Akin Osuntokun, former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Political Matters, recently clocked 50. A former member of the editorial board of The Guardian before he left for the corporate world as General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Dangote Group, Osuntokun had also served in other capacities, including as Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).In his congratulatory message, former president Obasanjo, showered encomiums on Osuntokun, for putting his knowledge and expertise to enrich public administration and governance.
“As I watch you grow over the years, I also see you maturing in thinking, actions, reactions and character. You are today a different man from what you were at the beginning of my second Presidential Campaign for the president in 2003. I am happy to note that all through these years, you have sustained my attestation to your credibility, resourcefulness, versatility, industry, deep thinking, integrity and competence, even to the admiration of your peers, who hold you in high esteem,” stated Obasanjo’s letter.
To Obasanjo, the nation has gained more from Osuntokun’s choice to move from his journalism profession to the wider socio-political space, where he made invaluable contributions.
“I must say, I had the pleasure of having you around during my administration as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, first as the Director of Media and Publicity (presidential campaign) in 2003, then as the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, and later as my Special Adviser on Political Matters, where you distinguished yourself credibly well and rendered your remarkable service to the nation,” the elder statesman declared.
Obasanjo, like every other well-wishers, has a wish for Osuntokun, whom he urged to continue being a shining example of a compatriot of excellence and probity.
“I pray God almighty, to whom you have rightly given all the glory and honour for the success story that is your life, continue to protect and prosper you, even as I wish you, once again, a very happy anniversary. Long life and continued success and many more years of service to your community, State and the entire Nigerian nation,” Obasanjo prayed.
Meanwhile, after a two-leg celebration at the Church and a party to entertain guests recently, Osuntokun spoke with GBENGA SALAU on the significances of attaining the age of 50.
I was not sure I was going to celebrate it… You know, I had some unfulfilled political aspirations, disappointments here and there; I then asked myself why must I be dispirited when I am 50 in good health and with a family — wife and children — that gives me so much joy. I felt I would be ungrateful if I did not thank God for keeping me and fighting my battles. It was a way to appreciate God.
I could have done it quietly, but that would have been something else for a politicians; secondly, you are only 50 once in a lifetime and thirdly, if you do not do it, you would lose it. So, I did not want thereafter to regret why I did not celebrate it. I decided to err on the part of celebrating it. I give God the glory; it all went well. I saw the hand of God in it, which was a confirmation that the decision we took was the right thing. Everything went well and it could not have been better; our guests came and returned to their various places safely in peace and joy. And I thank God for the success.
What were your set goals while growing up as a child?
Looking at the family I came from, it would have been difficult for any child not to have a dream. The generations of my father were high achievers; almost every one of them became extremely successful. My father was a minister in the Western region for 11 years, his immediate younger brother died in 1964 as a Captain in the Nigerian Army, the one next to him is the foremost medical scientist, Prof. Kayode Osuntokun; the one after him retired recently as the Auditor General in Ekiti State. And the last is Prof. Jide Osuntokun, former Ambassador to Germany.
So, having these people ahead of you, it was difficult not to aspire to attain great height, especially as they are the heroes and role models of their male children. I grew up to become a respected public figure. My father was my hero, he was a Minister and a very colourful politician, so, I wanted to be like him. Though I do not know how much of that that I have accomplished, certainly I am on the path as far as that is concerned.
As a child, what was your projection for the country?
Growing up, we took things for granted. Nigeria, then, was on the development ladder; it was not a laggard, as things were progressing. There was no reason to believe that things would collapse or get this worse. When I went to secondary school, the standard of education in the country was comparable to anywhere in the world. When I finished secondary school, my mother wanted me to go to the United Kingdom for my Advanced Level and I turned it down because at that time, we considered those who went to school abroad as being lazy or fools who could not make it here.
I think Nigeria was politically stable; it was functional. There was nothing to suggest that Nigeria will not be a place where we can live in with pride and talk about it with pride. Now, for your child to have a good education, you have to take him abroad, which was almost contrary to our own time.
Are you fulfilled with you what have contributed to the development of the nation?
I have a sense of fulfillment, but again you have to know that Nigeria cannot be compared to what it could have been. The country’s potentials have not been fully tapped. I think it was the American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who described ‘Nigeria as a country capable of high achievement, but it is unwilling to do that’. As an individual, having been given that kind of opportunity at a high level, there is a sense of fulfillment. But the other part of it is that has it made any difference in the way the country is going, in terms of what could have been and what has happened.
As a person, I am fulfilled, but there is also a part of me that still feels disappointed. Our inability to realise our potentials and it is something that bothers me and we have to hope and keep on hoping… be positive.
Regardless of our own disappointments and setbacks, I have no choice than to continue to work and pray, hope and hope that we will get it right.
Looking forward, what are your dreams and aspiration?
Having realised my childhood aspiration of attaining my present position, where I find myself as a means to an end and the end of course, is the upliftment and development of Nigeria. Obviously, all our ambitions and aspirations should be subordinate, take back seat, to what becomes of the country. If Nigeria begins to live up to its potentials, I will be the happiest person on earth regardless of what is happening to me in terms of my ambitions and aspirations.
God has given me and everybody else some talents and expertise to excel and impact on our society. As a result of this, I will always have something that the public will require. Therefore, I have no fear or anxiety of what would become of me. I pray to continue to thrive; I still have a lot to contribute to the progress of Nigeria. My own aspiration now is for the country to fulfill its potentials.
I was given a fellowship in Voice of Germany, in October 1994, and for about two and half months before returning to Nigeria, I was still in the mood of having fun, but at the same time conscious of not hurting anyone; I never liked the idea of making people unhappy, no matter whom the person may be. So, I prayed and reached a covenant with God, that ‘I do not want to make anybody unhappy, when I get back to Nigeria, please give me my wife’; and that the first lady that I will propose to, will be my wife. There was that covenant and I do not easily make covenant or vow, I do not like disappointing people, not to talk of God. I cannot afford that.
To tell God how serious I was, I said for good or for bad, the lady I am going to propose to, is going to be my wife; and that was what happened.
I came to Nigeria December 17 or thereabout and we usually go to our town, Okemesi, for Christmas. My wife also comes from Okemesi, but I had never seen her before, and she came for the Christmas also and my younger sister introduced her to me. That was how it started; immediately I met her and decided to go out with her, I felt ‘well, it is now for me to play the part’. I love her and everything just came together like that.
Like I said, I have already made a covenant with God and all things work together for good. And marrying her was a fulfillment of my vow with God; she met and meets all that I desire in a wife. And, it has been the most fulfilled marital life. You can have an idea of what the homefront looks like from the way a man looks or behaves; it will reflect. I reflect contentment, peace and happiness.