We have neither met nor ever spoken before. The closest I had come to him was on the pages of Encomium Weekly where I served as the editor for eight uninterrupted and unforgettable years. My reporters with whom he obviously enjoyed a chummy relationship used to write about him and his fashionable wife, Bukola every now and then. I think he was still Ojodu local government chairman then.
But I digress. Now, as patriotic Nigerians, if we want to be objective and unbiased, we should not only call out those that are not doing well in political offices, just like I did days ago, we should also commend and applaud those that are doing well. An example is Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, the member representing Ikeja in the Federal House of Representatives.
Initially, I must confess that I disliked him, and here is why – I don’t know whether this is true or false, and that’s because I have tried severally to confirm it without luck. Some years ago, I think during the last LG election or so, news swirled all over Ojodu where the YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine office is situated that on his order, shops and petty businesses, were shut down because he suspected that they didn’t vote for his preferred candidates and party, All Progressives Congress. I was alarmed and flabbergasted to put it mildly.
In fact, I continued seething with so much rage against him until months back when he embarked on the massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads and drainages in the Ojodu axis like Isheri Holiday Inn, Regina Olaore, Olaleke Taiwo, Budland, Gbadamosi, Aina, Morgan, Tunji Tope, etc. Without meaning to sound patronizing, you can drive on some of these roads today with both eyes closed. More so, with the ubiquitous solar light.
Beautiful stories also abound about the hundreds that benefitted from his Korope (mini bus) programme, which they use for public transportation. Though unconfirmed, I equally learnt that other areas in his constituency are enjoying same.
Well, here’s giving a thumbs up to Faleke. But above all, to tell him that he’s doing well and must never relent or rest on his oars.
Like D’Banj usually says, in terms of delivery of dividends of democracy to his constituents, the Faleke’s “face show, his teeth white and his shoes shine.”
Eku ise, JAF!
– Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of bestsellers like The CEO’s Bible, A Taste Of Success, Success Is Not Served A La Carte, etc