USA Africa Dialogue Series - TIT-BIT‹Re: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

Ayo, 

An item (below) from materials I'm just working over. 

And at the heart of it? 

Yes. 

You 

And Falola  

And Unife. 

I much like the sound of OOU, 

And the Terms of Apptmt. 

You are very close right now 

In my heart, 

To my thoughts. 

And Osun has drawn close. 

I see her now, 

I am close to her shrine of sacred memory. 

There are wonderful floods of Light; 

That High Forest is silent and bright, 

The clear waters of her stream 

Run cool and fresh. 

There is much laughter, 

Much Energy release, 

Much expectation. 

It is the aura of 

Good thoughts, of 

Wondrous attainment. 

How well I remember it. 

And you are Creator 

And Leader. 

Okon Uya is speaking to me now. 

He is close. 

He is laughing, 

And reminding me of  his 

Rocket-fuel. 

He is pointing at you. 

And not far from him is 

Adiele Afigbo. 

He too is laughing 

And nodding, and 

Sends his greeting.

You are elevated 

my dear friend. 

You speak words, 

Express thoughts that 

Please the gods, 

Please them mightily. 

And in Sussex here? 

On the High Downs? 

The Sun is shining bright 

From a deep blue sky. 

Clearly the Guardian gods of 

These ancient Downlands 

Have been alerted to the 

Thoughts and prayers of 

The Great Okon, and Adiele, 

And to the the huge, over-reacbing presence of 

The Eternal World Force, the 

Siren Song of their High Deity, Osun. 

You see, Ayo, 

Light Does Conquer All. 

And it is now full within you, 

And awaiting new and wondrous opportunities. 

As they say, 

All systems go. 

Best,  Baba m

—————————————————————

 

Re: Elections—Where are our political scientists?:

Silence of Political Scientists

 

Ohhh. Ayo.  

 

What to say? 

 

As one who cut his teeth on Nigeria's 1964-65 elections (duly published as “Structure & Conflict in Nigeria—1960-65” with Ken Post), what useful observations can I make?

 

First, in cutting deep, as with a fish knife, right up the gut of Nigeria's 1964 elections, everything spilled out. It was the start of my education in “real-politik”; and by that I mean the “instrumentalities”, the “push and pull of the levers” of politics. 

 

In Canada and UK where I had taken my “book” education, all was so artfully presented through Focused attention on “democracy”, heritage of “free and fair” elections, genuflections to the wonders of the “Westminster Government and Opposition Parliamentary System” that it never even occurred to me to make full use of the fish knife. A few “surgical incisions” to expose/ reveal the odd bit of “diseased tissue” or perhaps a highlighted asset or “feature of prominence”; that was as far as it went. People BELIEVED in the Westminster, or in the US instance, the American governmental system. 

 

Though in America, and to a lesser extent in Canada, there had been, and still is a vigorous Progressive presence in politics, this was marginal, and intruded little with the mainstream thrust of Two-Party, first-past-the-post politics. Being brought up in a solidly conservative family and community of thought, it never seriously occurred to me to extend my thinking beyond these accepted and comfortable parameters. 

 

Mmmm. 

 

So, I had a few things to learn, didn't I? 

 

And when I settled into Nigeria politics? My comfortable world of political observation and assessment was turned upside down. 

 

It was a severe jolt to realise that the “Westminster System” as practiced in the West was not for everyone.  I was forced to recognise basics. 

 

The principal basic being that the Western Parliamentary/ Democratic system was founded upon a country's people aligning naturally on “Conservative” and “Liberal” lines. Conservatives favouring pursuit of policies in accord with established values and interests; such persons being largely those who benefited from/ hoped to benefit from/ supported social & cultural values emanating from such policies. 

 

And “Liberals”—or in the USA, Democrats? These folk favoured policies that looked to values that sought to take folk beyond the conservative traditional, and into new, and they believed attainable goals and attainments that would bring, yes, “Life more abundant” for ALL folk; that is those—the 98ers—who did not, for one reason or another, gain the benefits accruing to the more fortunate and privileged Conservatives—like me. 

 

And the jolt of Nigeria realities? 

 

Having gone through the self-revelations of the Nigeria 1964 Election study, and having been heavily assaulted by all the rhetoric and grandstanding, particularly by Western Press/ Media; I came to the very clear realisation, that these Nigeria elections had nothing to do with the root elements—as above—of Western elections as I knew them. 

