OPINION - History can never be rewritten: Bolaji Abdullahi is a performer. By Ali Anifowoshe

Date: 2014-08-03

Nicollo Machiavelli was right when he said that in politics, the end justifies the means - people will do anything as a result of political expediency. Therefore, as we approach 2015, we are aware that people will not only start a war but will also drag everyone and everything into it. It is in this light that we understand the recent attempt by one Wasiu Adekunle, on behalf of Kwara Alliance for Change, to drag Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Minister of Sport, into what can best be describe as a 'clueless' debate.

Yes, it is true that during the season of election, all manner of faceless and cantankerous groups will surface; but you don't go poking your hands into everybody's eyes all in the name of politics.

What is the issue here? We understand that one Bello Bature wrote an article that is not too favourable to the new guy in the Kwara PDP 'power-house', Dr. Suleiman, the Minister of National Planning. In response, Wasiu Adekunle picked up his pen and started throwing insults at everybody. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the immediate past Minister of Sport was one of those attacked in the piece.

Obviously, in the puerile mind of Adekunle, anyone who speaks ill of the new Minister must be holding brief for the Kwara State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) or its frontline members like Mallam Abdullahi. But in order not to join a monkey in plucking stupid leaves in the forest, we would address the insult Adekunle meted out to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and also show him, with fact of course, that while Dr. Suleiman may have attained significant achievement in his personal life; the prove of competence in public office is no longer a burden on Mallam Abdullahi but on Dr. Suleiman.

As far as performance in public office is concerned, majority of Nigerians can bear testimony to the capacity and ingenuity of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in this regard.

While questioning Mallam Abdullahi's record of performance as Sports Minister, Adekunle asked: "what impact did Bolaji's Sport ministry have on Kwara state?". Okay, in case Kayode and his pseudo group (Kwara Alliance for Change) were in the moon during the tenure of Mallam Abdullahi as a Minister, we would endeavour to tell them a significant impact Mallam Abdullahi made on Kwara State.

Mallam Abdullahi, using the platform of his NGO (Omoluabi foundation) worked out a partnership with Supersport which resulted in the 'Let's Play' Project. Owing to Mallam Abdullahi's belief that there is a direct correlation between mental alertness and physical fitness, he mobilised school Children across the State to the Kwara State Stadium. The children played novelty match and also received free Supersport customised Football and other sporting souvenirs. But since that was not the usual N500 naira distributed at political rallies, it won't qualify as "impact" in the eyes of Adekunle and his type.

Further questions from Adekunle include: " How many of our sons and daughters benefited from the so called 50 Billion Naira Sports ministry budget? How many social empowerment did Bolaji Abdullahi (The Technocrat) carry out with his share of the so called 50 Billion Naira budget of the Sports ministry?". Even though we do not understand whether Ministers of government are now expected to share the budget of their Ministries to the "sons" and "daughters" from their State; we would still endeavour to come to the level of Adekunle and explain to him what we hope will not be too much for him and his group members to comprehend.

In terms of social empowerment, Adekunle may not be aware that Mallam Abdullahi pays the school fees of many indigent students in Kwara State University and elsewhere. Today, some people publish the names of those who get jobs through them. But apart from simple phone calls from the parents of those concerned to register their appreciation, Mallam Abdullahi was not known to have a website containing the names of those he gives job appointments. As one well versed in the teachings of Islam, Mallam Abdullahi understands that the best type of 'giving' is the one offered with the right hand without the knowledge of the left. But to the Adekunles of this world, you are not doing anything unless you climb the tallest mountain to announce it. Mallam Abdullahi is more polished than that.

Adekunle also referred to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as a "glorified houseboy and sycophant to Bukola Saraki". What a shame! We now can testify that it is better for people like Adekunle to keep quiet and be thought wise rather than speak out and erase all doubts. Adekunle, as a result of ignorance and inability to properly review the credentials of 'houseboy' and 'sycophants', mistakenly call Mallam Abdullahi names that are more suitable for people whose only first and last address was government offices.

For the record, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was already a famous and accomplished journalist before joining government in 2003. With a Second Class Upper degree in Mass Communication from Unilag and a Masters degree(with Distinction) in Governance and Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex; Abdullahi was not your usual 'wetin we go chop' guy when he joined government. With his impressive record, there was no way Mallam Abdullahi would fit the description of a 'houseboy', whether glorified or otherwise.

Ali Anifowoshe
For: All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF, Kwara Chapter)

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Monkey Pox     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Theophilus Oyebiyi     Niyi Osundare     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Alaiye     Durosinlohun Atiku     LEAH Charity Foundation     AGM Professional Services     Ike Ekweremadu     Alapansapa     Saidu Kawu     Iliasu     Olokoba Sulyman     Isiaka Gold     Wahab Issa     Allocation     Suleiman Abubakar     Malete     Bashirat Bola Bello     Magaji Erubu     Aiyedun     March 28     Lanre Aremu     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Barakat Community Secondary School     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     General Hospital, Offa     Sobi Hill     ASMAU PLAZA     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Amusa Bello     Fareedah Dankaka     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Mumeen Lah     20 Billion Bond     Musa Abdullahi     Abubakar Suleiman     Makama Of Kaiama     Share-Tsaragi     Tunde Yusuf     Femi Oladiji     Simeon Ajibola     NIRSAL     Towoju     Funmilayo Zubair     Adama Isa     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Umar Ayinla Saro     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Henry Olaosebikan     Oloye     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Ramadan     Quareeb     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Monthly Sanitation     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Olaiya Lawal     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     ITP     Tinubu Legacy Forum     Otoge     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     All Peoples Party    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olatomiwa Williams     Rihanat Ajia     Hussein Olokooba     Taofeek Sanusi     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Ilorin General Hospital     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Kwara State Government     Adebara     Ganiyu Taofiq     Idris Garba     CKNG     Sa\'adu Gambari     Adeleke Ogungbe     Akorede     Busari Alabi Alausa     Saduki Lafiagi     ITP     Ayo Salami     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Mahee Abdulkadir     Jimoh Bashir     3MTT     Durbar     Esinrogunjo     Olatunji Ayeni     Tunde Akanbi     Ojuekun Sarumi     Ado Ibrahim     Emir Of Ilorin     Ibrahim Oniye     Alao Ayotunde     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Baakini     All Peoples Party     Toyin Falola     Jimba Babatunde     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Adisa Logun     Olam Food Ingredients     Marafan Shonga     Kwha.gov.ng     Minister     2017 Budget     Deji Ajani     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Yomi Ogunsola     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Bamikole Omishore     Oluranti Idowu     Raliat AbdulRazaq     ER-KANG     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Taofik Abdulkareem     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     A.E. Afolabi     Sidikat Alaya     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Shuaib Olarongbe     Tayo Awodiji     Y.A. Abdulkareem     Abdullahi Samari     NULGE     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Kale Belgore     NITDA     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Binta Abubakar Mora     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     VADA     Sai Kayi