“We should descend from the horses of envy and jealousy and support the credible leadership of Asiwaju Fasuyi. While he is human and could have projected some foibles, (and who is perfect among us), we must approbate his positives and efforts in bringing developments and progress to Ijesa land for the benefit of all. He spends more resources than anyone in Ijesa land and history. He spends his time and energy limitlessly. Asiwaju Fasuyi is not an object of ridicule by any means. He is not an object to be conspired against. He does not deserve to be disrespected or to be slighted. He is a giant and a gift to Ijesa land. Conspiring against Asiwaju Fasuyi, for whatever reasons is like conspiring against the peace, progress and unity of Ijesa land. It must be nipped in the bud”
“Few men have the natural strength to honour a friend’s success without envy.”
– Aeschylus
“There is more self-love than love in jealousy.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“Envy always implies conscious inferiority wherever it resides.”
– Gaius Plinius Secundus
One was at the handing over event of the Nursing School Building at Ilesa University on January 3, 2025. It was obvious that a lot of things were missing or deliberately skipped by the organizers. Whatever might have been the case, either deliberately or inadvertently, the optics are very ugly. It is important we tell ourselves some truths, which might not sit well with some of us.
The conspicuous absence of Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi from the event was ghastly and a very disruptive omission. It was one’s assumption that he probably was invited but he could not make the event because he had other commitments. But with his published brief comments headlined COMMISSIONING OF THE NURSING BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILESA: NEED TO KEEP HISTORY AND FACTS SACROSANT, it has become self-evident that he was not invited to the event which would be a great slight and pointers to a simmering crisis. Or maybe as Prince (Dr.) Toyin Olalemi suggested, the invitation must have been lost in transit. And as Dr. Olalemi pointed out, it is important that a quick public apology be rendered to the Asiwaju of Ijesa land, Chief Olayinka Fasuyi. Its delay could portend very dire and drastic consequences for the unity, peace and progress for Ijesa land.
How does one explain that a project that was funded from an account that was opened on behalf of all donors by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi was commissioned without him being invited to the occasion? What could be the excuse? In addition, aside from Pa Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the revered leader of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Asiwaju Fasuyi was the highest donor to that account! By virtue of his position as Asiwaju of Ijesa land and the second highest donor to the fund that produced the project, it could not have been inappropriate to invite him to the occasion to honour him. One was also privileged to hear some murmuring about not recognizing Pa Adejare Adeboye at the event!
No matter what the organizers have against Asiwaju Fasuyi would not matter if this issue is allowed to metastasize. It is impossible to dress the belly-burton with a cap. It is an unwarranted slight to someone who has given his all to the development of Ijesa land. He has given his time and energy. He has given his resources. He has led by example. He has rejuvenated the confidence of majority of Ijesa sons and daughters in the motherland. He has earned the trust of those who contribute their hard-earned money to developmental projects in Ijesa land, repeatedly.
One has no idea if there was a clique behind this or not, but the aroma in the air smacks of a dangerous envy and jealousy. Envy and jealousy when unencumbered by reason and objectivity, could be destructive and anti-progress. One has heard a lot of untoward comments about Asiwaju Fasuyi on how he liked taking charge. On how he thought he had to lead to get things done. On how he would not allow money contributed by Ijesa sons and daughters not to be spent in certain ways. On how he was unrepentantly ensuring sunshine on the deeds and actions of whatever he was involved in with openness and accountability.
All these complaints are exactly why the Ijesa sons and daughters all over the world are responding to him whenever he asked them to contribute their money towards developmental projects in Ijesa land. It is why Asiwaju Fasuyi is trusted. It is why he enjoys our confidence. It is why he enjoys our loyalty. His Chieftaincy title is “Asiwaju of Ijesa land”. Thus, essentially, he must lead from the front and by example. And for his own integrity and credibility of his leadership he must be accountable and open to those donating their hard-earned money to the projects he has brought up.
The late Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesa land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II, CFR, LLD had thousands of options before he chose Chief Olayinka Fasuyi as the Asiwaju of Ijesa land. And Asiwaju Fasuyi has proved himself and still proving himself. Those behind the disrespect of Asiwaju Fasuyi might be fighting the progress of Ijesa by proxy. No matter the kind of complaints they might have against him, if he has not stolen our money (like some have done and are still trying to do) and continues to anchor developmental projects for the benefit of Ijesa people, the conspirators would fail and fail woefully.
One’s particular refrain is eternally true and relevant here: Lies never last, History never dies, and the Truth is always constant.
The obvious challenge here is that the situation is at risk of being contaminated by politics and politicians. We could not allow that in our battle for progress and development in Ijesa land. Our efforts would persevere, and our unity would endure if partisanship was kneecapped. On March 4, 2022, the Nation newspaper, writing about Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a leader, had observed, “While there are egoists who go into politics for the pursuit of power to dominate others and to promote their own selfish interests, there are also politicians who are exemplars of moral politics.” But regardless of the existence of the latter, we must not allow politics to contaminate our efforts. We must be focused on our goals as united Ijesa forces for peace and progress in our land.
This latter group identified by the Nation Newspaper, was characterized as “decent human beings who see humanity as their theater of operation and human beings as subjects of interests which ought to be promoted in the spirit of the common humanity that we share. They don’t mind sacrificing their own interest for the common interests of their fellow citizens. They see their good in the good of others. All they care for is to make life more abundant for their fellow human beings.” This is where Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi belong.
Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi loves Ijesa land. It is self-evident. His patriotism is patently palpable and plain. In the few years that he has become Asiwaju of Ijesa land, he has led as he should. He has invested us with hope for the future. He has invested in us with the belief that change, and progress are possible in Ijesa Land. He has infused in Ijesa sons and daughters all over the world the confidence needed that we are in good hands with him. His openness and accountability are peerless in the annals of Ijesa leadership history. He is doing everything that is obvious to all to advance the development of Ijesa land.
We should descend from the horses of envy and jealousy and support the credible leadership of Asiwaju Fasuyi. While he is human and could have projected some foibles, (and who is perfect among us), we must approbate his positives and efforts in bringing developments and progress to Ijesa land for the benefit of all. He spends more resources than anyone in Ijesa land and history. He spends his time and energy limitlessly. Asiwaju Fasuyi is not an object of ridicule by any means. He is not an object to be conspired against. He does not deserve to be disrespected or to be slighted. He is a giant and a gift to Ijesa land. Conspiring against Asiwaju Fasuyi, for whatever reasons is like conspiring against the peace, progress and unity of Ijesa land. It must be nipped in the bud.
*By Remi Oyeyemi*
©Remi Oyeyemi
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