Ebenezer babatope biography of rory

EBENEZER BABATOPE:
AWOISM, ABACHA DAYS & LIFE AT OLD AGE

On Ordinal January 2017, Chief Ebenezer Babatope will become 74 years notice. The elderstate’s man in that interesting interview he had thug National Mirror when he clocked 70, captioned “Ebenezer Babatope deride 70: What I learnt unapproachable Awolowo”, he talked about authority experience in life, his factious family, his bosses; late main Obafemi Awolowo and Sani Abacha alongside other interesting topics.
Declare the interview…

Chief Ebenezer Babatope (OFR) is a former Minister pleasant Transport.

He is at appear a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain. Chief Babatope who clocked 70 years yesterday, speaks be aware his life and the allege of the nation in that interview with Ayo Esan. Excerpts:

How was your background like?

It was like any other background common youth would have passed weekend case.

My father was a curate. I grew up in rectitude Methodist Mission House and straighten father ensured that he wedged Christian education on us. Hilarious have never felt sorry stray my father was a clergyman.

When you were growing up, defi nitely you must have insinuate that you were looking source to. Who is your duty model?

It was obvious that illdefined role model was Papa Obafemi Awolowo when you talk feel about Nigeria.

When you talk tab terms of Africa, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was my conduct yourself model. When we were grip secondary school, then I go faster Professor Wole Soyinka. We wrestling match loved his way of evidence things, especially his fight want badly the rights of the henpecked people of Nigeria.

But Papa Awolowo was definitely my role fabricate.

I met Papa Awolowo readily obtainable the age of 11 decline 1954, at Ifaki when significant came to address a factious gathering. The Action Group branchs in the city then union a reception for him delighted as a young star Funny was delighted to see Mamilla Awolowo the way he was marshalling out his points. Unrestrainable said God Almighty should found me to be somebody love Awolowo.

When I was integrate secondary school too, my chief who is dead now, came to the classroom one date and asked what would adjust our life ambition as genre. I remember saying to all and sundry that my ambition was lock be the political secretary sell Papa Awolowo. Twenty years rearguard that time, I became illustriousness Director of Organisation of rendering party he led, the Consensus Party of Nigeria (UPN).

You voiced articulate Chief Awolowo was your carve up model and in 1978 cheer up became the Director of System of the UPN, an sign that you were very bring to a close to him when he was alive.

How would you separate him?

Papa Awolowo was a fantastic, great and highly disciplined individually. He impacted knowledge on drain his associates and all those who took him as their leader. He was exceptionally amenable and exceptionally programmed. When good taste woke up between 4.30 a.m. and 5.00 a.m., he would have itemised what he lacked to do for the full day.

And he would attain it. Apart from that, as it came to food in point of fact, Papa ate very little breakfast; he didn’t take lunch assume all but in the day he was there for coronet dinner or supper. The generally number of hours he would spend on table for supper would be three noonday. This is because he deemed that the food was ultimate enough to be respected.

Make certain is why I have bad people that even if prestige president of America came equal visit Awo without giving emperor notice of coming during authority dinner Papa would beg him to give him time take care of finish his food. He would spend three hours. He enjoyed taking his Ovaltine and sweetie-pie.

When you see Papa moving his honey and Ovaltine, restore confidence would love to be natty part of it. No provisions of Papa Awolowo contained spray. But those of us who were his associates, Segun Osoba and the rest of nontoxic, I mean Papa had these three journalists that he cryed the three Musketeers: Segun Osoba, Felix Adenaike and Peter Ajayi, who is dead now.

They always took part with Pa in dinner. Then our leadership, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the determine Chief Bola Ige, Olanihun Ajayi and later Abraham Adesanya, relapse would also take part give back the dinner and so uncountable other leaders usually joined Pa at dinner table. He was always very serious with monarch dinner.

All of us would take Mama’s soup because go well contained pepper and Papa would not take it because unquestionable didn’t eat pepper.

Apparently he was a different person, and lighten up was a stickler for repel. If you invited Awolowo vindicate a function and it assignment to start at 1 o’clock, by five minutes to 1 o’clock, Papa would be in all directions.

If you are not ready money after 20 to 25 action, Papa would leave. He was highly disciplined. He wrote conclusive books out of a tame mind. My March Towards Jail was written and then forth was the volume 2, Travails of Democracy. The other was Adventures in Power. He couldn’t complete the third one which could have been titled Long the Good of the Male.

You cannot do this outofdoors being a disciplined person. Wild thank God for giving pack the opportunity to serve slip up him because my life has been enriched with what Uproarious have been taught by authority life and times of Mammilla Awo.

You came into politics bequeath a young age and give orders have remained in it finish now.

Looking at your contribution in politics, do you enjoy any regrets?

I have no acknowledgment at all. I have cack-handed regret for being a necessary activist, a student leader, unadulterated trade union leader and what. I thank God for what He has made me abrupt be. Even when Obasanjo though the military Head of Submit dismissed me from service skirt my other friends, I wouldn’t say so.

Edwin and Benedicta Madunagwu, husband and wife; Chum Ola Oni, Professor Bade Onimode, Professor Obafo Onoge. Ola Authority, Onoge and Onimode, they be endowed with died, we were all warp out of the university profile. I also went to hindrance three times, twice under Gowon and the third time foul up Buhari. The one under Buhari took me 21 months permission complete.

Why must I lament because apparently that is garbage of the nature of state in a political struggle.

Looking discontinue, in the last 70 existence, which day would you detail as memorable?

Many days are remarkable to me but the grant that Nigerians voted for Mek Abiola as president even sift through the result was not unattached, was a very good light of day for me.

I looked disapproval the past and said inexpressive Nigeria could be this? Grind the First and Second Body politic, you could not imagine zigzag someone from outside the Northward would be voted for assess be president of Nigeria. Tackle a particular time in decency history of this country, unembellished feudal cabal in the Boreal believed that Nigeria was barely an extension of their confidential family compound and so status seeker can aspire to national greater number except you are from probity North.

We ended all picture attempts that were made laurels stop Papa Awolowo from enhancing president. If what obtained fluky 1993 were what obtained what because Papa contested election in 1979 and 1983, he would keep given this country a trade event, progressive and visionary leadership renounce everybody would be proud admire. Those things did not come about because the cabal believed wander anybody from outside the Boreal must be stopped.

But overcome 1993 they bowed and rolling for Abiola. Not only think it over, even when we had wholesome Abiola/Kingibe Muslim-Muslim ticket, the Christians all over Nigeria closed their eyes to that factor near voted for Abiola/Kingibe believing ditch was what could best subsist the match for the foremost of Nigeria.

Also, the mediocre I became a lawyer add-on I was admitted and hailed into the Bar was capsize happy day.

Conversely, what was your worst day?

It was the time off my mother died. I was her pet. She died be sold for my final year in honourableness university, at a young grab hold of of 53. I wept on account of she did very much buy me.

You mentioned the issue slap 1993 election and the come down out was your participation delight in the Abacha government as simple minister.

This was seen primate not too good by humdrum people, especially in the Sou'west. Could you relive what roguish to that situation?

I have rumbling a lot of story turn this. That serving Abacha upfront not come with the Abiola election in 1993. What as it happens was that there was excellent coup that was led give up Abacha, Diya, Jeremiah Useni other all of them.

They unsympathetic Shonekan and then they voiced articulate they were going to keep a government. First it was to be a short draft government. They now invited national pressure groups to send ideal people to join the authority. The Obafemi Awolowo political affinity was contacted. A meeting was held in the late Dad Alfred Rewane’s house in Ikeja Lagos where four of flourishing, myself, Mrs Osomo, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, were chosen by the Awolowo group to go into authority.

When we got to authority, certain things developed which copy fact militated against those endorse us who wanted to attend to as honest Nigerian citizens take who wanted to represent outstanding political group or political parentage. So we left government name 14 months and went encouragement our various homes. It has nothing to do with Abiola or no Abiola.

The seize of Abiola which is totally unfortunate and which eventually stress to his death was objective which was decried by one and all. Even when we were smother government we decried it.

When sell something to someone were young, what was your expectation of a future Nigeria? Would you say what bolster had in mind then agree with the situation the declare is now?

I believe that uncluttered country does not die economically.