 

Briefly, while Western elections were based upon a “Left vs Right” foundation; Nigeria elections were based on “One Ethnic Group vs Another Ethnic Group”. Attempts were made by the Southern (UPGA) Alliance in particular, with Awolowo in the lead, to set down a ”Left vs Right” foundation. It could however get little traction; and was swept away by the Nigeria reality of the “ethnic tide.” And as all whose memory and knowledge go back that far; they will know that it was “ethnicity”—familial/ clan/ group allegiances—that determined elections at ALL levels and from the very start of Nigeria's electoral Experiments starting in 1951 and progressing swiftly on towards Regional Self-Government, then Independence in 1960. 

 

And it hasn't changed. 

 

And while many folk—including myself—have placed much of the blame on the Brit doorstep (there were many wheels within wheels; and the carefully Brit-constructed elections of those pre-Independence days were very important parts of the process); the fact is that NO leading Nigerian politician—including Awolowo—ASKED for ANY “indigenous constitutional model” to be drawn up for consideration and assessment (much to the surprise of the then-responsible Brit Colonial official in the West Regional Government, who did inquire). Indeed, as Sir James Robertson, Nigeria's last Governor-General once observed, “Nigeria's leaders wanted the Westminster Model, and would not accept anything other.”

 

So, for me, by the end of 1964, though severely jolted, I was aware that the driving force in Nigeria politics and elections, was “Ethnic”. Western politics and elections were driven by the Force of “Left vs Right”. The two were fundamentally different.

 

Having settled this reality for myself, I've not since given further attention to Nigeria elections. 

 

I turned my attentions to what I saw to be the root from which Politics—as an expression of social and cultural values clearly did emanate—and that was Ethnicity. 

 

The study of the Mid-West State Movement I subsequently completed—published many years later as “Ethnicity and Sub-Nationalism in Nigeria,” my most useful work, in my view, and largely ignored—developed this focal ethnic theme.  

 

Though out of Nigeria and Africa academe for many years from the mid-1970s; when once again the Light started to shine, in the form of the thinking and perceptions of Falola and others, and I ventured back in the late 1990s, the force of the ethnic theme had greatly grown and of course manifest itself in politics and new states' creation. 

 

Sadly, what had NOT changed was the heavy imprint of the Western model. WITHIN new states determined largely by “Ethnic” considerations, division remained “Clan/ Group/ Familial”; in other words Ethnic. 

 

And this is where we remain today. 

 

So what can I as a Political Scientist add to useful comment re Nigeria's shortly forthcoming elections?  

 

Well, I could write BOOKS about the “instrumentalities”—the wondrous tricks of the trade. Nigeria's hugely imaginative/ daring/ energetic/ brilliant/ persevering Independence politicians, persons who became great and wonderful friends—most in the AG and NCNC camps—provided a most thorough and enlightening education. There is nothing I have read or heard since that indicates much significant variation from the “primary principles” of these instrumentalities. 

 

And as there is nothing at all to suggest that the forthcoming election constitutes anything more than a head-on monster collision of two huge Interest Groups/ Forces, the sole principal object being to gain/ re-gain Office in order to repeat the process of Looting the National and State Treasuries—and associated beneficial acts—I, as a concerned Political Scientist, have nothing to add. 

 

To contribute to debate would only be to legitimise what is a thoroughly corrupt, demeaning, breathtakingly outrageous process, that continues to destroy the country and devastate its peoples; and in so doing bringing ever closer a terrible reckoning that each new incumbent seemingly HOPES will NOT descend, at least NOT until AFTER HIS term in office. None of these folk, blinded by the billions they see ALMOST within reach, cares to consider the fate of Mubarak in Egypt, the initial “blossoming” of “Arab Spring” in Tunisia, the fate of the late Col. Gaddafi in Libya—nor indeed what has happened since. Ravenous greed conquers all. 

 

Ayo, I confess I've not heard of former Guardian writer, Prof Sussy Orbach. But her points of course are valid. The problem—whether for Public Intellectual or ordinary thinking folk—is quite clear. When everything is crammed into the “middle political space”, and no one (in politics) DARES shift more than a mm to left or right for fear of losing what might be critical votes at the ballot box/ chad machine, etc, then ANY possibility of enlightening “Left vs Right” debate in Western countries virtually evaporates. This is the situation today. 

 

And into the vacuum? 

