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| The Baagbimo of Ijebu Land to Asabeafrika…’I dont have any regret in life’ |
Dr. Fassy Yussuf a former Commissioner for Information and strategy in Ogun state, South
West Nigeria under two military administrations of Colonel Daniel Akintonde and Captain
Sam Ewang has opened up on his 50 years friendship with former Ogun East
Senator, Sefiu Adegbenka Kaka.
West Nigeria under two military administrations of Colonel Daniel Akintonde and Captain
Sam Ewang has opened up on his 50 years friendship with former Ogun East
Senator, Sefiu Adegbenka Kaka.
Speaking with your soar away Africa’s number 1 Celebrity encounter blog Asabeafrika penultimate Saturday
afternoon during the wedding ceremony of
Senator Gbenga Kaka’s first son, Hamzat
Ayotunde, in Lagos, Dr. Fassy
who is also the Baagbimo of Ijebu land in
Ogun state, told this blog why his relationship with the former Deputy Governor
of Ogun state under Aremo Olusegun Osoba
is unflinching. Enjoy the excerpts
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| Baagbimo of Ijebu-Land, Dr. Fassy Yussuf |
We have watched you standing since
this event started without sitting, how would you describe your relationship
with Senator Adegbenga Kaka?
this event started without sitting, how would you describe your relationship
with Senator Adegbenga Kaka?
We have been
friends for 50 years, we started our friendship at Ijebu Muslim College, we entered the same day and we left school
the same day, with this lady here too, pointed to her (Alhaja Ganiyat Balogun)
friends for 50 years, we started our friendship at Ijebu Muslim College, we entered the same day and we left school
the same day, with this lady here too, pointed to her (Alhaja Ganiyat Balogun)
So what is unique about Senator
Adegbenga Kaka?
Adegbenga Kaka?
His
humility, his forbearance, his attitude to life and his simplicity, his candor
and his comportment, he is not “one of those politicians”. He is a man that
believes that what Allah has
destined you to be you will surely be and that is why I will be with him any
time any day. I am not a politician but you could see me standing all through
just like you just noted, it is because he deserves more than that because
anytime I have anything to do, Kaka no
matter his position, he has been a commissioner, he was a commissioner before
me. He was commissioner for lands, agric and later he became a deputy governor
before becoming a senator. Nothing I will do, he will stand by me and behind me.
So, such a man when it comes to his turn, whatever you can do to assist, render
it and that is why I was standing all through.
humility, his forbearance, his attitude to life and his simplicity, his candor
and his comportment, he is not “one of those politicians”. He is a man that
believes that what Allah has
destined you to be you will surely be and that is why I will be with him any
time any day. I am not a politician but you could see me standing all through
just like you just noted, it is because he deserves more than that because
anytime I have anything to do, Kaka no
matter his position, he has been a commissioner, he was a commissioner before
me. He was commissioner for lands, agric and later he became a deputy governor
before becoming a senator. Nothing I will do, he will stand by me and behind me.
So, such a man when it comes to his turn, whatever you can do to assist, render
it and that is why I was standing all through.
“He was commissioner for lands, agric
and later he became a deputy governor before becoming a senator. Nothing I will
do, he will stand by me and behind me. So, such a man when it comes to his
turn, whatever you can do to assist, render it and that is why I was standing
all through”
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| The Baagbimo of Ijebu land, Dr. Fassy Yussuf to Asabeafrika…’Even though i served under the military, i am not a military apologist’ |
In fact some people here taught you
were the chief organizer?
were the chief organizer?
Yes, I am.
And I am happy to do it.
And I am happy to do it.
Can you mention some of your great
friends that came here today apart from Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Olu Falae
and Chief Ayo Adebanjo?
friends that came here today apart from Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Olu Falae
and Chief Ayo Adebanjo?
We had Senator Femi Lanlehin, Senator Ayo Odunsi, the 2015
gubernatorial candidate of SDP in Ogun state. Professor Sidi Osho, Dr.
Bello and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor
Wale Sule Odu, we also have Mrs.
Onabanjo who was vying for house of Representative Ijebu Ode. She used to
be the chair person of teaching service commission and the daughter of the late
Chief Bisi Onabanjo. We also had Alhaja Salmot Badru, the first female
deputy governor of Ogun state here today.
gubernatorial candidate of SDP in Ogun state. Professor Sidi Osho, Dr.
Bello and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor
Wale Sule Odu, we also have Mrs.
Onabanjo who was vying for house of Representative Ijebu Ode. She used to
be the chair person of teaching service commission and the daughter of the late
Chief Bisi Onabanjo. We also had Alhaja Salmot Badru, the first female
deputy governor of Ogun state here today.
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| Dr Fassy Yussuf with 2 best friends Mrs. Balogun & Sen. Gbenga Kaka |
You served with two military
administrations in Ogun state, what was your staying power then under the
military regime since you said you are not a politician?
administrations in Ogun state, what was your staying power then under the
military regime since you said you are not a politician?
