Sitting with Osuntokun

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One of the characteristics of great leaders is the ability to produce (mentor) even greater leaders. I should expect that applies to those who become professors. And for those who earn the honour of emeritus professor, it must be a given. Osuntokun has a bragging right in this respect. Let me put it this way: he’s had a bountiful harvest from his sowing in this field – distinguished academics of note in the fields of history and political science that he taught at one point or the other.

Again, I beg the reader’s pardon for sticking purely to academic fruits and leaving out those who are active in the field of politics. To be fair, one of the professors I mention below ended up in politics but it’s his credentials as a professor that earned him a place on the list.

From his time at the University of Ibadan (Jos Campus): Professors Ehiedu Iweriebor and Sonni Tyoden; University of Lagos: Professors Abayomi Akinyeye, Hakeem Tijani, Taiwo Akinyele, Femi Adegbulu, David Aworawo, Abolade Adeniji, Victor Ukaogo and late Armstrong Adejo; University of Maiduguri: Professors Kyari Mohammed and Ademola Adeleke. Some of them became Vice Chancellors, for example, Tyoden (University of Jos). Others like Akinyele (Maranatha University) and Mohammed (Nigerian Army University) are currently serving. Talk about impact!

Prof and I then discussed leadership for a while. When I asked which leader made the greatest impression on him as a young man, he started by making comments about the triumvirate of Zik, Sardauna and Awo. To him, Zik was “a very impressive man.” He continued: “I admired Zik’s intellect… he was thoroughly educated in the Western sense. He was a nationalist to the core. He was well-read and would often add spice to his speeches by quoting some obscure author. He was loved all over the country, even in the major cities and towns in the old Western region.” He admired Sardauna for his practicality and far-sightedness. “Sardauna was a practical and far-seeing man.

He was one of the people who appreciated Awo’s viewpoint on federalism, not on principles per se, but to protect the interests of the north.” And then Awo. Of the three, “Awo made the greatest impression on me. I admire his steadfastness, discipline, commitment and hard work. He was honest enough to admit at the time that Nigeria was a geographical expression, realistic enough to appreciate our differences and understood that the best way to harmonise these differences was to have a proper federal government.” With respect to discipline, “he was able to discipline himself and his followers. He made it impossible for any of the ministers in his government to own more than a plot of land in the government reserved areas.” Osuntokun should know this. His elder brother was Awo’s minister in charge of the Ministry of Lands and Housing. Speaking on the impact of his leadership, he continued: “Awo was a visionary. His foresight gave his people a headstart with the free education policy. I was a beneficiary in Class 6; benefitted for one year before leaving for secondary school.”

While this part is really about looking forward, I guess an emeritus professor of history cannot resist the itch to look back. In his reflections on the country’s mistakes of the past, he holds the view that “The coup of 1966 destroyed the basis of a federal union in Nigeria. And it has worsened. There is so much bitterness in Nigeria. By creating more and more states, we have made things worse. Politics should be domiciled in the federating units.

What we have now is a situation where development plans and other important matters are centralised, leaving no room for individual initiative.” Osuntokun was quite effusive at this point. He believes that the right system in place can be effective in curbing the excesses of public (and even private) officials. As he put it, “The corruption in this country is because no one is ever punished. If punishment is swift, corruption would be minimised and bad behaviour would be reduced.”

In his message to the young generation, Osuntokun harps on impact and making a difference: “Wherever you are, try to make a difference. Whatever assignment you have been given – in public or private – try to lay a good example. Let people see that you have something to offer. Do whatever you have to do to make sure you have an impact.” From this point, the teacher in him took over: “If you are a lecturer, do not be absent in your classes, prepare well for your lectures. Students will be happy to come to your class if they know that they’ll learn something new. As a teacher, assess dispassionately; do not have favourites and do not collect money from your students. Let people remember you for being fair.” He then touched on the point of uprightness and courage: “Be upright, if we all are upright in this country, even the economy will pick up. Young people should be upright. And they should also speak up when things are going wrong. This can come at a price but it is worth it. Some of us were incarcerated for speaking up without any trial. Whoever finds himself in a position of leadership should always speak truth to power.”

Osuntokun also had a message or two for those in public life, or those who are preparing for a role in public life. His view is that “they should read biographies of successful leaders around the world. Whoever gets to the top would have paid the cost. If you are a leader, look at what others have done in other countries. The sad thing is our leaders don’t read. Even the memos that are written for them, they don’t read them.” He goes on in his charge: “Please familiarise yourself with what is happening in the world. The world is a global village. Align yourself with positive developments around the world.”

When he spoke at this point, I could tell that the comments came from a deep place, almost as though he was suddenly reminded of the cost of leadership failures and found himself comparing the disparateness of what used to be and what is. Hear him, “In my youth, we used to have public water in our houses but all that is now history.”

I end this with his own words:
“As a historian, I’d like to suggest a few things like it is done in the U.S.. You cannot become a citizen of the USA without knowing the history of the country. You have to know about the history of the country before you can be a leader. Many of our leaders are absolutely ignorant about our own history. I recommend that citizenship training should be introduced in our curriculum. We are in a situation where our young people know more about the histories of other developed countries and cities than the history of their country.”

I am 100 per cent with Osuntokun on that. If our own leaders don’t know about their own country, what then can they really give? Please think about that for a moment.

And that’s it! We’ve come to the end. What more can I say? Thank you, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, OON, FNAL, FHSN, Baapitan Oyo.
Akinnuga is Executive Director, The Adeyinka Adesope Foundation (TAAF).