It’s apparent that Wole Arisekola has an axe to grind in the matter of Dr Muiz Banire, SAN and his anti “godfatherism” advocacy but I think it’s the outcome of a long held vendetta that built into a storm of frustration in recent time.
Seriously speaking, I am yet to be apprised of the canal sin inherent in the decision of a highly enlightened and cerebral individual to determine and advocate a course of action that suits his political temperament and advance his philosophical outlooks, so much that fellows like Arisekola’s will go make a show of assaulting his person so hideously.
Yet, Arisekola’s tirade on Banire in this regard speaks of a historical sentiment that has been in a latent state waiting for a burst-time such as this. Writing under the headline: “Godfatherism: Muiz Banire’s Paternity and Academic Qualification Need Proper Scrutiny,” Arisekola naked vituperation jumped beyond sequence rationality to pedestrian assault on the person and career growth trajectory of the Chairman of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).
I find it rather curious that same Arisekola that glibly ascribed divine intervention to the political growth of Banire in Lagos State would, in the same breathe, express regretful opportunism over his (Arisekola) missed chances, when he desperately sought to secure political appointment in Oyo State. Nothing could smack of unhidden envy and unbridled jealousy in the manner Arisekola mentally relates with Banire.
Thankfully, he now has the opportunity to vent his vicious but hidden ill will against Banire’s obvious success where he has failed. May Allah continue to unveil our enemies, both known and unknown. May we not drink from the same cup with a viper that would have dropped its venom in the cup without one knowing, believing in the trust of our relationship with such venomous creature.
While I am willing to forgive Arisekola the expression of the burden of his fiendish disposition to his fellow human, I can’t but frown at his uninformed extrapolation of a genetic Mushin vice, so much that he asserted in his write-up that: “There is a popular proverb in Ibadan that it is easy to take people out of Mushin but very difficult to take Mushin out of them.”
Nothing can be more profane, this, certainly is the state of mind of a roadside minded fellow masquerading as a person of letters, it is so unfortunate. Is it not only in the uninformed world of touts and market place plebeians that one gets to hear such inanities?
I do not need to profile what Mushin is all about here nor restate the pivotal roles Mushin and distinguished residents of that Local Government Area had played and have continued to play in both the political and economic development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.
I proudly assert my Mushin(ness) and with all sense of pride points to Banire as a model of reverence among many of Mushin born that continue to shine like stars in the Nigerian firmament.
I observed Arisekola doubting and questioning Banire’s paternity and academic qualification! Now, seriously, how does one starts to describe and qualify the mental standing of this Arisekola’ creature?
I can’t possibly start profiling Banire’s heritage in Eko and Mushin here, neither do I consider it befitting to argue the sufficiency of Banire’s academic standing so as to correct Arisekola’s envy bred misaligned history.
Rather, I think the query should be taken back to Wole Arisekola’s himself. Can he really stand in the public space and claim he is truly of blood and water from the person of respected late Alhaji Alao Arisekola the name he has been masquerading with most of his life? Can he?
Enitan Olukotun, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst Writes From Mushin, Lagos State Nigeria
