Few days ago, I had reason to go through my old file and stumbled on the duplicate of the petition I wrote to the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Bureau Of Employment Generation in 2007. Later in the night, as I nestled on my bed I pondered on the controversy generated by the petition and the recognition it earned me in the Bureau. As I type the piece I still doubt if my colleagues who were also affected by the 'mistakes' made by the staff of the agency ever had the faintest idea of how far I went to seek justice on the matter. That year, I was among the first batch of the beneficiaries of the Ogun State Graduates Assistance Scheme (OGUGRADS) introduced by the prodigiously talented former Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel. As the programme continued, my monthly allowance with that of my few colleagues were stopped while other beneficiaries got theirs regularly. We collectively approached the agency to lodge our complaints severally but they told us different story each tιмe we visited and as was their usually practice, they demanded for more tιмe to investigate and correct the anomalies which has prevented us from getting paid for three months. Despite all our efforts and the cost of transporting ourselves from Ijebu-Ode to Abeokuta nothing positive happened. When it dragged into four months, I thought I needed to act. One beautiful Saturday morning of September, 2007. I drafted my petition and made it two copies. One addressed to the Governor and the other to the Permanent Secretary(PS) of the Bureau. After matured consideration, I withheld one and handed the other by hand to the Secretary to the PS there at OGEGEP building in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta the following Monday. The woman passed my message to the PS and having perused the content, the then Permanent Secretary, Mr Niyi Olatiloye, a completely perfect gentleman was embittered. He summoned a meeting of all his staff at once. As I learnt, three members of staff were queried instantly and the remaining were given marching order to quickly investigate the cause and make correction immediately. My picture and details were posted on their information board as the entire Bureau launched investigation into my case. By Thursday morning same week, I received a call from the Bureau that the PS would be glad to have a meeting with me that morning! I was flabbergasted. The PS asking to have a meeting with me? I couldn't believe it. When I got the call the second tιмe I told the caller to tell PS that I won't be available that morning. I assured them I might come the following ∂αy if I'm disposed and have the transport fares. They agreed to foot the bills and I consented. When I arrived there on the morning of last Friday of the month of September, three of their staff were already at the gate. I asked if it was because of me they waited at the gate. They denied yet they all left the gate at once as they ushered me directly to the office of the PS. One of them told me the PS has been around and has arrived earlier because of me. We met the PS by his office door. He discharged others and ushered me into his spacious and neatly furnished office. As we conversed, he told me he has gotten to the root of the matter and wanted to assure me I'll get all my unpaid allowances in few days' tιмe. At this juncture, I disagreed. I told him I have another copy of the petition addressed to the Governor and I can go and deliver it at once. He didn't like the idea. He looked straight at me, sighed then rose up and made for the door. I was alone in his office for about 7 minutes before he joined me again. This tιмe, he requested that I accompanied him to the bank to make some verifications on same issue. I had no option, I followed him. As we drove through Oke-Ilewo to link Lalubu street he started the conversation again. He told me there won't be any need for me to petition anyone again. He assured I'll get paid same ∂αy. We finally parked in front of FCMB Lalubu branch and walked in. I sat among other customers waiting to be attended to while he went straight to see the Branch Manager. Before I left the bank that ∂αy, I got four alerts for the four unpaid allowances! The PS was kind enough to wait and endure till I got all the alerts before he dropped me off at Kuto where I got a bus back home. But for the petition, I wouldn't have been able to get justice on the issue. The letter visited where I couldn't reach. A well written message is one way we can reach people who are beyond our reach and propel discussions to a greater level. James Lendall Basford said 'a man may speak with his tongue and only be heard around the corner; but another man may speak with his pen and be heard around the globe.
