Politicians Succeed Through Hard Work, Not Godfatherism – Alebiosu

Otunba Busura Adedeji Alebiosu, a smart businessman and long-time friend of President Bola Tinubu, talks about his time in politics since the Second Republic and gives honest advice to politicians today in this interview. Folalumi Alaran gives us some excerpts.

Please tell us about your childhood, where you were born, how you grew up, and the schools you went to.

Ijasi quarters in Ijebu-Ode is where I was born. I went to Moslem School in Ijebu-Ode, then moved to Lagos and worked as a gas station attendant in Denton, Ebute Metta, Lagos. From there, I went to the UK to study first at the Hammersmith College of Arts and Building and then at the Paddington Technical College to study Welding Engineering. After that, I worked for a short time before returning to Nigeria with my close friend, Hon. Justice George Adesola Oguntade, who used to be on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and studied law at Holborn College in the UK. We started our own businesses after we got back to Nigeria.

What kind of training did you get as a child?

I learned in Britain. In 1967, I went back to Nigeria and worked for a short time with GMI Structural Engineering. Later, I worked for a company that was good at technology. My very good friend, Justice Adeola Oguntade of the Supreme Court, and I started a company called LJ Engineering Nigeria Limited after about seven years. He was the Chairman and I was the Executive Director. We each owned half of the company.

Who else did you grow up with besides Fela Anikulapo-Kuti?

I grew up with people like the late Kanbi Ishola Osobu, Frank Okonta, Ikomi, and others, including Justice Adesola Oguntade, who used to be a Supreme Court Justice.

Please tell us more about the business you started with Justice Oguntade.

In the end, we called the business Elios Engineering. Oguntade and I both saved money from our jobs and put it into the business. We decided to pool our resources and start the company because I have a background in engineering and he has a background in law and training.

At first, we called it Skyline Metalworks. Later, we changed the name to Helios Engineering.

The company took off like a rocket, and we started to make money. We worked three shifts at the factory: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. Our bankers were giving us credit, and when we needed it and grew a lot, we paid all of our bills and contracts on time. Life was good.

Leventis Group at Iddo House, Pera Beam, a part of UAC, and others were our biggest clients.

How did you get into politics?

In 1976, I got into politics with Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Somolu Local Government. Somolu had just been made out of Mushin Local Government at that time.

What did you and Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, who later became Governor of Lagos State, have in common?

I won an election for a local council and then, during the Jakande administration, I became a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I won elections in both of my first two terms. I was very close to the late Jakande. He was like a dad to me.

What did you do as a politician after the military ended the Second Republic?

Some of us got together in the background. There were a few other people in the group, including me, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, Alhaji Hamzat, and the late Rasheed Shitta-Bey.

We worked together in politics, and it was through this network that we helped Dapo Sarumi become a candidate for Governor of Lagos State.

Was that group Primose?

You are right. It was Primose. Primose was led by Chief Tajudeen Olusi.

You, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, and the late Alhaji Hamzat became very important in Lagos State politics.

Yes, we’ve been together for a long time, since the Second Republic and the UPN days. At that time, Chief Tajudeen Olusi was a member of the House of Representatives. The late Alhaji Hamzat was a commissioner and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly at the same time. That’s where we first met. We call Chief Tajudeen Olusi the “Prince of Peace.” He is from the Central Senatorial District. The late Alhaji Hamzat was from the West Senatorial District, and I am from the East Senatorial District.

You are also a member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State, which is in charge of leading the state. Tell us about some of the things you do there.

Most of the time, we give advice. We give the governor advice.

Before he became President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu was your friend for about 40 years. What do you think your relationship with him is like now?

President Tinubu can be trusted. I’m proud of him because he’s doing a good job.

What state policy do you think you started all by yourself?

There are so many that I can’t even count them.

So, let’s talk about the ratification of the land titles in Anthony Village, which you suggested to Jakande.

It wasn’t just Anthony Village. The ratification process also included Ojota, Ketu, Bariga, and Gbagada. We thank God that the people are free today. Back then, all you had to do to make the papers legal was pay the government N1,000.

Many politicians come to see you as a political leader to ask for your support for their goals. What do you say to them?

They have to follow the normal democratic process. Candidates must be chosen in primary elections at the local and ward levels. I don’t choose candidates, and Asiwaju doesn’t either. The people themselves choose their candidates.

You’ve seen a lot at your age, especially in politics. What would you tell politicians to do today?

If you want to do well in politics, you need to work hard. You can’t just depend on having a godfather around. You need to work hard and run a strong campaign. If you do that, you might be lucky enough to be picked as a candidate. I know a lot about politics; I even call myself the “politics professor” sometimes.

How did the name “Bush of Africa” come to be?

It’s a pretty long story. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and some South Africans were with me in East London in 1961. Fela called himself Fela Ransome-Kuti, and I called myself Busura Alebiosu. They had trouble saying “Busura.” Fela then told them not to call me Busura but to call me Bush. That’s how the name “Bush” stuck.

When did you become the Otunba Gbelegbuwa of Ijebuland?

That was back in 1987. Oba Sikiru Adetona, the late Awujale of Ijebuland, asked me to come to his house and give me the title. As the Awujale, he could give chieftaincy titles to anyone he thought was worthy.

You must have been very close to the late Awujale for him to give you that title.

Yes, we were very close. The late Awujale, Kabiyesi, was a man of great principles. He meant it when he said yes and no.

You were just named the Chairman of the Council of Otunbas of Ijebuland. How have you been handling such a hard job?

I am not by myself. Otunba Dr. Hassan is the First Vice Chairman, and Otunba Osiyemi is the Second Vice Chairman. I’m doing very well with their help.

What good memories do you still have of Awujale?

A lot of memories. Kabiyesi, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was a man of strong morals who didn’t put up with nonsense. I really miss him. He was a good man who could be counted on.

What do you thank God for at 90?

I thank God for giving me a good life, a good family, and good friends.

How easy was it for you to balance your family life with your political life when you were always going from one meeting to the next?

Thank God for that. It has become a part of my daily life. I might even get sick without it.

Which of your kids is following in your political footsteps?

Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu is the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development in Lagos state. He is learning quickly, and if he keeps it up, he will go far.

Which would you choose: your family or politics?

Both of them. We talk about politics even when I’m with my family. My wife and son, Dayo, and I talk about politics. I think both my family and politics are important.

What do you think makes you proud of your kids?

I am proud of each and every one of them. They pay attention to me. They might not agree with me at first, but they always come back to agree with me. A lot of the time, Yacoob and I talk about politics. At first, he might not agree, but later he will say, “Baba, I agree with you.”

What are you most thankful to God for at 90?

I thank God for everything He has done for me.