and for the people. It is not the government that gives a nation constitution like the military did, but its the constitution that gives a nation government. So the issue is , Nigeria needs to resolve the appropriate constitutional framework that the people of Nigeria agree upon. Like I said in Nwabueze’s lecture that the people of Nigeria needs a united nations of Nigeria. And if those nations want to form a federation, it will be called a united entity. They have to sit round a table and agree. But that has never happened. Colonial constitution was foisted on us in Lancaster , Military constitution was forced on us in Nigeria, now to have a properly structured nation, people of various nationalities in Nigeria need to sit around the table and agree in a free approachment of the constitutional structure that they want.
You said earlier that the President is doing his best and that Nigerians should be patient with him. But do you think the President appointed capable Ministers to work with him?
Yes. Sure. For instance, if you look at the young man, the Minister of Interiors, BOT (Bunmi Tunji Ojo) he is blazing the trail in an exceptional manner. I mean he is turning everything around. He fits into the statement of Abraham Lincoln that “ You cannot make a difference if you work on a beaten Palm, You have to burn and thirst for distinction. That is what that young man BOT, Minister of Interiors is doing. And I think there are quite a number of others like that, trying to change the story of Nigeria for a more rewarding story. So until the ministers are there, its difficult for the President to know who is good and who is bad.
As Nigeria celebrates Democracy day, there is hunger in the land and apprehension everywhere, what advice would you give President Tinubu?
Well, I will advice Tinubu and the people of Nigeria. I will advice the President to reduce government consumption considerably. We cannot have hunger in the land and spending billions to support Hajj. We cannot have hunger in the land when those who are supposed to represent us are living like kings, buying expensive vehicles, flashing wealth around, dealing with billions. We can’t have hunger in the land when corruption continues unabated at the expense of the people. I will advice he reduces expenditure of government and restructure if there is anything to restructure and have control over the appetite of civil servants.
Our civil service in Nigeria is incredibly corrupt. Individuals handling the civil services are corrupt. In fact irresponsibly corrupt in many cases. Government needs to find a way to deal with that level of corruption.
And then for the people, we need to work harder. Nations can’t progress without hard work. For example, when we were in secondary school, even in primary school, we have gardens, it was compulsory to have gardens. We plant tomatoes. We plant peppers and plant many things and had supervisors, in fact, Agricultural supervisors. In my own secondary school, we had Poultry, we had Piggery, we had animal husbandry, We had many things then, but now, all of them gone. Today, all our children are riding Okada now and doing Yahoo. People need to return to common sense and face the reality of life. Hardwork does not kill a man but poverty kills a man. People need to change and when they change, Nigeria’s condition will be changed. Its not all about money. I was interviewed recently by my own University in the United States, University of Toledo, my advice to young lawyers was that they should look for work and not money. The same advice I give to Nigerian young people. Look for work , not for money. When you look for work and you work hard, money will come.
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