Birthday: Salute to Barr Akeem Agbaje | By Akeem Adebiyi
His is a compound name in Ibadan Land and beyond. Nobody in Oyo State would feign ignorance of not knowing the AGBAJE family of Ayeye in Ibadan and, by extension, the Oyo State of Nigeria.
Barrister Akeem Agbaje’s noble and humble background only reflects in his level-headedness,moderate social disposition, religiosity, philanthropic deeds, unassuming personality, and intellectual sagacity. Albeit,he has made his mark in the corporate world of business,but his name rings more than a bell in the legal profession. His mission in the murky waters of Nigeria’s body polity is that of willingness to serve the populace through the application of modern managerial skills, laden with technological inputs.
Fortunately,Barr Akeem Agbaje has pitched his tent in the camp of the core progressives in the politics of Oyo state of Nigeria. He remains a household name among youths and adults alike. Thus, he has friends, associates, and admirers in virtually all thirty three local government council territories in Oyo State and beyond.
Contrary to some wild and strange insinuations from some quarters, Barr.Akeem Agbaje is not a green horn in the politics of Nigeria. Just like others of his age and charisma,he is a good old war horse who has paid his dues in our body politics over the past years. Ranging from his days as a strong member of the youth wing of the Unity Party of Nigeria (U.P.N.) to his stewardship as an active member of the Alliance for Democracy (A.D.), he has always been at the forefront of all the struggles that were targeted at installing a progressive government at the centre. His collaborative efforts in terms of sponsorship of candidates seeking elective offices through inter-party electoral contests have actually endeared to some important personalities in the politics of Oyo State,not to mention his numerous philanthropic gestures to the needy. Therefore,it could be reasonably inferred that he is not an opportunist but a serious-minded team player who earned his fame through hard work. The perceived catalyst that could be ascribed to his systemic ascension to political reckoning is his family’s rich political background.
His forebear, the late Dr.Saka Anthony Agbaje,though a medical doctor,was one of Nigeria’s nationalists who earned political independence for the Nigerian state. Also,Barr.Mojeed Agbaje, of blessed memory, participated actively in Nigeria’s politics for several years. At the point of his unfortunate death in 1978 or thereabout,he was a frontline member of the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) under the leadership of Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe. So,it is conjecturing thinking that he must have learnt some rudiments of politics from these great men despite sharing a common ancestry with them, judging by his age.
As a smooth and wonderful operator,he is favourably disposed towards improving the welfare standard of the party members across the board, on and off the season. A greater number of beneficiaries of his social scheme shall bear eloquent testimonies to this assertion and expose’.As a committed party man who has his eyes on the gubernatorial ticket,he has always proved his mettle of being equal to the task at several political fora, media parleys, inclusive. He is a reporter’s delight anyway.Moreover,he has always contributed to the party’s growth and development on all fronts.
At this juncture,it is worth making reference to the harrowing episode of 2023 as occasioned by the party’s congresses and gubernatorial primaries in Oyo State.
Both exercises turned out to be charades. Albeit the past is irretrievable,it is only the future that we can make better through our concerted efforts. My reasoning was informed by the foul tactics employed by hawks in our midst to secure phyrric victories in the exercises under reference. The judgement of history,as a consequence,was the party’s humiliating defeat in the gubernatorial contest of 2023. It is on record that Barr.Akeem Agbaje was one of the gubernatorial aspirants who were cheated out in that exercise. He lost millions of naira in those shoddy arrangements. Yet he took his loss with equanimity and remained within the fold. He identified with the party through thick and thin.His largeheartedness in this circumstance is a further proof of his unwavering commitment and absolute loyalty to the party and its ideals. In retrospect, other gubernatorial aspirants lost their cool and deserted the party. Yes,they were frustrated and anoyed out.
As the glorious year of 2027 is fast approaching, it is pertinent for men and women of conscience to identify with Barr.Akeem Agbaje in our cherished efforts to restore the party’s lost glory. He has the war chest to lead a team that can wrestle the reins of governance from the present political vampires in the government house, masquerading as the harbingers of a new social order. Judging from the demography of the young, dynamic, and articulate political figures that dominate the inter-party electoral contest in the present-day Nigeria,he is worth giving a trial because he falls into this category. Favourable consideration of that defector and his defeated counterpart shall undoubtedly spell doom for the party again as they shall work against one another. A suitably qualified neutral candidate with a good political pedigree should be given the ticket to enhance the party’s victory in the next gubernatorial contest.
As Barr.Akeem Agbaje is still basking in the euphoria of his new age,I join thousands of his well-wishers and admirers to salute his courage, positive accomplishments,kind heartedness, intellectual prowess, and unassuming personality. May it please Allah to answer his prayers and supplications, Amen.
