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Hon BABS ODUYOYE Opens Up
Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye is 60. And many people are celebrating with him. That is the big news right now in Ibadan and across the South-West, as you read this. He is a seasoned politician who has had a stint in Abuja as a lawmaker. He is an accomplished gentleman who has a clear focus of what he wants from life and went for it an early age, rubbing shoulders with all the big names in South-West politics.
Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye represented Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007,during which time he also served as AD Whip of the House. He is a man of many parts, having cut his political teeth as a students’ union leader at the Polytechnic Ibadan and later the University of Ibadan, where he served as SUG President. He has been a constant face in social and political circles before recently serving as Special Adviser (Politics and Strategy) to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.He clocks 60 years on October 1, 2023 (today). In this special interview, he speaks about his politics, social life and his firm belief in altruism in politics. Excerpts:-
60 years is no joke. Looking around you, listening to the well-wishes and realising how far you come, how do you feel at 60?
Thankful. I am thankful in the sense that I looked back to when my late mother clocked 60 and I look at myself now. I still find it hard to believe that I am 60, because then, the way I saw my mother at 60 is different from the way I see myself at 60. What do I mean by that? I still feel very young at heart, because I relate effectively well with young folks, most especially when I went back to school to pursue a degree in Law.
I hate it when somebody calls me daddy outside my home. I am someone who believes in the youth taking over. I believe in generational shift, and I believe strongly too that the future belongs to the youth. So, I still see myself as the voice of the youth, which I have been over the past decades, and I don’t feel like I should abandon that path now. In fact, I still feel young at heart.
Babs, as you are popularly known, means different things to different people. When you look at the past decades, your relationships, education, and the people you have come across and in whose lives, you have made some sort of impact, what would you say is your motivation or driving force?
I don’t think I have helped anybody the way you are trying to make it look and the issue of motivation is relative. I believe that when people meet or come in contact with me, then we must remain connected. From my university days, my viewpoint and approach to life has always been what I can describe as participatory and contributory. It has also revolved around doing something for the society, giving back to the society.
You said that I mean different things to many people, well, I don’t know that. But, right from my University of Ibadan days, I was Babs. When I was in the United Kingdom, I remained Babs. When I got back and set up my business in the hospitality sector, people referred to me as Majerita. As a socialite, I remained Babs. In the National Assembly or in the government of Governor Seyi Makinde, I still remain my humble self, Babs. It has all been about contributing something to society; doing my own part and bit and having the spirit of leading others to achieve common good.
My motivation is the burning desire to fulfill Purpose. While I was in the University of Ibadan, I was probably one of the youngest presidents of the SUG. I never felt intimidated, neither did I feel special. I believe I have a purpose in life, and I have always done everything to make sure I fulfill it. Now, I don’t know if I have done enough to touch lives or make impact on others as you have said.
You have said you don’t know if you had touched lives or not. But people in the social, political and academic circles have said things about what you have done in their lives and how you have kept your focus, despite the vagaries of power as a two-term member of the National Assembly. What inspired you and how did you manage to keep that focus?
Well, I can tell you that it has always been God and it will continually be God. Also, the late Uncle Bola Ige, of blessed memory, inspired me. My mother was at the wedding ceremony of the late Uncle Bola Ige and she was very close to him. I saw him as a mentor, and he motivated and stood by me. He inspired my being in the Alliance for Democracy, AD.
And about how I have been able to keep focus, well, we cannot discountenance my background in student unionism right from the Polytechnic of Ibadan to the University of Ibadan. I have always believed in altruism, and I have allowed altruism to guide my dealings with others across all facets of life. Unfortunately, altruism is now absent in governance and representation. Altruism is absent in all facets of governance. People now go into government because of what they want to acquire. People go into government because of what they want to gain.
But for me, right from Fatima College to the Polytechnic Ibadan and to UI, it has always been about service – serving my immediate community. Being a member of the Students Representative Council at the Polytechnic Ibadan, setting up the Basic Students Association in the polytechnic, getting into UI and contesting to be president of the Students Union, failing the first time, aspiring a second term even running away from the campus but then going on to win the election, it was all about what we could contribute to our immediate community. It was all about service and it was all rooted in altruism. Sadly, altruism is now something strange to leadership. It is strange to governance and has disappeared in the face of politics today in Nigeria.
I believe that when given the opportunity to serve the people, you must represent the people well and ensure their interests come first before your family’s interest.
