Comrade Sola Iji
By Olubunmi Omoogun – The first time the phrase or analogy ‘Good product doesn’t need much persuasion, it naturally sells itself’ was used on this stable was when we wrote about the erudite, his excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, as a ministerial material.
In public service, many people have remained inconsistent with the way they live their lives, speak and interact with people, manage
resources and even their subordinates. People in public eye tend to
act for a particular gain or have a motive in the knowledge that no
matter how things turn out, it will benefit them and only them.
And once they have attained the position they clamoured for, they will abandon the cause they over the years championed. In the unfortunate event that they don’t succeed in achieving their aims, they will automatically abandon the cause and leave their followers stranded and join the winning team. But with Comrade Sola Iji people in Ondo State can vouch for what he did and what he can do. ‘Comrade’ the nickname ascribed to him in political parlance in Ondo State, generally and to a large extent represents his attributes and virtues as a technocrat and democrat who has proved his worth consistently while serving as the chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD) during and after the Chief Adebayo. Adefarati government.
As the then state Chairman of the progressive political party, AD and later the defunct Action Congress (AC) he was a resolute, virile and a fearless opposition leader. Even when the PDP government under the Olusegun Agagu regime with heavy spending power sent emissary to him, he resisted in a way to suggest that money can not buy the love I have for my progressive Action Congress. He displayed the fact that he is a very loyal party man to the core. Difficult as the period was, his role then will go down as the one that devoted time and energy in pursuit of happiness for his subordinates, members and humanity.
Worth mentioning is the fact that Comrade Iji is arguably the only
known politician in that neck of the wood that has remained in the
progressive party since 1999 when the civilian dispensation crept in. He was there in AD, in AC, in ACN, and now in APC, in all these years of transition he never for one day left the progressive fold. A feat only very few in Nigeria can boast of achieving. Another interesting and striking thing about this disciplined but humble political giant, is his commitment to the ideals of APC. He has proven to all in Ondo State that he is gifted with leadership qualities. Little wonder, he was appointed on two different occasions to head reconciliation committees of the party, with the mandate to reconcile aggrieved party members in Kwara State and most recently in Edo state of which he did successfully. That is why Kwara state today can be an APC state. Many observers and party members believe the exemplary way he conducted his duties is due to his legal skills and wisdom coupled with his political sagacity. Twice he heeded the APC National secretariat calls to settle warring factions within the party, twice he succeeded by solving the issues and the party is better today in those areas. There can never be a better way to measure the thoroughness, fairness, integrity, courage and competence of a true party man.
For Comrade Sola Iji, life has taught him never to say fail, but to
keep pushing for what is right and surrender everything to God and
humanity.
After President Mohammadu Buhari emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC, he personally made available a whole flat of 6 rooms for the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation at a strategic and upmarket location in Akure the capital of Ondo state. In addition to this are several Buhari/Osinbajo branded vehicles. Ondo state for the first time since 2003 fell into the hands of a progressive party, boasting of two APC senators and large chunk of APC House of Representatives.
Iji, a quintessential gentleman,an erudite lawyer, a friend of the
people, has demonstrated that he is a man of ability that understands the issues in Ondo state. He is also a vibrant man that is in tune with the 21st century and believes in the Nigerian dream. It’s no doubt that Nigeria needs people that will take it to the path of a greatness.
Comrade Sola Iji is one who feels that the cohesion the APC is
enjoying in Southwest today should be credited to the brilliance of
the Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a master strategist.
