Son of late Chief Bola Ige and former Commissioner for Lands in Osun State, Architect Muyiwa Ige was a guest on Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio recently. During the interview session, he spoke about the much-talked about ‘Operation Amotekun’, life while growing up and his late Dad. Excerpts:
As a child of late Chief Bola Ige, what impression did you have about your dad while growing up?
Well, he was commissioner in 1974, the period of General Adebayo but more importantly, he was just dad to me.
What was growing up like as the son of a big man who was being nortured with what people call ‘silver spoon’?
The issue of a big man didn’t arise then, he was just ‘Daddy’. So he would go to work, my mum too was a Chief Magistrate, I think on June 1st 1977, she became the first lady judge in the larger Oyo State at the time. So we just had a happy close-knit family, so the issue of whether he had been the former commissioner never really arose, he was just daddy.
But some people will look at you and call you a silver spoon or even a golden spoon, will you agree?
No, well, that’s their impression. Golden spoon or silver spoon is based on subjection. I grew up with this adage that “I should remember the son of whom I am”, so the issue of silver or golden spoon in some cases may be derogatory. There was really no exceptional advantage that we had, all we had was a good quality education as well as a good home training and anything after that was ‘jollof rice’!.
Did people give you special treatment in school or in the society being the son of an influential person?
That has never happened for once because we do not carry anything that we boast of. Our father is our father, our mother is our mother. Whenever we go out, when we see an elderly person, we prostrate to greet them. My children also do these things. So, having an advantage didn’t really happen, but we knew where we came from and where we were going.
For the privilege of those who are just growing and don’t know your father, who really was Chief Bola Ige?
I would say there’s no one in Yorubaland who doesn’t know who Chief Bola Ige is, even children just going to school but for your sake, I’ll say just a few things. Our father, Bola Ige was the first governor in the old Oyo between 1979-1983 and after that he was a Yoruba leader most importantly, the Deputy leader of the Afenifere. He was elected here at the Premier Hotel in 1998. He was also a one-time Minister for Power and Steel, after that he was the Attorney-General but the most important was Bola Ige and Co, a law firm in Ibadan here, of which he was the sole proprietor and all the cases done then were almost free and most of the chieftaincy matters in Yorubaland now has Bola Ige’s influence. We thank God for that.
The way late Chief Bola Ige was killed is still a matter of shock to many of us who were old enough to understand what happened. You were around on that fateful day, can you attempt to paint a picture of the incident?
A picture, well it’s not a very good event but the long and short of it was that we were together all day on that day, December 23rd. We were supposed to be in Esa-oke for Christmas but unfortunately, he went to pick up his brother in Lagos, we arrived back in Ibadan, dropped his brother off at Oluyoro Hospital, we got home around 8:40pm, and 7 minutes thereafter, hell broke loose. This despicable specimen of the human species came in, cuddled us up in a corner of the house, and there was a lone gunshot and thereafter they just left and the rest is history. By the time I got to my father, there was nothing to be done. We tried to resuscitate him, CPR, et cetera but we thank God for the legacy he left behind. The people who did this evil thing may decide not to die again.
Are you satisfied with the role the police and the government of the day played then while searching for the killers?
The question of being satisfied does not arise. Well, like I said, the people that did it may choose not to die again, let’s leave it at that. The law of Karma which is a natural law will take its course. It’s an unfortunate reality, everybody knows about it and it’s even good that we talk about it so conscience begins to haunt the people who did it.
Every year, we see on the pages on newspapers especially on the 23rd of December the question about the death of late Chief Bola Ige, are you happy with the fact that no one has been held responsible or punished for the Chief’s death?
We can’t judge anyone because it’s a capital offence; it’s the government’s duty to do so. We know of all those things that happened then that a few people were taken to prison and they became senators in prison. The security guard also said he couldn’t remember the person that pointed a gun to his head because he had been bribed, conscience will haunt them so sooner or later, we will get justice.
It is believed that you are privy to the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’, what can you tell us about it?
There’s nothing like Operation Amotekun, the code name is Amotekun. I don’t know where you got your information from but Amotekun has come to stay and it is really based on the need to ensure home-land protection.
Do you think Amotekun can work, and how can it work? What role should the people out there play to make sure it is successful?
