WHY I WILL AGAIN STAND BY AKETI BUT NOT THE GROUND OF ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATION OR, ANY ACT OF FORGERY IF PROVEN;AKETI’S INTEGRITY MUST BE PRESERVED – Olasumbo Faseesin, Esq
H.E Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi, SAN appears to be the voice of hope in the struggle for emancipation of the good people of Ondo State. I have never hidden my opinion of any situation that purports to challenge the place of humanity. For this reason, I sharpened the skills of advocacy with accustomed mentoring. It is not enough to have the mastery of legal knowledge, but putting same to use unequivocally has always been the orientation. To among other things, effect needed changes in the society. It has always been the believe that our society will only get better if we unite to progressively reduce ignorance, poverty & illiteracy. These unarguably inspired my passion to foster and espouse the place of good conscience.
I am most grateful that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi ,SAN discovered my vocal skills and penchant for advocacy hence my return to make worthy contribution towards improving my community and providing support, hope & succour for our people. I was never ready for Nigeria variant of politics. It offends my principles and critically affects my psychology. I often wonder how people would be unnecessarily mean, wicked and recklessly display inhumanity to man. How people would most times irrationally abuse the sensibilities of other people and yet pretend to serve them. Many sad experiences with leadership around the corridor of power until Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi,SAN distinguished himself in words, thought and action. First, Arakunrin was the voice of the voiceless, he always had his opinions on issues, whether domestic or, National. He would have something significant and more fascinating in opinions. He never shy away from making critical but objective decisions and opinions. You might hate him afterwards, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi,SAN is not given to pettiness, cowardice or, any act limiting the capacity of a man in the sphere of influencing change. He says it the way it is and no pretence. Equally he says and does only what he can do. However, he’s not God!
These are rare qualities that purges and questions my integrity as to what leadership we seek, and perhaps the kind of followership we might wish since we cannot all be leaders neither are we all followers forever. Nevertheless, at some point of our lives, we must either belong to these stages above and when we even pretend or, feign as onlookers, it rubs on us the effect of these compelling classification. To this end, I am glad Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi,SAN himself discovered my media advocacy, and decided to bring me on board. He picked me directly from the public space having noticed my unending passion for humanity. No one can claim to influence or, induce such privilege or, opportunity. Arakunrin’s penchant for social media activities could only have influenced his decision to consign me into the OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDANTS, ONDO STATE.
Of course, I knew the hue & cry arising from this innocent but incredible appointment. In fact, I knew of few but worthless petitions from Comrade brothers, insisting among other things that I was not a registered Cdhr member in Ondo State, and a host of meaningless arguments. In spite all these daring challenges, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi,SAN insisted and decisively denied otherwise that opportunity to come on board. Arakunrin believes I had more to offer than staying faraway. No political leader in their ranks, whether from my immediate local government and senatorial district can claim to have influenced the honest intention and conviction to bring me into the place of Ombudsman. Whatever the intention of Arakunrin at the time he took the decision is not inconsistent with my avowed beliefs and practices. As such, it espouses my commitment and to that extent, I decided to keep speaking, writing and placing humanity at the fore of my advocacy.
Flowing from above, my typical self kept faith with the promises of influencing and effecting the needed changes in our society. Having had a couple of board meetings, I suggested the impending need to see Arakunrin and perhaps develop the OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDANTS TO MEET LAGOS STANDARDS. I raised this view in a couple of meetings held but to no avail probably because of the busy schedule of Mr Governor or, whatever. I was unsatisfied because it’s all looking redundant for me. No! I will not bargain for this knowing too well that Mr. Governor could not have shown interest in this appointment simply to consign me to a corner and perhaps take my human rights in exchange. Unfortunately, that is not my typical self who massively spoke for the teaming population of Adekunle Ajasin University Staff who were unjustly sacked. One of such many advocacy that caught the fancy of Mr. Governor. Insisting vehemently that these staff were innocent, and that Governor Mimiko could not have been too righteous to sack and deny able bodied human beings a decent means of livelihood for more than three years he was the Executive Governor of Ondo State on needless grounds.
For me, it was not only inhuman but satanic, wicked and reckless abuse of power. I am deeply saddened by those who died in this struggle and would for this, acknowledge and appreciate the likes of Barr. Tolu Babaleye among other victims, including Barr. Sola Ajisafe who despite odds stood a voice and prominently echoed the reinstatement of these unlawfully sacked officers of the University. Some of whom I understand were colleagues and contemporaries of Prof. Mimiko the then Vice Chancellor of the University.
Obviously, this could have informed Arakunrin’s honest desire but the neophytes sycophants denied me access to Mr. Governor and where supposedly redefined, I could only speak to myself for reasons that I have been appointed into an office where I barely picked anything to meet the expectations of my people. I am however not perturbed by the circumstance of office and the unnatural effect of my involvement to reasonably seek the best interests practice and be true to my conscience. This prompted my reactions on social media on a few occasions, emphasising my inaccessibility to Mr. Governor. After all, I didn’t consent to otherwise keep mute and perpetually deny my rights of expression simply because I was appointed. Nevertheless, restraint, I struggled up until I took a chill out to further my studies in England.
While divorcing myself from any purported allegation of forgery, misrepresentation or, falsehood, I must again appreciate Arakunrin for looking the direction of honest intention and advocacy for the good of the society. He’s a leader and a great one at that. But every great man will always have his weaknesses, limitation & challenges. The Famous Okonkwo in ThINGS FALL APART had the most tragic experience with his immediate family and close clan. These were the immutable words of the giant literari scholar, Prof. Chinua Achebe of blessed memory. He left behind many of his artistic works to poignantly purge the society of many rotten escapades. He remarkably remains one of the prominent writers whose words and imageries resonate and reverberate a feeling of societal change hinged on accustomed values and good virtues for leadership.
In conclusion, I advise our leaders against sycophants who surround to ridicule, diminish and potentially destroy legacies. It could come from within or, without/outside. The fundamental requirement and responsibility of leadership should above personal and private interests triumph as a major priority. And the covenant to serve the people must come honestly, without let or, hindrance. Greed, or, display of megalomaniac behaviour has no place in genuine leadership. I leave this message to your conscience and in good faith. In all ways, and at all times, it must be service to humanity (the best work of life).
Olasumbo Faseesin, Esq
Public Interests Advocate
13/12/2023
