By Muhammed Abdullahi

We live in a society where people seek success without hard work. Almost everybody wants to bypass the painful stage of ‘parturition’ and just go ahead to have the baby without pain. But just like the laborious process of delivering a child, success is hardly won without some sweat.  Yet some people want opportunity to make easy money, they don’t want help to be someone of note themselves; they only want money.

Politicians know no humility. They look down from their exalted seat of influence and affluence, and like a god disinterested in the affairs of mortals; do only that which pleases them and their elite friends.

Politics in this clime is only for the promotion of personal interest, and those who play the game are supposed to be devoid of emotion. Every kobo a politician spends is seen as a political investment that is supposed to bring more power or fame. Not many politicians give money out of sheer pity or nicety.

But one man dared to be different. He is Barrister Razak Atunwa, the current Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. He believes that the central objective of politics should be for the attainment of public good. He also believes that politicians, especially those elected or appointed to serve the people; must also live for the people and see to their wellbeing.

Barrister Atunwa must have read Henry David Thoreau when he said that “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer”. The people are Hon. Atunwa’s drummer, and he has ‘stepped to the music’; dancing it to the admiration of all.

My first encounter with Hon. Atunwa was when he was the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Works. I and three other Journalist-friends had gone to see Hon. Atunwa at the behest of the current governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; who was then serving as the Commissioner for Finance in the State. We arrived at the Works Ministry, thinking that since we had what resembles a ‘pass’ from his colleague; we would get to see the Commissioner without being kept in the waiting room for long. We were wrong.

The Secretary ushered us into a cosy waiting room, a place that will accommodate us for the next hour or so. We sat and waited. And because we visited on a busy day, what we thought would be a quick visit got longer. It was while our patience was threatening to snap, and with some of us already dozing; that we decided to remind the Secretary of our presence.

But as we made for the Secretary’s table, we saw Hon. Atunwa emerged from his office, hurried past us and made for his car. I quickly woke a dozing member of the team and we ran after the Commissioner. Luckily, we caught up with him before he could enter his car. When we explained the reason for our visit, Hon. Atunwa was brief and straight with us: “Put whatever you want to tell me in a proposal and let me have it”. With that sentence, the Commissioner entered his car and drove off.

You can imagine what we would be thinking; having waited for close to two hours just to hear a single sentence. The disappointed was obvious on the faces of every one of us. Our legs grew so heavy that we spent about ten minutes in the car park unable to depart. But someone close by was observing our demeanour. And when he studied the maturity of the leader of the team, who obviously was more matured and in firm control of the situation; he excused him.

Later, when we were calmed; our senior colleague explained to us what the man who called him had said. According to the Ministry man, Hon. Atunwa was rushing out to inspect projects and attend to some other urgent State matters. And since his Secretary, either deliberately or otherwise, had not brought our presence to the attention of the Commissioner; he can hardly be blamed for his inability to grant us the sort of attention we were hoping for. I will later have a chance to confirm whether this excuse was valid on not few weeks ago.

Whether the unofficial spokesman who gave excuse for the way Hon. Atunwa attended to us in his office was right or not, one thing is clear: Atunwa, contrary to the famed theory of arrogance woven around him; is a man who perfectly captured the essence of governance. That afternoon we went to see him; Atunwa refused to subordinate the collective interest of thousands of road users to the aspiration of four young men. For that, we thought he was unfair to us. Looking back now, I think we were the ones who were unfair, because to ask that a man neglect his obligation to the people he was appointed to serve in order to please us was not only narrow-minded but selfish.

From what we were told, Hon. Atunwa, on the afternoon of our visit, was on his way out to undertake the assignment for which he draws salary from public purse. Rather than feel bad for his inability to attend to us, we should instead appreciate his determination to succeed in his assignment and serve the people well. We should not equate this with arrogance, which unfortunately is the image many now paint of Alhaji Rasak Atunwa, the amiable Speaker of the people.

Having had the chance to confirm the real persona of Hon. Atunwa; I can now say without any fear of contradiction that those who describe the Speaker as ‘arrogant and self-serving’ do so out of sheer sentiment and prejudiced rabble-rousing, especially by a community of political jobbers who are uncomfortable with the political success of Barrister Atunwa. If anything, the Speaker, contrary to the contrived rumour of arrogance and snobbish character being build up and spread by his detractors; is a man who is never indifferent to the plight of the underprivileged. He is a man who understood aspiration, love people who want to succeed and of course admire the people who do.

From the many stories told by the people who know and benefited from his large-heartedness, Hon. Atunwa is one man who will do anything and everything to ensure the fulfillment of a person’s potential; whether or not he knows the person. I have met Hon. Atunwa in person, and our brief discussion portrays him as a man who loves to enable the fulfillment of potentials. To me, I see in the Speaker a man who always seeks to open up the possibility for the fulfillment of goals and ambitions, not to a few but to many.

Since politics of today is far more an intellectual business, it is not surprising that not many people love the style of Barrister Atunwa. We live in a society where people seek success without hard work. Almost everybody wants to bypass the painful stage of ‘parturition’ and just go ahead to have the baby without pain. But just like the laborious process of delivering a child, success is hardly won without some sweat. Yet some people want opportunity to make easy money, they don’t want help to be someone of note themselves; they only want money. They wanted a different relationship with Hon. Atunwa: as a moneybag who throws money at them, not as an enabler who helps them to make money. And when the Speaker couldn’t understand or speak their type of language, they instantly dress him in the toga of an assuming and arrogant miser.

The night I met Barrister Atunwa, he made an impression on me as a thoughtful person who befriended even the lowliest of beings. No appointments, no prior communications: I just ‘waylaid’ the man many described as arrogant and state my mission. He did not only grant me rapt attention, he encouraged me and also pledged to support me. Yes, another conspiracy theory may work against him, but a man who engaged me in an intimate conversation like a long-time friend cannot be said to be arrogant.

The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Alhaji Ma’ud Adebimpe was not at all surprise when I narrated to him my encounter with Mr. Speaker. Hon. Atunwa, he said, “is a man who shares a lot of attributes with the leader (Dr. Bukola Saraki). He is an easy man who believes that everyone deserves to be given a chance in life. He is not assuming or self-centered. That is just who he is”. I believed Alhaji Adebimbe was right.

The true test of a man’s character can be judged by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. Now, if I didn’t have a recommendation letter from any ‘oga at the top’, and I got to see and speak with one of the most powerful people in Kwara State of today, even without an appointment; I guess the true character of Hon. Atunwa can immediately be ascertained. Like me, if you have the chance to listen to many ordinary folks who have encountered this man of unparallel humility, then you will be in a position to do your arithmetic and pass your judgment.

Abdullahi is the CEO of Whitebridge Communications, a branding and political Marketing Firm.