We are all Amotekuns. Each Yoruba person, each citizen of Nigeria living in Yoruba land is Amotekun. Everyone that is well behaved, conforms to the laws that is not a criminal, we’re all Amotekun. Amotekun is a “child of circumstance’’ in my own view because all these killings and attacks and the robbery, it’s not only limited to high way robbery, everything criminal is what Amotekun is against. The Yorubaland is taking its place back as the place of safety and so we must think out of the box. Well, the security operatives have tried their best to tackle this issue but all efforts have proved abortive so we have to go back to local intelligence. Hopefully, the “Irunmoles’’ will be coming out soon. You see, it’s not everything one does that they divulge and then also, we must be our brother’s keeper. There’s also the fear of the unknown, some people are saying it won’t work. We don’t need to make excuses to people; it shall be possible and shall work out. There must be focus, everybody is an Amotekun, if you see anything that is not right in your area, tell somebody. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong. Alert someone, let them tell someone else, let the security operatives come in then, there’ll be a handshake. So let’s remove the issue of impossibility, the people saying it won’t be possible, God will surprise them because God is involved in this. And overwhelmingly in Yorubaland today, there is a heightened sense of confidence and security that the people are satisfied with what is on the way. Fantastic, Prof. Wole Soyinka has spoken to it, Baba Banji Akintoye has spoken about it, and even the average person is saying this is a step in the right direction. So we should all now come together again, intelligence gathering, data gathering. If you know who is who, don’t be against anyone. Those trying to put these together are trying and we should encourage them to be focused. No distractions.
Now, let’s look at how some people are looking at it. Some said Amotekun has no laws backing it and the personnel to be used have no quality education…
(Cuts in) All you just said are lies. For example, if you’re in your house and you employ a gateman, if someone climbs through the fence into your compound, you catch such an individual and call security operatives, shebi? Then that’s all. What some people are scared of is that if Yoruba people can come together to agree on a particular issue, they don’t go back. There’s no need to fear, if you’re in Yorubaland, you’re supposed to sleep with your eyes closed.
What advice do you have for the people managing the Western Nigeria Security Network?
My advice to them is that they shouldn’t be scared, whatever they’re doing, they should always put Yorubas’ interest first.
Won’t this security network be used for politics; won’t they become willing tools in the hands of politicians?
No, that’s not possible. The Oyo state governor said something that “Fear is scared already”. See, you don’t have to be scared. They should just be focused. The state governors didn’t even interfere with the running of the security network, it’s all in the hands of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission). DAWN has all the roadmap of how the security outfit will operate and they’re also calling on private stakeholders to work with them.
You were a commissioner in Osun state, you used to call it State of Osun, what would you say is the lesson you learnt from the experience?
Absolutely special, governance is incredible. I would say to you that I was a proud member of the first cabinet of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in his first administration. We worked tirelessly; there were 12 commissioners and about 19 special advisers. But in a state of four million people, the odds are 1 out of 33,000 meaning it’s not everybody that will make it. So once you’re appointed, it’s an opportunity for you to serve and to serve well and I can boldly say that we served well. We didn’t anticipate the downturn of the economy in this country and that gave us a little bit of setback. But I must say governance is a glorious opportunity when you’re making government policies that impact lives positively. Feedback is usually very good, even if they don’t see it immediately, when it comes to fruition, its special. In my own special side of influence, I was the Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development; we were able to achieve quite a lot for the state. We had the urban renewal of nine cities, if you visit the state capital now, it’s not wearing the same look, and then we built new towns. Oranmiyan New Town, Ile-Ife New Town which is being implemented now. So it’s a glorious opportunity when you’re presented with position of leadership and administration to serve and to serve well with no regrets.
Would you want to talk about some of the challenges you had then?
Well, there are always challenges. Like I said, towards the tail end of the first administration, our funds began to dwindle (let’s just put it mildly), but it also allowed us to think out of the box, to be innovative. Part of it was the new town development. Government cannot be everywhere so you need to get Public Private Partnership in terms of everything that you do. The private sector must be involved, they’re the ones that can move mountains. So, it’s good.
Are you a politician?
