Cyriacus Nnaji
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in the 2023 Governorship Election in Lagos State, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandol) has given his endorsement for the establishment of an Annual Leadership Lecture for Chief Dapo Sarumi, one of the founding fathers of PDP in Lagos State.
Adediran made the suggestion at a Birthday Lecture titled “Politics of Survival within the Contemporary Nigeria’s Political Environment,’ a lecture delivered by Dayo Kayode (PhD) at the 80th birthday celebration of Chief Dapo Sarumi on Thursday, 16th of May, 2024, at Agege, Lagos.
Spokesperson to Adediran, Gbenga Ogunlewe, said that with such leadership lecture the good works of Chief Sarumi would continue to resonate, “There is an observation and advice from Jandol, how can Chief Dapo Sarumi continue to deepen his ideological politics even at this level? Joshua in the Bible did so much for the Israelites, he led them from the wilderness to the Promise Land and when he was over eighty years, the people were giving account of all he has done, and they said you are old, but there are so much land to cover, but even in this your old age you can still do something. And this is the suggestion from Jandol, it is important that we have Chief Dapo Sarumi Annual Leadership Lecture.”
He said PDP is a highly ideological party which many do not know and it is through lectures as this that such ideologies can be reviewed. “You may not understand how much knowledge you have shared in this meeting today, some people do not know that PDP is so ideological, it is within this kind of platform they share such to continue to enrich the party. And if the group grants his suggestion, I have the permission to tell you that he is interested in partnering with you,” Ogunleye disclosed.
He added that Dapo Sarumi stands for ideological politics. “He believes that the only reason someone should seek political power is in the interest of the people, and now that he is 80 years, he may not be able to do much easily, but if the platform is established, where this ideology is regurgitated and people review it, at least it will be a platform where people can come to review and correct where correction is needed, and then understand why exactly they should be in politics and why they should seek political power.
“So that platform will help in raising new set of soldiers who can go ahead with what Chief Sarumi has done and achieve what he was unable to achieve,” he stated.
On how he felt the mentees of the celebrant could use their knowledge to promote the ideologies of the PDP, he said, “A lot has been said here today, and one of his mentees is presently the Deputy National Secretary of the party, that means he is in the National Working Committee of the party. So there is need for more people within this political family to get involved, make themselves available and in every area of influence they have they must continue to stand for what Chief Sarumi stand for. And that is what Jandol is doing and that is what he is intending to do if he gets into the government of Lagos State.”
He advised the party members to be steadfast in their political believes. “The band wagon may be going the other way but we are able to swim against the tide, and make sure we put in good governance, that is the essence of a political party, to ensure we have the right government.
Ogunlewe, while conveying the message of Jandol to the occasion said “Jandol recognized Chief Sarumi as the foremost leader of PDP in Lagos State. Whatever the situation might be, whatever the perception of others may be, Jandol said that Chief Sarumi has two attributes different from other politicians Number one is integrity. And if you listened to the lecture delivered by Dayo Kayode, he made reference to sacrificing personal interest for group interest, and that is exactly what Chief Sarumi is doing. He always stands by his integrity. Now number two is his very high sense of decorum. As far as he is interested and passionate in winning elections, he would not descend low to the point of snatching it and running away with it. He would rather want to win it fair and square.”
Speaking on Politics of Survival, the Guest Lecturer, Dapo Kayode stated that it is evidently noticeable that within the political actors in Nigeria that their focus is often laced with self-preservation, acquisition of resources with impunity , Machiavellian political maneuvering, uncouth political navigation towards any threat that can jeopardise their political survival and holding unto positions of power. Essentially they want to by all available means ensure their grip to power in challenging and uncertain circumstances.
In achieving politics of ideology Dapo said that this calls for the emergence of inspiration leaders with a clear vision of what leadership is to the society away from selective leadership by godfathers. “Such leaders would have been inspired as well driven by their understanding of the crucial roles of ideology within the context of societal and democratic growth.”
On how to enthrone politics of ideology he further said that strong institution in conjunction with respectful civil society organsations should be made to facilitate the promotion and enthronement of serious intellectual discourse s within civil engagements towards understanding as well as refining divergent ideological positions without any form of rancor.
He added that to achieve ideological politics, actors should not jettison the formation of alliances with individuals or groups that share similar ideological traits. This he said would ensure as well present a very strong and more cohesive front as it reduces dissipation of energy and influence aside resources.
In conclusion he said “A people that refused to emancipate itself from the greed, wicked and oppressive clutches of its survival political leaders will be perpetually emaciated under such oligarchies.”