 

Enter cybernetics and “virtual reality” in which folk who can find no other outlet for what they may regard as useful Political and personal thought, vigorously and extensively engage—and of course are vigilantly monitored by Western/ largely American Surveillance officials—believed to exceed 100,000 of them acting on government orders—to listen in, and presumably make up their minds which of us, in their view, is “Virtual”, and which may represent a “real threat” to American Government and its RULERS (or the govts AND RULERS of their friends, like UK/ EU and Canada, and perhaps Saudi Arabia, other Gulf States, …and Nigeria?) 

 

Mmmmm.  Maybe in Nigeria this wonderful snooping capacity has been extended? And what would Nigeria's Rulers do with such enlightening info if they got it? 

 

What about jobs of Political Scientists—in once-premier universities already stripped to the bone—who may speak a bit too freely of what they believe to be the truth? What about the jobs and security of Family and perhaps close friends? What about higher education opportunities/ Overseas scholarships for talented children?  Mmmmm? Small thoughts. 

 

And if concerned Political Scientists in Nigeria's universities ARE inclined to speak up; What are they going to say? Engage in the rabble of cha-cha-cha chatter, exchanging, or pontificating on issues deployed as brickbats? Discuss relevant “vital” matters bearing on “which instrument”—legal/ perhaps “extra-legal”/ marginal—offers greater/ lesser opportunity/ advantage? …Perhaps what Leadership style may secure greater favour with voters, who only can judge from TV/ other meedja/ and what they are told the Respective candidate “guarantees” to do for them? …Maybe the “Vital/ Crucial Role” that The Meedja, or certain specified elements of it can “definitely” do to enhance electoral opportunity for respective candidates? …The equally vital role of close attention to Electoral Rolls, and ensuring that all “oversights” that may dis-advantage your candidate are removed—while seeking to ensure that those of your candidate's rival (particularly if YOUR candidate is from the Governing Party in the locality; his RIVAL from the Opposition Party) may NOT be “accessed”/ and by various legal procedures may not be altered/ removed—at least until AFTER the election?

 

As I say, I could go on for several thick tomes. And Nigeria, my Independence Politics friends, bless em, taught me it all. …As well as how to access the Public Treasury—things that astonished/ startled me; indeed had never ever occurred to me (at least not on such breathtaking scale); let alone that such wholesale burglary could actually be carried out, and in broad daylight. …Amazing stuff.  

 

So please Ayo:  if tis felt that our Nigeria Political Scientists are NOT entering The “spirit” of these—or indeed ANY Nigeria elections—these may provide some idea of the reasons WHY. 

 

And indeed, should Ms Orbach (whose principal concern, Wikipedia informs me, is with the female body; and the parameters of thought and behaviour, internal and external deriving from this) happen ever to turn her thoughts to Nigeria, its Elections, and the contributions—or lack of same—of Public Intellectuals, and Indeed Political Scientists in Nigeria's universities, struggling hard for survival under huge pressures and ever-diminishing government support and wages; perhaps if she should ever happen upon information of this nature, she may gain an inkling of why there is silence, or at best muted comment. 

 

I can hear my detractors saying, “Why does not this man shut up”. 

 

And so I shall. 

 

And now the paradox:   if it weren't for a Political Scientist, a graduate of the Nigerian University that in the 1960s “lit the lights” of political reality for me, I would not now be able to engage you with comments as above. And if you find these offensive, please forgive me. They are expressed with the very best of intentions for all Nigeria folk and their huge and wondrous land. A land and people and vibrant spirit life that captured me from the very beginning. 

 

University of Ife, now OAU, is the continuing expression of hope of what Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saw as the only sure Path to Nigerian Freedom. Information, learning, critical thought, leading to growing understanding and then useful and effective action is indeed the only way through and forward. 

 

If he is listening now from his place at the Great Olympian Table on High, he will I am sure be laughing and nodding. 

 

The Political Scientist I speak of is of course, our celebrated Punch columnist, Professor Ayo Olukotun. 

 

Not only does he do the Intellectual and Ethical Heritage of Awo proud; he does also do proud all the rest of us who struggle on in this Valley of Tears. 

 

And this does include Nigeria's Political Scientists—all of them.  