Well, we’re all political animals and we’re all stakeholders, we must all get involved. For me, I carry a bit of excess baggage so there’s a huge responsibility to keep the flag flying, knowing from whence I have come so whether I like it or not, I must be politically active. It’s not that it’s imposed on, it’s also willful. Speaking of your program ‘Eri Okan’, trying to scout for young kids down there, we’ve had over the years now Bola Ige and Atinuke Ige’s scholarship in Oyo and Osun States respectively to find the best boy and best girl and we examine them. I’ll give you a word of advice: always ensure that the school’s administration including school owners are true to type. That they’re not just putting their choices in for you. You must check their assessment. I’ll give you an example, when we were examining the children, I got a call early on Saturday morning by a very distinguished person before the students arrived, he called telling me he has a candidate for the scholarship, I told him there and then that the scholarship is based on merit and also to find out if the person he’s sending is the school’s choice because it is only the school that has the sole responsibility of sending candidates that can compete. We’ve been running it now for seven years, full scholarship from JSS1 to SSS3 and then A levels.
You’ve never contested in an election before, why?
Interesting question. God’s time is the best.
You’re a very lucky man sir and you had great parents. Other children of great parents like yours are being sorted out in Abuja with political appointments, why is yours different?
Well, what do you expect me to do? It is God that puts individuals on seats, I am who I am but if there’s an opportunity to serve, I’ll be very ready to serve because it’s all about collective good.
There was a time your friends came together to plan a campaign for you for the gubernatorial seat of Osun State, they said you chickened out, why?
Well, at what point did you see me come out and then retreat? Well, if they did that, they did it out of their own volition. Did they collect a penny from me? No. But again, let’s even assume that that happened, then it’s good. The issue now is what’s the appointed time? You don’t just jump into stuffs. It’s all about service, if it’s to serve the people, then why not? It could be in any capacity, so why limit yourself but however, that’s a broader spectrum. If it’s about service, why not? We’re willing to serve in any capacity.
In Osun State, there’s been rumor overtime about the relationship between the past and present governor. I’m talking about Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and His Excellency, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola. What do you think is really happening?
Well, again too much of it is overplayed because you guys of the fourth estate of the realm, you like sensational stuff, but there’s no issue. Two days ago, there was a reception for the Honorable Minister of Interior who was also the immediate past governor of the State of Osun. The relationship is cordial and I think it also goes well for the party, we don’t allow interlopers trying to disturb the peace of the party. Definitely, the opposition will be looking for a way to close in but we’re going to shut them out.
What do you like to do at your leisure?
I like being with my family. So usually, when I’m not running up and down, I like being at home with my kids. I like playing football, table tennis and in some cases, swimming. I’m the chairman of Oyo State Aquatic Association encouraging safety. So I like enjoying myself in a very calm way but most importantly, I love being with my family.
You just mentioned that you’re the president of the Oyo State Aquatic Association. I think two years ago, you organized a swimming event, is it still in existence?
Yes, it is and again, we’re trying to catch them young to get the kids in the school. We have wonderful talents in this state so we’re trying to catch them. Aside from organizing swimming competitions, we’re trying to encourage life safety, we’ve had partnership with the aquatic federation and we’ve brought in instructors to teach life guards and swimming coaches. In terms of regulating swimming, we’re trying to make sure that people that want to swim and every life guard have a certification. We’ll be encouraging schools and facilities that have swimming pools, public and private to ensure that they do things properly because life safety is very key.
How about the 5-aside competition?
5-aside, that’s my son’s baby. He’s been running it now for six years. He’s a great footballer and even interested in football management and he has wonderful bunch of friends but we let them do their own thing. That’s again, lots of talents in this place. Young kids are playing football, swimming. My other son – he’s the fencing champion. We took him to Lagos for a tournament and I think in February, he might go to Ghana to fence. Fencing is actually an interesting sport, it’s like mini warfare that deals with protection. There are many sports out there, I’ll plead with young minds to pickup sports, it’s not all about book, book, and book. When you go for interviews too, beyond what you have up there, you’ll be asked if you have any extra curricular activity. If its not sports, be your brother’s keeper, help a grandparent in your neighborhood, sweep your area, get some people together and talk about how you can make your area clean and better. It’s an advantage that’ll allow you go places in future.
Before you go, I’ll want you to give our listener a piece of advice on the security network “Amotekun’’.
We are all Amotekun. Yoruba land will continue to be much safer. All hands must be on deck, the issue of neighborhood watch has come to stay, and we should all be our brother’s keeper. I’ll urge the administrations in all the states to work together, to share information, data and ensure that the homeland is secure. By homeland, I mean the region, once the region is secure; other regions are coming to understudy what is happening here, so it’s a good thing.