Yes I served
under Governor Daniel Akintonde and Sam Ewang, I was appointed I was not
elected. I was appointed at a very, very critical time in the history of the
state and because they had known me as a PR consultant and also as a
journalist, and they needed somebody who could assist in mobilizing the people
and projecting their image and streamlining issues. Don’t forget that was a
very difficult time in the history of the country itself and we needed to
relate with all the Obas and all the
people in Ogun state and they needed somebody who was a grass root person and
they found all that in me and that was why I was appointed.
under Governor Daniel Akintonde and Sam Ewang, I was appointed I was not
elected. I was appointed at a very, very critical time in the history of the
state and because they had known me as a PR consultant and also as a
journalist, and they needed somebody who could assist in mobilizing the people
and projecting their image and streamlining issues. Don’t forget that was a
very difficult time in the history of the country itself and we needed to
relate with all the Obas and all the
people in Ogun state and they needed somebody who was a grass root person and
they found all that in me and that was why I was appointed.
“I am a Muslim I don’t regret
anything about life. Whatever I have been or would be has been apportioned by
God. I have not lost anything by not being a governor; I have not lost anything
by not being the President, in my own little way I have contributed”.
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| Friends of 50 years, Senator Gbenga Kaka & Dr. Fassy Yussuf |
How were you able to blend all those
qualities as a journalists and PR man?
qualities as a journalists and PR man?
To God be
the glory, at least I left the place some twenty years ago; since 1996 and I am
still relevant. If I didn’t serve properly then I won’t be where I am today and
nobody in Ogun state or in Nigeria will say he does not know who Dr. Fassy Yussuf is.
the glory, at least I left the place some twenty years ago; since 1996 and I am
still relevant. If I didn’t serve properly then I won’t be where I am today and
nobody in Ogun state or in Nigeria will say he does not know who Dr. Fassy Yussuf is.
But why did you choose to be
apolitical despite your relationship with politicians?
apolitical despite your relationship with politicians?
Well, every
human being is a political animal but what I have not actually done is to
belong to a political party or carry banner to contest. But you could see that
I am a public analyst, every now and then I appear on radio and television and
analyze events and issues and all the rest. So, I am also contributing my own
part. Maybe one day, one day, I may decide if the climate is clement enough
then one will be there.
human being is a political animal but what I have not actually done is to
belong to a political party or carry banner to contest. But you could see that
I am a public analyst, every now and then I appear on radio and television and
analyze events and issues and all the rest. So, I am also contributing my own
part. Maybe one day, one day, I may decide if the climate is clement enough
then one will be there.
What do you regret about life?
I am a
Muslim I don’t regret anything about life. Whatever I have been or would be has
been apportioned by God. I have not lost anything by not being a governor; I
have not lost anything by not being the President, in my own little way I have
contributed. All of us cannot be governors but anywhere you find yourself, try
your best and remember that you have a date with your creature and that from
Him you came and to Him you will return and therefore, you have to do your best
where ever you find yourself.
Muslim I don’t regret anything about life. Whatever I have been or would be has
been apportioned by God. I have not lost anything by not being a governor; I
have not lost anything by not being the President, in my own little way I have
contributed. All of us cannot be governors but anywhere you find yourself, try
your best and remember that you have a date with your creature and that from
Him you came and to Him you will return and therefore, you have to do your best
where ever you find yourself.
“All I will ask of him is to
establish a think-thank and have
people who are creative, who can transform the country; then, we want
transformational leadership and again we will need a leadership that is ready
to navigate change. A leader that will pilot us and would lead by example not
by precepts”
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| The Baagbimo, Dr. Fassy Yussuf strategising with Best Friend, Sen. Gbenga Kaka |
As an elite in Ogun state and having
served under the military, do you share the opinion that the military regime is
better than the civilian regime?
served under the military, do you share the opinion that the military regime is
better than the civilian regime?
I am not a
military apologist and I am neither into partisanship what I wish for my people
is that God should provide for them, I cannot return any verdict. It means I
will be judging myself. If I talk in favor of the military, people will say it
is because I served in the military. If I talk about democracy they will say
‘ooh, it is because his friends are politicians’. All I know is that democracy
is in vogue. With democracy we can have sustainable development. I believe with
time, things will be okay in this country.
military apologist and I am neither into partisanship what I wish for my people
is that God should provide for them, I cannot return any verdict. It means I
will be judging myself. If I talk in favor of the military, people will say it
is because I served in the military. If I talk about democracy they will say
‘ooh, it is because his friends are politicians’. All I know is that democracy
is in vogue. With democracy we can have sustainable development. I believe with
time, things will be okay in this country.
As a statesman in your own right, can
you advise General Buhari the new commander-in-chief?
you advise General Buhari the new commander-in-chief?
He should be
focused and don’t forget that he is coming at a different time. When he was a
military head of state he had a different idea of running government but now he
is coming in a democracy and in democracy things could be slow in happening but
they are sustainable. All I will ask of him is to establish a think-thank and have people who are
creative, who can transform the country; then, we want transformational
leadership and again we will need a leadership that is ready to navigate
change. A leader that will pilot us and would lead by example not by precepts
focused and don’t forget that he is coming at a different time. When he was a
military head of state he had a different idea of running government but now he
is coming in a democracy and in democracy things could be slow in happening but
they are sustainable. All I will ask of him is to establish a think-thank and have people who are
creative, who can transform the country; then, we want transformational
leadership and again we will need a leadership that is ready to navigate
change. A leader that will pilot us and would lead by example not by precepts