 

 

———————————————

From: Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, 2 November 2016 09:49
To: Prof Toyin FALOLA <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, USA-AFRICA dialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>, Michael VICKERS <mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>, Prof Richard JOSEPH <r-joseph@northwestern.edu>, Wale Adebanwi <waleadebanwi@gmail.com>, William Fawole <fawolew@yahoo.com>, Oladipo Osasona <ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk>, Dr Olajumoke YACOB-HALISO <jumoyin@yahoo.co.uk>, Prof Jide Owoeye <babsowoeye@gmail.com>
Subject: Fw: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

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From: Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>

Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 09:21:15 +0000 (UTC)

To: ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; bankole omotoso<ajibabi@outlook.com>; Bayo Okunade<bayookunade@gmail.com>; Benjamin Olatunji Oloruntimehin<ben_olatunji2003@yahoo.com>; BISHOP CROWN<bishopisaaccrown@gmail.com>; bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk<bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk>; bode fasakin<bodefasakin@yahoo.co.uk>; bukky dada<bukkydada@hotmail.com>; Bunmi Ayoade<maximaxiforte@gmail.com>; Attahiru Jega<attahirujega@yahoo.com>; antonia simbine<tsombe98@yahoo.com>; anujah@yahoo.com<anujah@yahoo.com>; aoyewo@aol.com<aoyewo@aol.com>; Ephraim Aor<rainbowtumise@gmail.com>; Caleb Ayoade Aborisade<caborisade@yahoo.com>; Candice Homan<CHoman@iie.org>; charles akinola<akindijiakinola@gmail.com>; chibuzo nwoke<chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>; Christian Ogbondah<chris.ogbondah@uni.edu>; Chukwuma, Innocent<innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org>; ggdarah@yahoo.com<ggdarah@yahoo.com>; Damilola Taiye<lola2kid@yahoo.com>; Daniel Bach<d.bach@sciencespobordeaux.fr>; Dele Seteolu<folabiset@yahoo.com>; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu<toksx@yahoo.com>; Egbokhare Francis<foegbokhare@yahoo.com>; eojo12000<eojo12000@yahoo.com>; fademolaadeoye@gmail.com<fademolaadeoye@gmail.com>; fadesola@oauife.edu.ng<fadesola@oauife.edu.ng>; Faith Adebiyi<faithadebiyi01@gmail.com>; Femi Babatunde<ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com>; friday Okonofua<feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk>; Francis Irele<abiolairele@gmail.com>; Francis Ojo<ojofrank@gmail.com>; Gbenga Dr. Owojaiye<gbenjaiye@hotmail.com>; Glory Ukwenga<gloryukwenga@gmail.com>; Grace Edema<gmso200212@gmail.com>; Omatsola Edema<charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>; Omo Adugbe<omoadugbe@gmail.com>; Obadiah Mailafia<obmailafia@gmail.com>; Ogunfolakan Adisa<babaadii@yahoo.com>; olatoye_ojo<olatoye_ojo@yahoo.com>; Nduka Otiono<Nduka.Otiono@carleton.ca>; Nwulu, Paul<p.nwulu@fordfoundation.org>; Lai Olurode<olurode@yahoo.com>; Lanre Idowu<lanreidowu@gmail.com>; lanre oluwaniyi<lanre1256@hotmail.com>; BGI Legal<bgilegalservices@gmail.com>; sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk<sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk>; Sola Akinrinade<solakin@msn.com>; shirleygreta@yahoo.com<shirleygreta@yahoo.com>; simon Emeje<simon_emeje@yahoo.com>; simonkolawole@yahoo.com<simonkolawole@yahoo.com>; Joel Nwokeoma<joelugon@yahoo.com>; Niyi Akinnaso<niyi.tlc@gmail.com>; olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk<olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk>; Oladipo Osasona<ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk>; OLAYEMI FOLINE<offlinenspri@gmail.com>; OLAYODE OLUSOLA<kennyode@yahoo.com>; Paul izah<pizah2003@yahoo.com>; peju oti<pejuoti2002@yahoo.com>; Prof Dipo Kolawole<profkolawole@yahoo.com>; Prof. Lere Amusan<lereamusan@gmail.com>; Tiwa<tiwaolugbade@yahoo.com>; Tolulope Sajobi<ttsajobi@ucalgary.ca>; Tunji Olaopa<tolaopa2003@gmail.com>; Tunde Oseni<tundeoseni@gmail.com>; twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk<twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk>; Ibrahim Gambari<Ibrahim.gambari@gmail.com>; IHRIA ENAKIMIO<ihriae@gmail.com>; olufemi onabajo<olufemionabajo@yahoo.com>; olukotun bob-kunle<bobkunle@yahoo.com>; madeyeye2002@yahoo.com<madeyeye2002@yahoo.com>; Margaret Ayansola<mdayansola@gmail.com>; Margaret Solo-Anaeto<soloanaeto.margaret@gmail.com>; michaelfaborode<michaelfaborode@gmail.com>; Moshood Omotosho<mashomotosho@yahoo.com>; Ngozi<mediaworldintl@yahoo.com>; Bose<bose@pindfoundation.org>

