Baba Obe, Asiwaju Tinubu And My Ambition – Monsuru Obe
Monsuru Bello, who has adopted his father’s alias, Obe, was the vice chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area from October 2008 to October 2014. This covered two terms of three years on the saddle. It is significant that he held the portfolio as the Supervisor for Works enabling him to oversee the construction of over 168 culverts to link many hitherto disconnected streets, build two public primary schools- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Primary School, Ageke and Oladele Alake Primary School, Ailegun. His tenure also witnessed the construction of three new primary health care Centres, the first customary courthouse and six public toilets.
When, in October 2014, he announced his ambition to run for the chairmanship of the Local Council Development Area, many residents and groups turned out en masse to endorse him. The community development associations, the traditional chiefs, the traders and artisans, the South-South Leaders and the Igbo leaders took turns to vouch for his character.
In this interview, Monsuru Bello bares his mind on his pedigree and chances:
Who was Alhaji Nurudeen Obe?Alhaji Nurudeen Obe was my late father. He was the leader of the landowning family of Fadu Mewon. In that position, he facilitated the efforts of many strangers who wanted to settle in Ejigbo for land. Because he was very honest in his dealings, many people saw him as a father and it soon became his appellation.
In 1992, the recognized parties were the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the National Republic a Convention,NRC . The overall political leader was my father Alhaji Nurudeen Obe.
How did Alhaji Nurudeen Obe get into politics?My father, Baba Obe had a very strong relationship with Chief Lateef Jakande, former governor of Lagos State and the Action Group (AG) which metamorphosed to Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1979 led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.Please can you tell us your daddy relationship with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited my father in 1992. He was running for the senatorial seat of Lagos West. He came through the late Iyaloja of Jakande who was popularly known in Yoruba as Iyami o bi’mo ode. She was the first Iyaloja of Jakande Estate.
I remember his first two visits. I remember clearly because I was the organising secretary of the ward at that time. The first visit was to meet my late father and second visit was to meet with members of executive led by late Alhaji Muhydeen Rabiu Keshi who was the ward chairman (ward K) now Ejigbo LCDA along side with Prince S A Adewoyin.
We heard that the progressive organised befitting burial for your late father,how true is it sir?Yes,My father died 20th of 1997, the likes of our National leader Asiwaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu,the late Rafiu Jafojo,Late Engineer Funso Williams,Chief Muniru Baruwa,Late Otunba H O B Balogun,late Chief S I Banjoko and host of other important personalities put efforts togther and funded his burial in recognition of his political stature.