Chief Saubana Alani Bankole, father of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji, has assured Nigerians that his son will not pander to the dictates of the mafia within the Peoples Democratic Party.
Bankole, who spoke against the backdrop of fear that powerful people in the PDP might override him because of his young age, said the new Speaker is strong-willed.
He recalled that some Nigerians — Generals Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo — who were under-40 when they became Heads of State did not disappoint Nigerians.
Bankole said, “He (Dimeji) can‘t be pushed around by anybody and he won‘t pander to the influence of powerful caucus within the ruling party.
“Nigerians should not mistake my son’s youthfulness as a sign of weakness. My son will be 38 years of age tomorrow {today}.
When General Yakubu Gowon became the Head of State in Nigeria, he was 33 years and a bachelor.He had nine years of peaceful and progressive reign in this country.
“When the late Muhammed became the Head of State in 1976, he was only 37 and when Obasanjo became a Head of State, he was 37 years. “So if these former leaders did not falter despite their young age, then my son will perform excellently well and not falter.”
The politician, who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan at a symposium organised as part of the funeral rites for the late elder statesman, Chief Adisa Meredith Akinloye, said he was confident that the new Speaker would not fail the nation.
According to him, Dimeji will take advantage of his good moral background and education to avoid anything that could soil his reputation and that of the family.
Bankole added that the Speaker would surpass his political achievements.
He hailed Akinloye, a former national chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria , saying his politics was one devoid of bitterness.
Bankole said, “Akinloye was straight forward to a fault; he was a pillar to his friends; he was a reliable and potent political actor in the
First and Second Republics.
“He (Akinloye) never said anything against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, despite the fact that they belonged to different political parties. He respected the late sage . He taught us to respect our political elders irrespective of our political differences.”
Bankole, a former acting National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, had during an exclusive interview on November 1 with THE PUNCH, said he was confident that Dimeji would not disappoint Nigerians.
He said, “I have no doubt in my mind that he will live up to the expectations of Nigerians and perform creditably.
“I have confidence in him and I know he is capable of doing the job.”
Also, the Founder of the Global Harvest Church in Ibadan, Rev. Victor Adeyemi, advised the new Speaker to be a role model to the younger generation of Nigerians.
The event was attended by a former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, former Governors Lam Adesina and Omololu Olunloyo; Chief Emiola Adesina, Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao; Dr. Toriola Oyewo; and Dr. Mabaje Toyese.
In his remarks at the seminar titled, “Akinloye’s Role in the First and Second Republics, Adesina said the late NPN chieftain had as contemporaries, the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello; former Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa; and former Leader of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party, Alhaji Aminu Kano.
He said that Bello, Balewa, Awolowo , Kano and Akinloye were all committed to serving the people unlike the present day politicians.
Meanwhile, the new Speaker on Monday shocked officials of a commercial bank in Abuja when he shunned protocols and queued like other customers to cash a personal cheque.
He went to the bank located in the National Assembly premises unaccompanied by security details or personal assistants.
An eyewitness told one of our correspondents that, as soon as the Speaker walked into the bank, he went straight to an inner room in the small apartment, housing the bank to clear the cheque.
Shortly after, he walked into the larger room and waited a few seconds, still unnoticed, for a space to be available for him to queue up.
According to the eyewitness, the bank workers were not conscious of the fact that he was the new Speaker when he walked in.
But as he was about to join the queue, a member of staff of the bank asked him not to do so.
It was gathered that the official collected his cheque and advised him to go back to his office and wait for the cash.
Bankole, it was learnt, smiled and walked back to his office.
The new Speaker had on Monday expressed surprise when he was told that he would not board commercial aircraft any longer because of his new status as the country’s number four citizen.
This was when he told his ADC to get a ticket for his flight to Lagos en route to Abeokuta, his home town in Ogun State.
Bankole who felt humbled said, “I asked the ADC and CSO to go and purchase flight tickets and the ADC started smiling. I felt like saying, ‘What is wrong with this man?
“And he said, ‘You are not allowed to go on commercials flights anymore because of your status as the speaker.”
By Chiawo Nwankwo and Sunday Aborisade
The Punch
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