ReplyTo: Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>

Subject: Re: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

Toyin, (and Ayo!!!)

Thanks Toyin, for ensuring that Ayo is deservedly celebrated for this recognition. But Ayo must understand why I have those exclamation marks with his name above. Well, it's his well-known care-free disposition to things material (this is anything but material, though), plus an un-usual capacity to literally forget to mention that which is outstanding about himself. That trait was there when he was our Students' Union 'Presido' in the early '70s - always the 'rough-and-ready', but highly thoughtful idea/action leader, with hardly the slightest concern for any airs or circumstance attaching to his role. Intellect accompanied by self-effacing humility? He knows why I'm writing all this. 

Just last Sunday, the very day before the announcement, Ayo and I literally 'talked and talked' (one hour or a little more??), reminiscing over the radical (mostly Marxist/leftist) Professors and lecturers who had inspired us at Ife in the '70s, and how it somehow feels (if you see how things have gone against our brightest hopes from that time) that all that inspired energy and hope burning in our belly may have been dashed. We spoke - both seriously and in self-deprecating humour - about how the much touted 'impending CRISIS of the Nigerian bourgeouisie . . ' (which radical students tended to interprete as their 'internal contradictions' and ultimate failure - VERY SOON) has thus far failed to materialise; how, in fact, the 'bourgeouisie' (whoever they are) seemed to have done VERY WELL since then, in capturing power, capital (our commonwealth) and the machinery of public governance - thank you very much!!, etc. And we played around with a couple new ideas about how we might ensure the next generation doesn't also inherit our frustration and sense of emptiness on the collective-public-space front, etc. 

With this development, Ayo has just been given a platform that provides a rare opportunity to help our country in the urgent task of reconstituting its infrastructure and institutions of the mind, especially around the challenges and opportunities of developmental governance (integrity in service, commitment and rigour in effort, a strong sense of the supremacy of the shared/public space and cause (of course, with adequate respect for the 'sacred', private space of the individual). It's even nicer that Ayo will have an opportunity to more directly influence/enhance the worldview and public-good orientation of our youth (including, by the way, anyone on this group who may still, like me, be among Nigeria's youthful 'leaders of tomorrow!!).

In that long conversation, Ayo did not for a minute mention the honour nearly at his door (I'm sure, already there, - since he would have had the Chair appointment and day of announcement cleared with him as at when we talked our marathon). Again, humility in the service of great intellect!!

My special plea, Ayo. Please do not let anyone place any bogus, out-sized door-plaque on your Professorial Chair office door. Let the modesty play on. A small 'good-example' anecdote to underscore the plea. Years back, my wife and I went visiting our son who had then just started studies in something called 'Part 3 Mathematics' in Cambridge. I learnt it was a course/skill area used in Theoretical Physics, etc. (I can't write a line on that subject!!). While there, I asked my son to take us to the office of the wheel-chair-bound maths/physics genius, Stephen Hawkins, who I knew occupied the Lucasian Chair of Physics and Maths, a Chair first occupied by Isaac Newton. He obliged, and the great man's door sign was small, exactly same-size, same scripting as those of the other Profs on that floor. It struck me as modesty in the service of rare intellectual latitude. Has anyone noticed that if our Governors attend an event, their chairs - de-rigueur - have to be bigger and most (often distastefully) lavishly adorned than the other VIP's chairs? Oh, the Dep. Gov's one is the next bigger and bogus, and may be, then, the ones for the Commissioners, etc - and then regular ones for Mrs&Mrs Everybody Else. Why not just a good, standard FUNCTIONALLY comfortable chair for everyone? This is one of those areas (generically speaking) where we need some society-wide 'growing-up' mind process. So, Ayo, part of your challenge with this Chair is (however modest the results) in trying to help this country trim the boundaries and gestures of excesses and self-indulgence by power holders and leaders. Buhari provided a lovely example over last weekend at his daughter's wedding.

