A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola, has said he is not obsessed with political appointment but rather an elected position. The legal luminary stated this while reacting to issues raised concerning his interview on a Radio Programme on Saturday. The statement read:
“This fellow, Adeyemo knows very little about me and what I stand for. He is however entitled to his opinion on the subject matter. He should go and read the unedited transcript of the interview I granted.”
“I spoke not on Moniya Iseyin road, I spoke not on education, I spoke not on flood disaster, I spoke not on education and sundry issues brought up by Engr Adeyemo. I addressed the questions put to me and other ancillary issues germane to the question.”
“Unlike the disco critics who equate personal animosity with public interest, I identified the issues affecting the state, the template of development for the state and various actors therein , commend the actors where need be, castigate their actions when necessary, proffers solution where necessary and even commend Seyi Makinde where and when necessary.”
“Perhaps, Adeyemo does not know that I covert no political appointment. If I had wanted political appointment I would have gotten one long ago but I desire none but elective ones.”
On COVID-19 funding, “I had given to the down troddens and the poorest of the poor far more than what I would have contributed to the fund through radio stations, religious organisations, professional bodies communities and some individuals without making noise and this was attested to by the managements of radio stations even during the interview under reference. I did say during the course of the interview that ‘having is not a function of giving’ and that everyone has a motive for giving and not to give. It is within the purview of individual rights to chose what he wants to do.”
“That message should sink into Engr Adeyemo. For those of us who have built a reputation of speaking truth to power, personal , political, religious or pecuniary relationships matters not. Over the years I have maintained that philosophy of life even to my discomfort, pecuniary and political loss but I bent not.”
In my classic write up in August 1992 as the deputy Speaker of Oyo State, I stated thus, “ I would rather be the head of a rat than be the tail of an Elephant “. Perhaps Engr Adeyemo was out of the country then is still in school. His ignorance of the essence of Adeniyi Akintola can be excused. I live not on government and for me, politics is not a profession but a temporary occupation. For forms of government, let the fools contend.”
“How true could this assertion be? Judging from the thousands of commendations I had received from all over the world including those from PDP leaders in and outside the state for being blunt in my assessment of the developing template of our state in the interview, the few comments of distortion from the disco critics move me not.”
“Some of them confessed never being seized of the contents of my interview but chosed to take same out of context. Even before leaving the studio , hundreds of compatriots have besieged the premises of Fresh FM asking for the transcript and giving out money for photocopies. Compatriots like Engr Adeyemo should be saved from their ignorance of the contents of the interview. Let someone on this platform oblige him with a copy free of cost. So long and happy Sunday to all in the house.”
