Adenrele, a daughter of the late politician, Adeniran Ogunsanya, and a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, tells ARUKAINO UMUKORO about her father’s legacy
Please, tell us about yourself.
My name is Princess Adenrele Oyebola-Adeniran-Ogunsanya. I am the first child of (the late) Otunba Adeniran Ogunsanya.
How was growing up with your dad?
Growing up in our house was a marvelous experience. So many great men came to our house; Adegoke Adelabu, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sam Mbadiwe, (the late Chief Obafemi) Awolowo, and so on. That shows you how they were at that time. They were not enemies because they belonged to different political parties. Also, my dad was full of jokes and he liked to laugh a lot. We used to joke together and we were always laughing in the car. Today, we still laugh at his jokes when we remember something funny he said at one time or the other that had come to pass.
How does it feel to be the daughter of such a famous man?
The man himself, without the greatness, was such a wonderful person. I will always be grateful to God for him. I say to people, if I would come in another life, I would like to return as my father’s daughter.
What are some of the values you learnt from him?
One of the values is to love people and treat them as equals. When we were children, we weren’t allowed to call our maids or house helps who were older than us by their names. We called them Mr., Brother, or Sisi something. We gave them respect. It’s just the general belief that human beings should be treated well and respected. In other words, respect begets respect.
What kind of father was he?
He was a friend, he was a listener. For me, he was both my mother and father. I came back from England with him in 1953. When I was a little girl; he was just wonderful to me. At a stage he used to plait my hair. Even when I had my kids, he would help me, he would carry them and sing for them whenever they cried. He was a good father and he was a very humane human being. He also believed in God, he was very active within his church. I’ve been blessed so much to have had a father like him. And he was a father to all. He loved people genuinely. He loved politics, and he was a very consistent politician.
What made him different from today’s politicians?
I think most of the politicians during his time were special people. Though they were in different parties, they still related with one other. When it came to the (political) battlefield, each person would fight for his own cause. But, it’s not like today. People were not as hungry and as greedy as they are today. They were different, they fought for independence, and they served their country. They had a genuine concern for the welfare of their communities and constituencies. Of course, there are still people like that, but you know the majority were that way during my father’s time. Also, they had ideologies. I still think that, whatever faults they might have had, they were better politicians than the ones of today.
What were his views about national politics?
Many people describe my dad as a detribalised Nigerian. Tribe didn’t matter to him at any stage in his life. In his early days, he had his primary school education in Calabar (Hope Waddel), and he spoke fluent Efik. He believed in the oneness of Nigeria. I remember my father being excited at the thought of any inter-tribal marriage. He wanted to see more of it because he believed in a one Nigeria. He wasn’t a bitter person. He once told me that whenever he flew into Enugu, he always felt like he was going home, and that he was touched by the warmth he always received. If someone who was from the West felt like that, then indeed he was a true Nigerian.
Dad wasn’t a greedy man. He didn’t think much about the accumulation of wealth; it didn’t matter to him. He believed in helping people and he wasn’t a showy person. Dad connected with the masses. He used to stop and park his car if he saw young boys playing football. He loved football. He wasn’t controversial and didn’t make himself controversial. He was humble, he was a very brilliant lawyer and politician, and he tried to be very efficient. Dad was a minister in the First Republic, then he became a pioneer commissioner in Lagos State. He was Attorney-General, he also became the commissioner for education. Being the commissioner for education was one job I think he enjoyed thoroughly.
Would you say your dad’s name has opened doors for you?
My dad did so well and left a lot of goodwill. So, it would be callous of me to say that it doesn’t rub off on me. Certainly it does, and I have no apologies for that.
Did your father influence your going into politics?
Yes, I can safely say that I started politics as a young girl, as a child actually, because I used to sing slogans for the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons then while riding in a van, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I had a registration card of the Zikist National Vanguard, it was only to humour me as a child; their meetings were held weekly or fortnightly in our house on Apapa Road. I started quite early and I used to follow my dad everywhere. I think he saw the potential in me and he encouraged me; I’m glad he did. My two brothers are also interested in politics. They are in the Peoples Democratic Party. We are all interested in politics one way or the other.
What do you think your dad would have said about you being a strong member of the All Progressives Congress, while your siblings are of the PDP?
That is democracy. God knows that I love my brothers very much. It doesn’t take anything from me. You called my brother and he told you to call me. That’s the way we are. We are not controversial and we’ve not made dad’s name controversial after death by fighting among ourselves. My dad taught us to love one another, and that no matter our differences, we should always resolve them.
What would have been his views about the APC and the PDP?
I think his views would be that they are both national parties. Then, he was always a part of national parties. But, I don’t think he would have been against my choice. What he wouldn’t have agreed with was if I had decided to change parties again now, that is, after changing parties in 2006; I think he would have thoroughly given me a good talking to, because he was a very consistent person. It was just a necessary decision I had to make in 2006. If he were around, he would have agreed with me. Most of the decisions I’ve made in politics are from what he instilled in me.
What do you miss most about him?
I miss his friendship and his being there. I miss his jokes. He had a wonderful sense of humour. I used to have some really good laughs with my dad. The day he died was a very bad day for me. He had been ill, but it was controllable. Till today, I still feel the vacuum. I think my siblings feel that way too. He was a friend and father. He wasn’t a dictator. He was somebody one could approach. I think my siblings would tell you the same thing. He was going to 79 when he died.
Do you think he died fulfilled?
He was a bit disillusioned about the way Nigeria was going. He would feel really bad about the country if he were still alive today. But, let’s just pray that things get better.