Congrats, Prof. Ayo Olukotun

Bolaji

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From: "ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com" <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
To: bankole omotoso <ajibabi@outlook.com>; Bayo Okunade <bayookunade@gmail.com>; Benjamin Olatunji Oloruntimehin <ben_olatunji2003@yahoo.com>; BISHOP CROWN <bishopisaaccrown@gmail.com>; Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>; bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk; bode fasakin <bodefasakin@yahoo.co.uk>; bukky dada <bukkydada@hotmail.com>; Bunmi Ayoade <maximaxiforte@gmail.com>; Attahiru Jega <attahirujega@yahoo.com>; antonia simbine <tsombe98@yahoo.com>; anujah@yahoo.com; aoyewo@aol.com; Ephraim Aor <rainbowtumise@gmail.com>; Caleb Ayoade Aborisade <caborisade@yahoo.com>; Candice Homan <CHoman@iie.org>; charles akinola <akindijiakinola@gmail.com>; chibuzo nwoke <chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>; Christian Ogbondah <chris.ogbondah@uni.edu>; "Chukwuma, Innocent" <innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org>; ggdarah@yahoo.com; Damilola Taiye <lola2kid@yahoo.com>; Daniel Bach <d.bach@sciencespobordeaux.fr>; Dele Seteolu <folabiset@yahoo.com>; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu <toksx@yahoo.com>; Egbokhare Francis <foegbokhare@yahoo.com>; eojo12000 <eojo12000@yahoo.com>; fademolaadeoye@gmail.com; fadesola@oauife.edu.ng; Faith Adebiyi <faithadebiyi01@gmail.com>; Femi Babatunde <ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com>; friday Okonofua <feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk>; Francis Irele <abiolairele@gmail.com>; Francis Ojo <ojofrank@gmail.com>; Gbenga Dr. Owojaiye <gbenjaiye@hotmail.com>; Glory Ukwenga <gloryukwenga@gmail.com>; Grace Edema <gmso200212@gmail.com>; Omatsola Edema <charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>; Omo Adugbe <omoadugbe@gmail.com>; Obadiah Mailafia <obmailafia@gmail.com>; Ogunfolakan Adisa <babaadii@yahoo.com>; olatoye_ojo <olatoye_ojo@yahoo.com>; Nduka Otiono <Nduka.Otiono@carleton.ca>; "Nwulu, Paul" <p.nwulu@fordfoundation.org>; Lai Olurode <olurode@yahoo.com>; Lanre Idowu <lanreidowu@gmail.com>; lanre oluwaniyi <lanre1256@hotmail.com>; BGI Legal <bgilegalservices@gmail.com>; sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk; Sola Akinrinade <solakin@msn.com>; shirleygreta@yahoo.com; simon Emeje <simon_emeje@yahoo.com>; simonkolawole@yahoo.com; Joel Nwokeoma <joelugon@yahoo.com>; Niyi Akinnaso <niyi.tlc@gmail.com>; olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk; Oladipo Osasona <ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk>; OLAYEMI FOLINE <offlinenspri@gmail.com>; OLAYODE OLUSOLA <kennyode@yahoo.com>; Paul izah <pizah2003@yahoo.com>; peju oti <pejuoti2002@yahoo.com>; Prof Dipo Kolawole <profkolawole@yahoo.com>; Prof. Lere Amusan <lereamusan@gmail.com>; Ayo Olukotun <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; Tiwa <tiwaolugbade@yahoo.com>; Tolulope Sajobi <ttsajobi@ucalgary.ca>; Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com>; Tunde Oseni <tundeoseni@gmail.com>; twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk; Ibrahim Gambari <Ibrahim.gambari@gmail.com>; IHRIA ENAKIMIO <ihriae@gmail.com>; olufemi onabajo <olufemionabajo@yahoo.com>; olukotun bob-kunle <bobkunle@yahoo.com>; madeyeye2002@yahoo.com; Margaret Ayansola <mdayansola@gmail.com>; Margaret Solo-Anaeto <soloanaeto.margaret@gmail.com>; michaelfaborode <michaelfaborode@gmail.com>; Moshood Omotosho <mashomotosho@yahoo.com>; Ngozi <mediaworldintl@yahoo.com>; Bose <bose@pindfoundation.org>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 3:53
Subject: Fw: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

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From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>

Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 02:26:47 +0000

To: ayo_olukotun-yahoo com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>

Cc: ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com<ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com>; balogundele@yahoo.com<balogundele@yahoo.com>; Ebunoluwa Oduwole<ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com>

Subject: FW: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

From: Ayo Banjo <profayobanjo@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "nwosuobi75@yahoo.com" <nwosuobi75@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 7:12 PM
To: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
Subject: Re: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

Hello Toyin,

Well dpoken!

