Politics is a dirty game, so they often say, until you meet a decent politician, who will not allow the dirty parts of politics stain his clean garment. However, unlike many observers of the political scene, I have the opinion that the game of politics can only be dirty, if played dirty by dirty people, it can also be clean and decent, if played clean by decent people, and one of the politicians, that can aptly or unarguably be described as decent and selfless politician in Nigeria, it is Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim.
In 1999, at a time when not many could be in the opposition to the ruling dynasty in Kwara State, the vibrant Ilyasu became the first person in Moro local government to accept the opposition role and led it courageously with inspiration, and principle. For Ilyasu Ibrahim, the seed of what would eventually transform into otoge revolution in 2019 was sowed in 1999.
In 2012, I came to know Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim as a result of his battle with the then Kwara State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Razaq Atunwa. As a member and Chief Whip of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Ilyasu uncovered some corrupt activities by the then speaker, Hon Razaq Atunwa, and decided to act against it.
One other incident that confirmed Ilyasu Ibrahim as one of the most selfless politicians in Nigeria happened during the 6th assembly, when all members of the assembly were given job slots at the Kwara State Civil Service.
While other members simply handed over the slot to one of their children or family members, Ilyasu Ibrahim did something different. He sent message to his constituent in Moro local government to inform them of the job opportunity and asked the people to identify someone with the qualification to claim the slot.
After two weeks of searching and because of the peculiarity of the qualification requested, they couldn’t find anyone with the requirement. So they returned to Ilyasu with the bad news of no candidate that fits the requirements. It was at this point that Hon. Ilyasu pleaded with them that if they do not mind, his own child at home is without job and that he meets the criteria. He pleaded that they should allow him send his child’s name, so that the slot will not be wasted.
Those who went to him looked at each other in amazement and soon after, one of them said, ‘so you have a child that meets the requirement and you decided to send us searching?’ The other added that, ‘you are the one who brought the opportunity and you don’t need to seek our permission to submit your son’s name’.
However, Ilyasu Ibrahim countered that, I do not own the slot, it was given to Moro LG representative. Even though I am your representative, I do not own what belongs to the community, it has to be jointly decided. The only thing I am entitled to is my salary, any other thing must be presented for your consideration.
The people gave him the go ahead to present his son and he thanked them greatly, adding that should they eventually find anyone who has the qualification, he would not hesitate to step down his son’s name.
After all names had been submitted, the screening date was fixed. However, a day to the screening date, a young man walked into the home of Hon Ilyasu and pleaded with him to help him find a job. The young man told Ilyasu that he had finished school for more than 5 years without any job and all his family members are looking up to him.
When Hon Ilyasu asked him what he studied in school, it was the same requirement needed for the job slot he had given to his son, whose screening they are doing tomorrow. Ilyasu then told the man to go back home and come the next morning, so they could go out together. He gave him transportation money to make his movement easy.
The next morning, the young man arrived very early. Hon. Ilyasu took him in his vehicle straight to the office of the head of civil service commission. He told the civil service boss that the name he submitted before was just a tentative name, to reserve the slot for the person who will take it. The real owner has now come and he wanted him to replace his son’s name with that of this young man. The civil service boss was shock. How can you be replacing your son’s name with a total stranger? He said, but Ilyasu insisted that the name be replaced.
In his magnanimity, the civil service boss promised to get another slot for the young man after the exercise, but Ilyasu refused the offer. He said to him, give this young man this slot, then you can find another slot for my son. That’s how a total stranger was replaced with Hon. Ilyasu’s son.
Today, Hon Ilyasu’s son, Rotimi Ilyasu, is a commissioner in Kwara state. Let me conclude by saying that, you may disagree with Hon. Ilyasu politically, but most certainly, you cannot impugn his character.
Abdulrazaq Hamzat is the Convener of Kwara Must Change
