Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described the new Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II as representing a new generation of Nigeria through his outreach efforts setting a new standard and leadership style.
Osinbajo, who received the Ooni in his office today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja recommended to leaders in different areas of the Nigerian nation new kind of leadership that builds bridges, keeps in touch with the people while offering a new way of thinking.
“Some of what we have seen Kabiyesi’ do, some of those steps he has taken, handshakes across prejudices, across traditional boundaries, a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, and several other such important steps are not just symbolic. It is important to understand that they also have very deep implications for future relationships and for the way that our generation is perceived and also implications in the way that our country eventually shapes up.”
Professor Osinbajo said leaders have to be accountable to the people adding: “one of the very important attributes of the Kabiyesi is the fact that he represents a new way of thinking, which is not just a generational way of thinking. it is a whole new concept in the way we relate to power and authority.”
He said that this new way of thinking and style which the new Ooni represents is not just about traditional leadership, but it is something that relates to leadership at every level.
He commended the new king for his great insight and leadership attributes, even as he prayed that Almighty God will enable him fulfill the purpose of his enthronement.
The Vice President said: “I think that he (the Ooni) is one of those who have thought it fit to begin to express himself in a completely different way from what we had seen in the past. I think that one of the key things that we have learnt from leadership and one of the key leadership skills that he has taught, that his approach has taught us, is that you have to make contacts even with people and with authorities who in the past may have been considered adverse or adversaries one way or the other.”
Professor Osinbajo praised the Ooni for his connection with young people and commended his embrace of modern communication.
He observed that these are indications that a new generation had taken over, adding that by addressing the concerns of the young people who constitute a very substantial portion of the nation’s population, the Ooni has demonstrated the understanding that it is not just about demographics but about the future of the country.
In his remarks, Oba Ogunwusi who described the Vice President as amiable, said that he had been warmly received by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President “to talk progressively about what we can do from the traditional aspect because we monarchs are much closer to the people. He added that he has also discussed about community relations, community development and “how we can properly bridge the gap.”
He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the leaders, adding: “they have very good plan for us, very positive plans. If we can be patient we will all benefit from their lofty programmes’’
The Vice President also received a delegation from the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, NALT, led by its president, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana.
Professor Osinbajo, himself a law teacher, expressed delight at the courtesy visit and wondered what his life trajectory would have been if he had not become a professor of law.
Recalling how difficult legal research had been in the past, he cited an instance when it took him six weeks to get an authority and other details of a particular case in the high court in the early 80s.
According to him, things have since become better now, with improved technology-aided tools that are available.
He encouraged the members of the delegation and the association made up of law professors, and lecturers drawn from about four generations of law teachers to welcome practicing lawyers as university teachers.
“We should be open to those kind of interaction, great universities of the world allow for such interactions,” according to the Vice President.
The leader of the delegation, Dr. Kana who told the Vice President: “I have brought your constituency to you,” described the Vice President as “one of our very best.”
He said the success of the Buhari administration is the success of Nigeria and pledged the support of the association.
Other notable university teachers that formed part of the delegation included Prof. Ademola Popoola, Prof. Chioma Kanu Agomo, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN, and Prof. Festus Emiri among others. [myad]
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