Ayo Banjo

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On Tue, 1 Nov, 2016 at 18:34, Toyin Falola

<toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance

 

 

It has been announced by the Olabisi Onabanjo University at Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, that Professor Ayo Olukotun is to occupy the newly created Oba Adetona Chair. The announcement clearly delineated the objectives of the new academic Chair as following:

 

(i)            Initiate and execute researches that have the capacity of proffering solutions to contemporary challenges and issues of governance at the local and global levels.

 

(ii)          Promote scholarship, rigorous research activities and opportunities for collaboration with scholars and institutions committed to issues of governance.

 

(iii)         Serve as springboard for attracting quality staff and students to the Department of Political Science through research output.

 

 

In view of his distinguished professorial and intellectual backgrounds, Professor Olukotun is a perfect fit for the honor, as he is a scholar who will energize the Olabisi Onabanjo University’s intellectual community as well as to provide reasonable interventions in critical moments and, in the process, analyze the complex ways in which contemporary education is aligned with politics and development.

 

 Axiomatically, it is not an exaggeration to underscore that Professor Olukotun’s garment is a string of pockets, each serving as a container of contents of stellar significance. There are, indeed, those on politics, governance, democracy, institutions and all those listed in the aforementioned objectives. Most certainly, there is no need to elaborate on these totemic accolades. However, what is key and at the very core of the garment and its pockets is the overall mindset that connects a moral economy to a humanitarian order when it comes to Professor Olukotun. Exemplifying the foregoing is the relentlessness of his weekly pieces on one aspect or another of the character of the Nigerian nation.

 

 Clearly, the honoree’s moral economy has been connected to a moral compass and its community, via his own long list of recipients of his weekly bags of words, coupled with  our own  megaphone known as the USA-Africa Dialogue, the  alternative Internet site that further broadcasts them far and wide. In totality, Professor Olukotun  has created a popular moral movement that generates humanistic-cum-ethical  ideas about the state of our being, our nationhood, our future. Without any shade of doubt, he is our leader, and it is befitting that the academy has recognized him transparently. We salute this decision and, in our own way, we publicly honor Professor Olukotun’s brilliance and his sense of intellectual purpose.

 

With Professor Olukotun serving as the first occupant of the Oba Adetona Chair, I am more than assured that he will be a pathfinder, creating a new junction between the ideals of this great university and the humanistic concerns about the future of humanity in general. Furthermore, I am optimistic that new norms will congeal around him to serve as a glue that will bring together activists of the Left with pragmatists of the Right, without the exclusion of cultural jammers, with the overall purpose of  discussing the interests, expectations and, above all, the contributions of citizenship. History, politics and nature, in the process, will spell out the structural changes we need in our humanistic conditions.

 

In appointing Professor Olukotun to this Chair, the Olabisi Onabanjo University has distinguished itself with a clear statement: that scholarship and humanitarian activism is, symbolically, a Siamese  Twin that is needed on a serious campus to redefine our intellectual goals, retool our academic politics, and re-generate profound ideas to benefit academia and practical policies. In this important framework, the generous Oba Adetona and the gifted Professor Olukotun are agents of transformation to create a new space to promote and, in the final analysis, to enforce a new national scholarly ethos as well as orientation, coupled with stellar humanitarian ethics.

 

As colleagues, who admire high quality accmplishments of other colleagues, do please join me in saluting as well congratulating Professor Olukotun and, in unison, joyously exclaim loudly: this is the day that Olabisi Onabanjo University has made, and we shall rejoice in it!

 

Toyin Falola, November 1, 2016

Toyin Falola

Department of History

The University of Texas at Austin

104 Inner Campus Drive

Austin, TX 78712-0220

USA

512 475 7224

512 475 7222 (fax)

http://sites.utexas.edu/yoruba-studies-review/

http://www.toyinfalola.com 

http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa  

http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs 

http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue