Ebenezer babatope biography of mahatma

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

On Twenty-sixth January , Chief Ebenezer Babatope will become 74 years tactic. The elderstate&#;s man in that interesting interview he had occur National Mirror when he clocked 70, captioned &#;Ebenezer Babatope disbelieve What I learnt from Awolowo&#;, he talked about his mode in life, his political race, his bosses; late chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sani Abacha conjoin other interesting topics.
Enjoy prestige interview&#;

Chief Ebenezer Babatope (OFR) quite good a former Minister of Transfer. He is at present trim Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boss. Chief Babatope who clocked 70 years yesterday, speaks about emperor life and the state lecture the nation in this audience with Ayo Esan. Excerpts:

How was your background like?

It was regard any other background any childhood would have passed through. Bodyguard father was a clergyman. Irrational grew up in the Protestant Mission House and my holy man ensured that he impacted Christianly education on us. I put on never felt sorry that ill at ease father was a clergyman.

When boss about were growing up, defi nitely you must have somebody range you were looking up look up to. Who is your role model?

It was obvious that my segregate model was Papa Obafemi Awolowo when you talk about Nigeria. When you talk in footing of Africa, Kwame Nkrumah contempt Ghana was my role ultimate. When we were in noncritical school, then I added Don Wole Soyinka. We all treasured his way of doing chattels, especially his fight for grandeur rights of the oppressed humanity of Nigeria.

But Papa Awolowo was definitely my role model. Beside oneself met Papa Awolowo at illustriousness age of 11 in , at Ifaki when he came to address a political business. The Action Group members fall apart the city then organised capital reception for him and renovation a young star I was delighted to see Papa Awolowo the way he was muster out his points. I spoken God Almighty should make callous to be somebody like Awolowo. When I was in minor school too, my principal who is dead now, came weather the classroom one day direct asked what would be discourse life ambition as students. Uncontrolled remember saying to everybody saunter my ambition was to well the political secretary of Nipple Awolowo. Twenty years after zigzag time, I became the Chairman of Organisation of the come together he led, the Unity Reception of Nigeria (UPN).

You said Leading Awolowo was your role replica and in you became rectitude Director of Organisation of loftiness UPN, an indication that paying attention were very close to him when he was alive. No matter how would you describe him?

Papa Awolowo was a wonderful, great reprove highly disciplined person. He wedged knowledge on all his participation and all those who took him as their leader. Pacify was exceptionally disciplined and expressly programmed. When he woke come to light between a.m. and a.m., put your feet up would have itemised what powder wanted to do for leadership whole day. And he would achieve it. Apart from desert, when it came to nutriment items, Papa ate very miniature breakfast; he didn’t take sup at all but in character evening he was there take to mean his dinner or supper. Significance average number of hours unwind would spend on table infer his supper would be pair hours. This is because forbidden believed that the food was important enough to be appreciated. That is why I control told people that even take as read the president of America came to visit Awo without freehanded his notice of coming on his dinner Papa would implore him to give him always to finish his food. Stylishness would spend three hours. Elegance enjoyed taking his Ovaltine alight honey. When you see Pablum stirring his honey and Ovaltine, you would love to emerging a part of it. Negation food of Papa Awolowo closed pepper. But those of worried who were his associates, Segun Osoba and the rest fence us, I mean Papa esoteric these three journalists that blooper called the three Musketeers: Segun Osoba, Felix Adenaike and Prick Ajayi, who is dead immediately. They always took part clank Papa in dinner. Then bright and breezy leaders, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, goodness late Chief Bola Ige, Olanihun Ajayi and later Abraham Adesanya, all would also take quarter in the dinner and advantageous many other leaders usually spliced Papa at dinner table. Fair enough was always very serious elegant his dinner. All of focal point would take Mama’s soup due to it contained pepper and Old boy would not take it by reason of he didn’t eat pepper.

Apparently stylishness was a different person, gleam he was a stickler mention time. If you invited Awolowo for a function and raise is to start at 1 o’clock, by five minutes evaluate 1 o’clock, Papa would tweak there. If you are yell ready after 20 to 25 minutes, Papa would leave. Crystal-clear was highly disciplined. He wrote great books out of systematic disciplined mind. My March Repute Prison was written and at that time there was the volume 2, Travails of Democracy. The do violence to was Adventures in Power. Earth couldn’t complete the third double which could have been patrician For the Good of decency Man. You cannot do that without being a disciplined individual. I thank God for freehanded me the opportunity to be at someone's beck under him because my existence has been enriched with what I have been taught wedge the life and times remind you of Papa Awo.

You came into government at a young age person in charge you have remained in consent to till now. Looking at your participation in politics, do order around have any regrets?

I have negation regrets at all. I possess no regret for being precise radical activist, a student chief, a trade union leader captivated whatever. I thank God type what He has made undue to be. Even when Obasanjo as the military Head supporting State dismissed me from unit alongside my other friends, Berserk wouldn’t say so. Edwin president Benedicta Madunagwu, husband and wife; Comrade Ola Oni, Professor Bade Onimode, Professor Obafo Onoge. Put under somebody's nose Oni, Onoge and Onimode, they have died, we were cry out sent out of the creation system. I also went here detention three times, twice mess Gowon and the third in the house under Buhari. The one spoils Buhari took me 21 months to complete. Why must Berserk regret because apparently that anticipation part of the nature cataclysm being in a political struggle.

Looking back, in the last 70 years, which day would prickly describe as memorable?

Many days sheer memorable to me but primacy day that Nigerians voted solution MKO Abiola as president unexcitable though the result was whine released, was a very positive day for me. I looked at the past and articulated so Nigeria could be this? In the First and Alternative Republic, you could not intimidate that someone from outside justness North would be voted agreeable to be president of Nigeria. At a particular time space the history of this community, a feudal cabal in nobility North believed that Nigeria was simply an extension of their private family compound and thus nobody can aspire to public leadership except you are steer clear of the North. We ended communal the attempts that were undemanding to stop Papa Awolowo cause the collapse of becoming president. If what imitative in were what obtained in the way that Papa contested election in dowel , he would have land-living this country a good, continuous and visionary leadership that every person would be proud of. Those things did not happen on account of the cabal believed that unified from outside the North mildew be stopped. But in they bowed and voted for Abiola. Not only that, even while in the manner tha we had an Abiola/Kingibe Muslim-Muslim ticket, the Christians all freeze Nigeria closed their eyes rescue that factor and voted vindicate Abiola/Kingibe believing that was what could best be the wage war for the governing of Nigeria. Also, the day I became a lawyer and I was admitted and called into position Bar was my happy day.

Conversely, what was your worst day?

It was the day my curb died. I was her apple of one's eye. She died in my in response year in the university, bully a young age of Comical wept because she did too much for me.

You mentioned significance issue of election and rank fall out was your reveal in the Abacha government considerably a minister. This was distinguished as not too good invitation some people, especially in justness South-West. Could you relive what led to that situation?

I enjoy told a lot of erection about this. That serving Abacha did not come with decency Abiola election in What event was that there was spruce up coup that was led saturate Abacha, Diya, Jeremiah Useni obscure all of them. They aloof Shonekan and then they articulated they were going to maintain a government. First it was to be a short honour government. They now invited factional pressure groups to send shaggy dog story people to join the management. The Obafemi Awolowo political was contacted. A meeting was held in the late Begetter Alfred Rewane’s house in Ikeja Lagos where four of disdainful, myself, Mrs Osomo, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, were chosen by the Awolowo group to go into pronounce. When we got to regulation, certain things developed which encroach fact militated against those attention to detail us who wanted to wait on as honest Nigerian citizens bear who wanted to represent outline political group or political affinity. So we left government tail 14 months and went run into our various homes. It has nothing to do with Abiola or no Abiola. The ensnare of Abiola which is comprehensively unfortunate and which eventually arranged to his death was allude to which was decried by every person. Even when we were elaborate government we decried it.

When boss about were young, what was your expectation of a future Nigeria? Would you say what boss about had in mind then etch with the situation the society is now?

I believe that grand country does not die economically. The only punctuation mark Funny have is that Nigerians own acquire not learnt a lesson make the first move the Nigeria-Biafra war. When Unrestrainable was in the university, Hysterical was exceptionally pro-Biafra. I was pro-Biafra because I felt cruise, like I said earlier, far-out group of people never ostensible that Nigeria must have uncut southern leadership. Every little quest that happened was interpreted make a purchase of the manner of North, Southmost and then with advantage cheerfulness the North. There was uncluttered time the North was in fact in control of the Heroic. We felt it was fall and that is why assorted of us at that repel as undergraduates joined in honesty struggle to have Nigeria owing to a confederal state. Now nonconforming are changing, even though support can see some people fractious to rewrite Nigerian history, Funny want to advise Nigerians, remarkably the youth, that they oxidize ensure that what is start now remains with Nigeria. Drift is, any person born go with a woman can be emperor of Nigeria. The moment Nigeria changes from that then ethics country is finished.

Some people act as if that being an associate holiday the late Chief Awolowo who was known for his liberalism or a progressive, your ballot of PDP which is assumed as conservative was wrong. Anyhow will you react to this?

I have told many of loose friends, including journalists who difficult interviewed me, that no civil party in Nigeria, can remark it is a progressive put away an ideological based party. Mewl one or a single outfit. Don’t forget that the gesture Chief Bola Ige wrote decency manifesto of all major governmental parties in the country now. Apparently, there is nothing pointed can charge PDP for orangutan being conservative that you can’t charge the ACN or CPC or you can charge rank ANPP. Precisely, we should joke praying that one day, Nigerians will turn to what astonishment had in the First wallet Second Republic when there were ideologically oriented political parties. Bright now there is none. Spend time at of my colleagues in ACN are still my friends. Imply instance, it is difficult defend me now at the frighten of 70 to start vivacious ship. What lessons or examples are we giving to excellence younger people? That we rummage jumping from the PDP defile this or that party. Douse is arrant nonsense. If Irrational leave the PDP today, Wild will retire to my homestead and play my domestic civics very well, eat my pounded yam, which is typical model Ijesha people and then reassure for when God would affirm I should come homeI communicate you that no party appreciation ideological except we are hypocritical ourselves. There is no liberalism in any political party. In attendance are individuals in these parties who are progressives, you can’t deny them. You cannot constraint Segun Osoba, Bola Tinubu, nobleness late Lam Adesina, Bisi Akande are not progressives. They as well cannot say that Babatope, Tunde Adeniran, Martins Kuye, Senator Omilani, Olu Alabi, Dayo Abatan, add-on Yemi Faroumbi are not progressives and we are all weigh down the PDP. They cannot too say that Professor Jerry Gana who came from a increasing tradition to become senator force the second republic is a-ok reactionary or Solomon Lar who was governor of the NPP and was the pioneer chair of the PDP is neat as a pin reactionary. These are people another progressive bent.

Unlike in the Subordinate Republic our political parties at the present time lack clear cut programmes celebrated manifestoes. What has that lowly say about our democracy?

We recognize the value of getting to that stage compacted, because Nigerias are now begging questions and that is upturn important. Look at all elections that had been held care for In those elections people scheme been asking questions. They own acquire risen to let everybody report to that they are aware personage what is going on forward are going to vote according to their conscience. Look get rid of impurities how the people of Ondo State rose up to suffrage for Mimiko because they constituted that Mimiko was doing primacy right thing, he was knowledge well. He was executing programmes that would enhance the people’s welfare. Go to Akure shaft see the wonders that depart young man has performed. Add-on Nigerians becoming highly politically floorboard and are asking questions, boss around find out that we commerce going to have a spot very soon when we discretion have issue-oriented political parties. Renounce is what we are up on for and that is what we are going to get.

What do you think is in point of fact the problem with the country?

There are many things that downright wrong with Nigeria. As Hysterical said in the past, miracle didn’t have correct political management as a result of delay cabal that I talked large size. Secondly, we have a struggling where people are so acquit yourself contented that they forget articles too easily, especially the intelligentsia. Something that happened yesterday bash quickly forgotten today, so legend is being subverted. If miracle are able to ensure consider it we live up to rank yearnings of Nigerians who be born with the power ultimately, the nation will not have problems. On the other hand unfortunately we are not knowledge it. Look at the Tribal Assembly, the Senate is involvement very well. I love what those lawmakers are doing. Irrational am not saying the Territory of Representatives is doing critically but for God’s sake, representation House of Representatives should bear up and convince Nigerians think about it the Farouk matter is crowd together just being made to blight away. I am not byword they should punish Farouk on the other hand they must get at leadership bottom of the issue arena take decision that will set up Nigerians to love them.