You found yourself in politics, but will you say that was by chance or by design? And, as a young man, what propelled your interest in wanting to give back, to serve and to be in the face of the people?
As a small boy growing up in Ekotedo, Ibadan, I grew up to know my father, Majekodunmi Oduyoye, as a politician. He won elections into the Ibadan Municipal Council five times. My grandfather was also an active member of the NCNC and someone who fought for the rights of the people in Ibadan municipality. I found myself in a family that was well-rooted in politics and service.
So, by the time I got into Fatimah College, I was a member of the Young Christian Students. From there, I went to contest an election to be president of the Young Christian Society of Ibadan Diocese. Then, Ikire was part of Old Oyo State. So, I became the president of the Young Christian Students and got baptised as a Catholic. My baptismal name is Michael and when I was confirmed, I was later named Jude after the St. Jude Thaddeus. The spiritual identity of St. Jude was that of an intercessor, someone who stands between the line for people. Someone who intercedes for the poor. Many people don’t know I am Jude, because it has never appeared anywhere among my names. But I found out that my later life as a student activist and as a politician revolved around interceding for people around me. Wherever I find myself in the community, I am always interceding. I make bold to say that identity as an intercessor has defined my existence.
So, to answer your question, my grandfather was a politician who fought for the rights of the people in Ibadan. My father fought for the rights of the underprivileged. I am the third generation of the Oduyoyes that served or participated in the electoral politics of the old and present Oyo State. So, in all, I just believe I have a historical responsibility that has to do with the family, my birth, my religion, my background, my orientation but all rooted in altruism, that responsibility is service to humanity.
Let’s talk about Babs the student unionist. How did you emerge as president of the UI SUG?
I contested the election of the SUG in 1984/1985, but I lost the election. Prince Shina Agunlejika of blessed memory won that election but that did not stop my activism. I was not bothered. My friend, Gbenga Amusan, who later worked with the American Embassy, was the Secretary and Speaker of the House. He and the president went for a meeting in Port-Harcourt regarding the NANS crisis, but they were arrested and detained. Our students’ union vehicle was also impounded. But despite having lost to Shina Agunlejika, when I saw that his Vice President was not doing what was necessary and the issue was getting prolonged. I mobilized students from the campus, and we embarked on a fierce demonstration. During our demonstration, a member of the Nigerian Army drove into the UI campus in a Land rover vehicle to drop the daughter of a high-profile person in the country. This happened when we had already declared no-entry into the campus. So, I moved in and took custody of the vehicle and the soldier man and took them to the student’s union building. I did all of that and negotiation started, and I told the Federal Government, acting on behalf of the students’ union, that my president, Agunlejika, who was unduly arrested for legitimately asking for what is just, should be released and the vehicle of the SUG should also be released. I gave those conditions as the only basis for releasing the soldier-man and the Land rover. It led to a lot of issues that I had to appear before the Students Disciplinary Council.
The following year, I was in my final year, but students wanted me to become the president of SUG. I ran away from the Campus because I did not want to contest, as I believed it was going to affect my academics. But on the day, I assumed was the last day to register to be a candidate and that I had missed the process when I ran away, I went back to UI. However, there was still a day open. Unknown to me, Diran Odeyemi and Ayo Aluko-Olokun had already filled the form and all I had to do was to sign. So, I can say that I became President due to my readiness for service, representation, standing for people, and being a voice.
Some of your contemporaries have talked about your tenure as SUG President. It was said that you once hijacked a caterpillar and drove it to block the UI Gate during a demonstration. At 60, when you look back at those things, do you have any regret doing some of those things?
I got into UI in 1981, I was very young; I think I was about 18 years. But to speak directly to your question or what you heard about me, it was not a caterpillar, but it could be regarded as one.
Do I have regrets, no. But I must tell you something; Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo is a good man, and I always look forward to getting an opportunity to present his credentials on what he did not only for me as an individual but also for the emancipation of students. He did so well to maintain students unionism and curb students’ unrest. It was under his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan that I had the humble responsibility of serving as the SUG President. I was sworn-in on December 23, 1984 and I became the President for 1985/1986 session. I was in my final year. So, I had to take a sabbatical leave, even without the knowledge of my parents. I held my academics for one year to serve the interest of the students and I did that effectively. At the same time, I made sure that as a Students’ Leader, I didn’t end up having 3rd class or failing woefully in my primary assignment.
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