I once read about Ceiline Dion and Les Brown many years ago. Their stories, apart from being inspiring, underscore the fact that every dream needs support. Celine Dion was born to a poor Canadian family in 1968. At 13 with no support from her family, a Canadian stranger Rene Angeli mortgaged his house to help Celine Dion realize her dream.Another child was born but abandoned by a teenage mother. That child was picked up and later adopted and nursed by a small unknown 'hinge' called Mrs Miami Brown. The little child is today Les Brown, world renown motivational speaker.I remembered these stories again last week when I visited a family I have known for years in a quiet small town near Sagamu. Ordinarily, I seldom visit the family except I have things to give them. I know their plight and how daily meals have become a recurring challenge to them. This time, I expected their condition to have gone worst under the 'Change' regime.When I arrived in their compound last Tuesday, I couldn't believe my eyes seeing the good change that has taken place. Everyone looked well-fed and happy and they were all eager to offer me food.While the merriment continued, I called the father of the house aside and asked about his two children whom during my last visit were mere errand kids to almost everyone in the neighbourhood. They weren't enrolled into any school at the time because of the family's financial crisis. The older was 7 years old while the younger was only 5. Their father told me same man who put smile on their faces put his kids in school and warned them not to tell anyone.What excited the father most was that his boys are the ones topping their classes in terms of academic performances.And who could their new messiah be? The old man was afraid to tell me but after much pestering, he mentioned Honourable 'Ladi Adebutu. I wasn't surprised. I have heard simiIar stories linked to him. In fact, based on my findings, the Adebutus have over the years demonstrated that giving back to their communities and the country at large is as important as being alive. Many educational institutions in the state can testify to the countless number of developmental projects that have been donated by the family and Hon Oladipupo Adebutu himself. Once upon at Igbosoro, there was a raging storm which removed the entire roof of a block of classroom. The incident claimed the life of a pupil whose parents were later contacted and compensated financially with the affected building re-roofed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu. At Imuti, near Ogijo, in same Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, I learnt he single-handedly started and completed a primary school for the community.In our everyday life we see the impact of little efforts that transform lives and eventually produce giants! I call these efforts 'hinges' that are swinging BIG doors. Every big door you see, swings on very small hinges. Compared to the doors they swing; hinges are negligible. Sometimes, what уσυ need to sow into people's lives are negligible but they make impact.Kudos to this distinguished Remo ambassador, may God bless what уσυ have!
Life is brutish in Nigeria because of the excruciating hardship Nigerian masses have been going through. For many families, hunger is the highest cause of their insomnia. There's aggression everywhere. Уσυ hardly see anyone smiling these days.Few days ago, I stopped by to make a simple transaction in Sagamu Branch of FCMB. It was drizzling that late afternoon and many of those who love to hang around banks for reasons known only to them had run inside the bank. Anyone who knows Sagamu branch of FCMB will agree with me that its banking hall is less spacious than any standard.I walked past the computer doors and I couldn't believe the crowd I met inside. The hall was dangerously congested and everyone, like bees buzzing and zooming towards the scent of sweet honey, jostled to get to the tellers in front. I joined the queue closer to the exit computer door and soon, I had few other persons behind me. I felt uncomfortable at first, but I found relief when I looked past the crowd, straight into the inner banking hall and my eyes feasted on the finest specimens of feminine gender seated right inside. While I allowed this indulgence, I felt a soft tap on my shoulder and I turned round at once."Уσυ are occupying my space young man!" An elder man in his late 50s said as I looked straight at him. He was tall, dark-complexioned and clad in a well starched and ironed Buba and Sokoto. Obviously a Yoruba man from his look.'Really? But I didn't see уσυ here when.."Then уσυ must be blind!" He cut in angrily.At this moment I was madly enraged as well but I managed to bridle my anger. I looked up at him and asked him what he considered an insult.'Is that how to address people?' I demanded and continued.'At your age?''And уσυ are someone's father?''I pity уσυr children!'I couldn't believe his reaction. He charged at me as he shouted at the top of his voice. It took the intervention of the security guys around to calm him. Other customers on the queue expressed shock seeing he started what he now considered an insult.Throughout my stay in the bank that afternoon, he kept hissing and ranting while pointing at me from where he sat after he angrily left the queue.Later, I was told he has been inside the bank for many hours to complain the N50 deducted twice from the money sent into his account.But what's my own? Na me say make CBN or Buhari introduce Stamp Duty?
