Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State in the 2023 election, Dr Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor; former chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, among other chieftains, have showered encomium on a founding member of the PDP, Chief Dapo Sarumi, describing him as a worthy Nigerian who had contributed much to the nation’s development.
The party chieftains, who included Chief Wale Mogaji, Otunba Bola Odebiyi, Chief O. Yusuf, Mr Sunday Oyesina, aka Babagana Kingibe, and Evangelist Olumide Israel, among others, made this remark on Thursday while speaking at the 80th Birthday Lecture of Chief Sarumi, which was held in the Agege area of Lagos, even though they all agreed that the former minister followed in the footsteps of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and that he had mentored several people in politics.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate, Dr Adediran, in his remarks, described Sarumi as a man of integrity and peace, calling for an annual leadership lecture in his honour.
Adediran, who was represented by his Director of Media, Mr Gbenga Ogunleye, further described Sarumi as the foremost leader of the PDP in Lagos State and in Nigeria, saying that there would not have been a PDP without him.
“There would not have been PDP without him. He has integrity, and he has sacrificed personal interests for the group.
“He has a very high sense of decorum, and he could never be caught fighting or doing anything contrary as a politician,” he said.
Mogaji, in his own speech, described Sarumi as a selfless individual, saying that he had produced governors and presidents.
According to him, the PDP chieftain did his best to make life better for the people as a politician, just as he recalled how Sarumi worked hard for the success of the PDP in Lagos State.
The former Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Hon. Koshoedo, said that Sarumi laid a good path for other party members in the state, pointing out that his legacies were there for others to follow.
These were corroborated by Otunba Odebiyi and Mr. Oyesina, among others.
The guest lecturer at the event, Dr. Kayode, in his lecture titled “Politics of Survival Within Contemporary Nigeria’s Political Lecture,” sadly noted that Nigerians now practice politics of survival.
According to him, “the focus of political actors is laced with self-preservation, the acquisition of resources with impunity, Machiavellian political manoeuvring, uncouth political navigation towards any threat that can jeopardise their political survival, and holding on to positions of power.”
Kayode said what could be observed is that actors were now exhibiting an absolute personification of power, whereby authorities were being centralised around them towards perpetuating their survival and maintaining total control over the political system.
According to him, this has invariably led to authorisation with ultimate decimation of democratic institutions, adding: “Essentially, they want to buy all available means to ensure their grip to power in challenging and uncertain circumstances.”
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