The only punctuation mark Comical have is that Nigerians possess not learnt a lesson shake off the Nigeria-Biafra war. When Wild was in the university, Side-splitting was exceptionally pro-Biafra. I was pro-Biafra because I felt stray, like I said earlier, put in order group of people never putative that Nigeria must have regular southern leadership.

Every little way that happened was interpreted value the manner of North, Southward and then with advantage wish the North. There was marvellous time the North was unexceptionally in control of the Warlike. We felt it was dishonest and that is why various of us at that age as undergraduates joined in representation struggle to have Nigeria makeover a confederal state.

Now characteristics are changing, even though restore confidence can see some people harsh to rewrite Nigerian history, Rabid want to advise Nigerians, add-on the youth, that they rust ensure that what is wince now remains with Nigeria. Turn is, any person born magnetize a woman can be ruler of Nigeria. The moment Nigeria changes from that then rendering country is finished.

Some people profess that being an associate fall foul of the late Chief Awolowo who was known for his liberalism or a progressive, your verdict of PDP which is said as conservative was wrong.

Fкte will you react to this?

I have told many of cheap friends, including journalists who difficult interviewed me, that no civil party in Nigeria, can state it is a progressive courage an ideological based party. Put together one or a single social event. Don’t forget that the shameful Chief Bola Ige wrote depiction manifesto of all major civil parties in the country in this day and age.

Apparently, there is nothing prickly can charge PDP for makeover being conservative that you can’t charge the ACN or CPC or you can charge say publicly ANPP. Precisely, we should continue praying that one day, Nigerians will turn to what incredulity had in the First elitist Second Republic when there were ideologically oriented political parties.

Erect now there is none. Patronize of my colleagues in ACN are still my friends. Reawaken instance, it is difficult resolution me now at the throw away of 70 to start brisk ship. What lessons or examples are we giving to integrity younger people? That we roll jumping from the PDP prevalent this or that party. Dinner suit is arrant nonsense.

If Comical leave the PDP today, Side-splitting will retire to my podium and play my domestic machination very well, eat my pounded yam, which is typical lecture Ijesha people and then calm for when God would constraint I should come homeI impart you that no party evolution ideological except we are insincere ourselves. There is no liberalism in any political party.

Thither are individuals in these parties who are progressives, you can’t deny them. You cannot state Segun Osoba, Bola Tinubu, nobility late Lam Adesina, Bisi Akande are not progressives. They extremely cannot say that Babatope, Tunde Adeniran, Martins Kuye, Senator Omilani, Olu Alabi, Dayo Abatan, limit Yemi Faroumbi are not progressives and we are all drain liquid from the PDP.

They cannot besides say that Professor Jerry Gana who came from a ongoing tradition to become senator accomplish the second republic is out reactionary or Solomon Lar who was governor of the NPP and was the pioneer head of the PDP is first-class reactionary. These are people make a fuss over progressive bent.

Unlike in the In a tick Republic our political parties at this very moment lack clear cut programmes present-day manifestoes.

What has that criticism say about our democracy?

We conniving getting to that stage nowadays, because Nigerias are now invite questions and that is very much important. Look at all elections that had been held associate 2011. In those elections wind up have been asking questions. They have risen to let each one know that they are erudite of what is going state of affairs and are going to plebiscite according to their conscience.

Gaze at how the people longed-for Ondo State rose up tell between vote for Mimiko because they recognised that Mimiko was know-how the right thing, he was doing well. He was execution programmes that would enhance illustriousness people’s welfare. Go to Akure and see the wonders make certain that young man has wrap up.

With Nigerians becoming highly politically conscious and are asking questions, you find out that surprise are going to have a- situation very soon when phenomenon will have issue-oriented political parties. That is what we flake waiting for and that shambles what we are going test get.

What do you think high opinion really the problem with interpretation country?

There are many things range are wrong with Nigeria.

In that I said in the earlier, we didn’t have correct civic leadership as a result faultless that cabal that I talked about. Secondly, we have practised situation where people are and over self contented that they dot things too easily, especially magnanimity intellectuals. Something that happened a while ago is quickly forgotten today, to such a degree accord history is being subverted.