Did he regret not becoming the governor of Lagos State?
No, he did not regret it. But, he would have loved to be governor, and he would have made a good governor because of his performance in everything else he did during his lifetime. Later, I became quite close to Alhaji Lateef Jakande because he was a leader of the party I joined, the Social Political Party. I was going to meetings in his house. Later, some people went to my dad to tell him that he should call me to order. But, my dad replied them, ‘What are you (people) talking about? Jakande is her party’s leader. Is he supposed to come to her house? She has to go there.’ He told me not to bother about them, and he supported me. That was the kind of man my dad was.
How did he create time for his family?
There was a time earlier on, when he held party posts; he was national chairman, Nigeria Peoples Party, and during the NCNC, I think he was one of the primary House of Representatives members; he held many positions, he was chairman, the Federal Loans Board. He also had a law practice. So, he was busy. He spent a lot of time out of the house, but he found time to be with us. I remember we used to go out on Sundays when we were much younger; he would drive us around and he would buy us ice-cream. He found time during Easter and Christmas; we had holidays together abroad, my step-mum, my brothers and I.
How did he discipline his children whenever they erred?
Oh! I got slaps now and then, but not often, far, far apart, and when I grew up, it stopped. We began to understand each other. He had other ways of disciplining us.
How did he react whenever he was angry?
My dad never used strong language; the highest he would say was, “Silly boy! Silly girl!” Or, “foolish man! Silly man!” He didn’t use bad language, and, it wasn’t part of our upbringing.
What was his daily routine like?
When dad woke up, he expected everybody to be up at the same time. He had his bath early and would go to court. When he came back (from work), he could wake you up at 1 o’clock because he wanted to talk. He could stay up late working if he had a case. Each time they banned politics; he went back to his law and practised. He kept himself busy, but he loved politics.
Can you describe your dad’s relationship with Azikiwe?
My dad’s relationship with Zik was a fantastic one. That’s Zik’s photograph there (pointing to the wall). We were like a family and I still feel like he’s part of my family. We are still family friends till date. It was a very close and deep relationship. I remember when I asked Zik, he said, “You know what, Ade, I don’t really know what I did to deserve your father, but I thank God for your father.” When Zik went to Zungeru, where he was born, and he was honoured there, my dad couldn’t go; he (Zik) wrote a letter, a part read, “With your absence there, I felt alone in a crowd.” That was how close they were. My dad first met Zik when my dad was a student in King’s College. I think Zik came to give a talk in the school and my dad had the honour of introducing him. I think that was where the friendship started and it continued until they both passed. My dad had a pen name, which was Gaius Marcus Politicos.
What role did your dad play when there was an alleged friction between Azikiwe and Awolowo?
My dad still called Awolowo, ‘Bra mi’, meaning, brother. Awolowo was at my wedding. My dad had great respect for Awolowo and Awolowo also had respect for him, maybe because of his consistency and forthrightness, but they were in different political parties. At one time, they were together in the United Progressive Grand Alliance; UPGA was an alliance of the Action Group and the NCNC at the time, but it was for a short period.
What kind of books did your dad read?
My dad was widely read. Of course, he read a lot of law books. He was always buying books. He was also a Pan-Africanist.
Aside from Zik and the others you mentioned, who were your dad’s closest friends?
One of his closest friends was T.O.S Benson. He was more like a brother. He was from Ikorodu too. Dad also had a childhood friend called Mr. Shoga. There was also Edward Sankey. Dad had many friends all over the country.
How sociable was he?
He went to many parties, he was a function-goer, but he didn’t drink and he didn’t smoke. He had a good itinerary of functions to go to almost every weekend and there were commitments for one reason or the other. But he wasn’t a social person that would go in front of the band and dance.
What were his likes and dislikes?
Dad loved beautiful women, and that says it all. My dad loved good food, and he loved dressing well. He took his time about his dressing and his appearance. He wasn’t over-elaborate, but he liked to dress well. He didn’t like loud, vulgar people. Some people are loud that it borders on vulgarity. He believed that if you did something wrong you should own up to it. He liked fun-loving and outspoken people. He was a total democrat as far as I am concerned. He loved Kings College. He was President of Kings College for a very long time and he just took delight in the school. If it were possible, he would have dressed me up like a boy and sent me there (laughs). But all his grandchildren, at least the older ones, went to Kings College, and that was a delight for him.
What kind of music did he like?
My dad loved the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Hurbert Ogunde. Fela used to make him laugh. He also liked Ambrose Campbell and Tunde Nightingale; there were one or two songs of Ebenezer Obey that he liked. And in my family, we also had great affection for Sunny Ade. My dad also liked listening to oldies, such as Frank Sinatra.
What was his favourite meal?
He liked eba with vegetable or egusi soup. He also liked eko. He always ate light meals at night.
How was his relationship with your mum and step-mum?
Let me explain it this way, my mum and dad parted ways when I was a child. But you could never say a word against my mum to my dad, and you could never say a word to my mum against my dad. That helped me a lot because it took away a lot of problems. They still looked out for each other, communicated with each other. He also loved my step-mother very much. My dad had good relationships with women. He wasn’t someone who ill-treated women. He believed that he should cater for his women and he did that. And that is something that is lacking in many men today. An elderly lady told me recently that my dad was supposed to marry her, but he didn’t, that she refused him. But, she said he was never nasty or aggressive towards her. She said she had a friend in him till the day he died; and that when he died, it hurt her very much because he was very cordial. That touched me.
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