Bolaji Abdullahi is a seasoned journalist, who ventured into active politics in 2003. He is among the lucky few, who made it in the political arena. He was commissioner for education in Kwara State. Abdullahi had also been special assistant and special adviser, also serving at the federal level, as Minister of Sports and Youths Development. He was also national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC. His luck was to the extent that he would serve top political opponents and still survive the turmoil. Mallam Abdullahi, as he is fondly called, celebrated his 50th birthday in Ilorin, recently. In this interview with newsmen, he spoke about his aspirations, dreams, experiences in and out of office and the most difficult decision he had to take in life. ‘WOLE ADEDEJI was there.
To clock 50 years is a milestone in life. How has the journey been thus far?
I thank God and I will continue to do so, because I have every reason to be appreciative of Him. I usually tell people that I’m the 12th wonder of the world. There is nothing in my background that justifies where I am today. God has been extremely kind to me.
READ ALSO:Rocking your pregnancy
In life, what do you consider as the greatest challenge you ever faced?
What you call challenges are those things that happened in the normal course of work. One of the most difficult things for me was the day I had to leave office as minister. What was challenging in it was the circumstances that surrounded my leaving. I felt I was doing a good job, working and maintaining high dose of loyalty to the president. For the first time in 19 years Nigeria was African Champion in all athletics. But, suddenly, I had to choose between someone I’ve always considered as a boss and friend against someone, who appointed me as a minister. I wished I were not in that situation. It was difficult for me, but I had to go on the side of principle, which, to me, means loyalty. I come from a home where loyalty is everything. When you give your words, you must stand by it. My father used to tell me that you say something and people will have to call you to swear to confirm what you’ve said, you do so. If you do otherwise, you’re not a human being. People should believe your words because you are the one who said it. One must be dependable, reliable and Omoluabi, this is what I believe in. So, attacking someone I’ve always loved will not go well with my beliefs. It was a trying period for me, but I’ve no regrets whatsoever.
If you have to take such decision again, will you still follow that step?
Principles that are conditional are not principles. If you stand on something that is conditioned, then you don’t believe in it. Principle comes with very expensive price tag. Principles are very costly. If you choose to stand for principle, you must be ready to pay the price. For me, what I stood for was not conditional and not relative. Truth is truth today, tomorrow till next year. Truth is universal. It is the same.
What does it mean to you to be 50 years old?
I served in public office for 16 years, as special adviser, special assistant, commissioner, federal minister. I served at the party level and in a board and, in those years, there was no single instance that I was accused of corruption. For me, that is the most important. I’m not claiming to be a saint but for me in life, there are lines I’ve drawn for myself, which I will never cross. That is the most important accomplishment. I will continue to be good example to my children and those who believe in me. I’m not likely to be able to celebrate another 50 years, so, this one is a milestone. The reality that I may not do another 50 years makes me think about legacy. By any definition, once you’re 50 years, you’re no longer a baby. I don’t think God has given life just for one to get a job, marry, get political appointment, make money, have children and so on, there is more to it. God did not create us for mundane purposes. I must have known clearly by now about the essence of my existence, what I want to be remembered for. That is what 50 years means to me.
Since you left office as All Progressives Congress, APC, spokesperson, what have you been doing and what is your next plan politically?
I’ve been doing more of traveling, writing, reading, like I do in the past. I have time for myself to do many things now and I do a bit of consultancy. God has given me opportunity to have an extensive experience in a work life spanning about 25 years. I have rich diverse experience ranging from state to the federal level. To me, that’s good enough because, when things happen in life, you must still have what to fall back on. I’ve also been giving my attention to my children more than before. What is next for me politically? I’m not sure yet, but I’m still in politics. We’re so much in the period of uncertainty. I can’t claim I have a clarity of the direction my political life will go. I have friends, associates and at the right time, we’ll sit and fashion out what I will do.
READ ALSO:Jubilation as GOC hands over renovated building to soldiers’ wives
It is believed that when people leave public office, they make more enemies than friends, what is your own experience?
I have more friends, I’m more respected and honoured now than I was when I was in government. The kind of respect I get abroad is amazing. People recognise me, even outside the country and come to me to discuss sports. I’m an introvert, the best place to be for me is my house. I don’t feel less important now though, even when my phone is no more ringing like it used to be.
If you have the opportunity to go back as minister of sports, is there anything you will like to do differently?
I will rather say I will like to complete what I started. In Nigeria, we’ve not imbibed the true essence of sports. As long as you are not winning trophies or medals, you’re not working; you’re not doing anything. I won the AFCON for Nigeria but I don’t consider that to be my best achievement in sports. The biggest challenge in the Nigerian sports is that, there is no system in place that can make one predict the direction to which things are going. That is why when we go to international competitions, we’re still the only country singing, ‘You’re a miracle working God’. I was watching International Athletics Indoor Championship and the Nigerian team was not there. It will naturally be expected of us to go to the Olympics and win. How? What is our current position internationally? If I have the opportunity to go back, then I will want to continue from where I stopped. We were going to set up a human performance laboratory, the equipment we imported for this are still in the container with which they were imported, at the national stadium. For me, it’s sad. I want to get that off the ground. We still don’t have laboratory to test for drugs. I’m glad that National Youth Game has continued. This year’s edition is taking place at the University of Ilorin.
What is your message for the youth, who look up to your mentorship?
Mentorship is one thing I love to do, and that’s what inspired my book. They need to have proper value that will make them good citizens. The youth identity is a very fluid and transient one. It’s not like the gender identity. You are a youth today and before you know it, you’ve outgrown the age, and that is the most productive years of one’s life; 18 to 35. By the time one crosses that age without setting direction, it might probably be too late. Youth shouldn’t be carried away by ‘youthism’ and think they have time; they don’t probably have. For the female, once a wrong turn is made, she may never be able to recover.