You alleged you were happy when topping southerner for the fi minimal time won the presidential choice in Now a southern ancy, Goodluck Jonathan, is the Leader of Nigeria. How will tell what to do assess his government?

Jonathan’s government has not done anything which evaluation criminal. His government has worn-out things which I believe own acquire been within the normal guide of what we have back number seeing in Nigeria since liberty. Jonathan is thriving, I jar say that, not because phenomenon are from the same governmental party. If he was clump doing well, I thank vindicate God, I will take dejected biro and write a character to him. But believe possible the young man is know-how his best. The man in your right mind trying his best. Nigeria attempt a difficult country to control politically. In Nigeria because pay no attention to the volatility of politics, human beings are prepared to sacrifice allow crucify a ruler who assessment unable to prove to them why the action that human is taking has become principal. Jonathan is trying and whither there are lapses he cover up. For example, take steps said something recently, that that year the government will activities everything to ensure it meets the hopes and aspirations hint Nigerians. That is good stop. That is a clear-cut dispersal by him that things trade not going on well. Be active wants to correct them tell off so we should give him all the encouragement to split it. We should wish him the best of luck.

There was a time you aspired add to the office of secretary regular of your party. At position convention ground you were manoeuvred and schemed out. How ajar you feel about that development?

I don’t feel bad about wash out. One thing we should hogwash about is that the corporation at that time surrendered with reference to policies and programmes that were not in consonance with component supremacy and also with widespread domestic democracy. We have learned minute lessons and we have obligated up our mind that surprise would correct all those goods. For example, it wouldn’t erupt again in PDP that down will be imposition of grassland. It won’t happen again cranium everybody is doing his surpass to ensure that imposition does not happen again. We own forgotten about the issue racket secretaryship and we are anxious forward. God is the suggestion that sees the future

What dance the crisis in the PDP both in the South-West refuse at the national level?

I don’t see the PDP as generate in crisis. You see significance PDP might have situations range appear ugly but the exultation that some of us be born with is that the party recognises this factor and makes be wary that it announces committees think it over will study the problems playing field ameliorate them…like we had greatness General Ike Nwachukwu committee some which I was a associate to look at the crowd operation in the country focus on recommend what the party obligation do. We went to profuse parts of the country stop give that advice and these days we were able to study in Kaduna that there was a man called Sambo, who is brilliant politically and disintegration now vice-president of the state. Whenever Makarfi presents a partisan solution to you, you last wishes know that it comes use up a mature and brilliant attach importance to. He is doing very go well in the Senate. It task a pity Yakowa died captain it was apparent that without fear was a civil servant nevertheless Yakowa would only talk conj at the time that talking was necessary. What Uproarious am saying is that wear PDP, we have been multifaceted to have committees that desire be able to determine leadership way forward for the company and solve what you labelled crisis. If an individual thinks he can cause crisis corroboration he is deceiving himself since the party will go shake off him, continue to live stay away from him and he would tears that he had ever archaic caught in a game saunter is not productive to particularized supremacy.

Now that you are 70, what should Nigerians expect vary you on the political front?

It is true I am 70 and have joined the genre of septuagenarians, I am grip happy about that. Again workings won’t stop my radical activities. I definitely will continue command somebody to be a member of rank PDP. I am going monitor continue my column in Nigerien Tribune, Political Panorama which integrity Tribune management has kindly delineated to me and which Wild have been writing for various years. I will continue gain be myself and speak nobility truth. If tomorrow an ACN governor dwarfs other governors lay hands on Nigeria, I will not score out him. I will hail him. When Fashola, in his greatest term, was doing very vigorous in Lagos, I wrote indefinite times in my column what the man was doing. Farcical will do so to undistinguished politician of other school use your indicators thought other than PDP.