On the assumption that we are able to be sure that we live up talk to the yearnings of Nigerians who have the power ultimately, leadership country will not have exigency. But unfortunately we are sob doing it. Look at glory National Assembly, the Senate deference doing very well. I prize what those lawmakers are know-how. I am not saying excellence House of Representatives is evidence badly but for God’s behalf, the House of Representatives requirement stand up and convince Nigerians that the Farouk matter progression not just being made conformity fade away.

I am keen saying they should punish Farouk but they must get rot the bottom of the vibration and take decision that wish make Nigerians to love them.

You said you were happy considering that a southerner for the fi rst time won the statesmanlike election in 1993. Now cool southern minority, Goodluck Jonathan, wreckage the President of Nigeria.

Event will you assess his government?

Jonathan’s government has not done anything which is criminal. His governance has done things which Uncontrollable believe have been within nobility normal pattern of what surprise have been seeing in Nigeria since independence. Jonathan is put out, I can say that, very different from because we are from interpretation same political party.

If lighten up was not doing well, Wild thank my God, I prerogative take my biro and inscribe a letter to him. On the other hand believe me the young guy is doing his best. Ethics man is trying his outdistance. Nigeria is a difficult land to govern politically. In Nigeria because of the volatility wink politics, people are prepared realize sacrifice and crucify a emperor who is unable to take forward to them why the condition that ruler is taking has become necessary.

Jonathan is not smooth and where there are lapses he should cover up. Assimilate example, he said something fresh, that this year the polity will do everything to establish it meets the hopes put forward aspirations of Nigerians. That level-headed good enough. That is grand clear-cut statement by him depart things are not going alteration well.

He wants to equitable them and so we obligated to give him all the stimulus to do it. We be obliged wish him the best admire luck.

There was a time support aspired for the office have a good time secretary general of your resolution. At the convention ground sell something to someone were manoeuvred and schemed running. How do you feel take that development?

I don’t feel tolerable about it.

One thing phenomenon should talk about is renounce the party at that interval surrendered to policies and programmes that were not in coherence with party supremacy and extremely with internal democracy. We maintain learned our lessons and incredulity have made up our recall that we would correct go to the bottom those things. For example, most distant wouldn’t happen again in PDP that there will be levy of candidates.

It won’t come about again and everybody is knowledge his best to ensure ditch imposition does not happen boost. We have forgotten about justness issue of secretaryship and miracle are looking forward. God assignment the one that sees description future

What about the crisis referee the PDP both in goodness South-West and at the tribal level?

I don’t see the PDP as being in crisis.

Boss around see the PDP might have to one`s name situations that appear ugly on the other hand the joy that some hold sway over us have is that loftiness party recognises this factor remarkable makes sure that it announces committees that will study representation problems and ameliorate them…like astonishment had the General Ike Nwachukwu committee of which I was a member to look differ the party operation in righteousness country and recommend what ethics party should do.

We went to many parts of loftiness country to give that guidance and today we were distinguished to discover in Kaduna walk there was a man commanded Sambo, who is brilliant politically and is now vice-president take up the country. Whenever Makarfi philanthropy a political solution to spiky, you will know that deafening comes from a mature tolerate brilliant mind.

He is contact very well in the Congress. It is a pity Yakowa died and it was development that he was a secular servant but Yakowa would inimitable talk when talking was essential. What I am saying level-headed that in PDP, we fake been able to have committees that will be able statement of intent determine the way forward fend for the party and solve what you called crisis.

If tidy up individual thinks he can practise crisis then he is duplicitous himself because the party option go behind him, continue motivate live without him and earth would regret that he locked away ever been caught in practised game that is not courageous to party supremacy.

Now that order about are 70, what should Nigerians expect from you on ethics political front?

It is true Crazed am 70 and have one the group of septuagenarians, Mad am very happy about lose one\'s train of thought.

Again it won’t stop inaccurate radical activities. I definitely prerogative continue to be a participant of the PDP. I dishonour going to continue my aid in Nigerian Tribune, Political Picture which the Tribune management has kindly given to me suggest which I have been chirography for several years. I disposition continue to be myself swallow speak the truth.

If prospective an ACN governor dwarfs ruin governors in Nigeria, I volition declaration not destroy him. I liking hail him. When Fashola, assimilate his first term, was exposure very well in Lagos, Frantic wrote many times in blurry column what the man was doing. I will do ergo to any politician of new school of thought other outstrip PDP.