Akinmade is one of the sons of a former Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola. He talks about his father’s life and career with MOTUNRAYO JOEL
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Akinmade Ajibola and I am a legal practitioner. I have been practising for 15 years. I studied law in the United Kingdom, University of Buckingham to be precise. I later obtained a post-graduate diploma in Petroleum Law at the University of Dundee, UK. I gained a master’s degree in Construction and Arbitration Law at King’s College, London. I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999. After my education, I engaged myself in legal practice in and outside Nigeria. I got involved with a number of international arbitration assignments involving commercial arbitration.
Where did you have your primary education?
I went to Chrisland Primary School, Lagos; I was one of the pioneer students. I had my secondary education at Command Secondary School, Lagos and King’s College. I proceeded to college in Hove, UK near Brighton, and did my A Levels.
While in school did your father visit you?
While I was in the secondary school, he had a busy schedule serving in government and he could not always meet up with the regular visiting days. But he would seek the indulgence of the school management to allow him see me on other days. I remember once he visited me, during our discussion he was concerned about my understanding of the Yoruba language—it was poor. After I explained to him, he got out of his car, took a pen and paper, placed it on the boot of his car and began teaching me Yoruba. He taught me Yoruba alphabets, tone marking, phonetics etc. This lasted for three hours. I never forgot that lecture.
How was growing up?
My childhood was fun. I was fortunate to commence schooling early at a time when education was a primary concern on the list of our family priorities. I left primary school at class five, instead of primary six. I was also trained at a few vocational centres. At the age of 10, I got involved with computer programming and I could write in computer language. Growing up, much emphasis was placed on learning through exposure. At a young age, I was exposed to countries around world, either through holiday or visiting friends and family. Despite all these, within the four walls of our home, there was strictness. We weren’t spared or allowed to be indolent. We watched television during weekends . My father would be the one to switch on the television; we weren’t allowed to touch it. I still remember days when my father would bring out the video recorder from its box and connect to the television. We watched only two movies –‘Extra Terrestrial’ or ‘Jesus Christ superstar.’ I think I may have watched them nothing less than 50 to 60 times. I prided myself at that time for being able to recite the entire script, from one character to the other. We watched them too many times and that was our recreation. There were times I attempted to step out of those boundaries confined upon me, from time to time. I would go out to play football with friends on the street. This I did from time to time, and I was punished. Now, I appreciate that upbringing.
How did he discipline any child who erred?
He would use very harsh words. At the same time, if he felt one deserves accolade, he would praise of speak highly of the person to others.
There was a slight disparity; my older siblings, particularly the males, received the harder end of the discipline. The females were relatively spared. I think my father was gender-sensitive which I can understand. For younger males, we had learned a bit from the pitfalls and mistakes of our older siblings, so we hardly got him upset. I personally had to be creative in exempting myself from any harsh punishment my father would impose. Punishments included withdrawal of privileges or certain comfort my father felt we were entitled to. We were made to see any entitlement as not permanent. Once, I was to travel out, but my father withheld my trip and moved it to the following year because I misbehaved. Until I proved to him that my behaviour was reformed, he didn’t allow me to travel.
People may describe you as a silver spoon kid, how do you react to that?
I have never quite understood what that term connotes. I may understand how it is commonly perceived, but I think in our case, it only meant a number of things—opportunity and choice. It definitely did not mean ease. It meant one then had the choice to take advantage of opportunities presented to one. Some people don’t take advantage of opportunities. We were presented with some opportunities early in life, but what I appreciated was that we had been prepared to take advantage of these opportunities.
Did he influence your career choice?
I would reply yes and no. The honest answer is that we had an option in terms of what we wanted to study. It had to be a professional calling within the old school parameters— accountancy, law, medicine and so on. He encouraged me to study law because that was what he knew. He also felt that he had a duty to the profession to give back where he had taken from. He wanted to train better lawyers and make the legal profession better. But he allowed us to make our choices. I think I was influenced by my environment.
What career choices did your siblings make.
I have four brothers and sisters ahead of me and each of them studied law, while my mother qualified as a nurse in the UK. We all ventured in the same direction. After our education, each of us became practising lawyers in Nigeria and abroad.
Describe your father at home?
He is a gentleman, in words and deeds. He was always purposeful and accommodating. Indeed, he enjoys the company of people—family and friends. Our home was always full of visitors. He is humorous; a character his children have imbibed. He usually punctuates his discussions with jokes and stories. Many of his colleagues, especially the younger ones, can attest to this.
How does he keep himself busy?
He is involved in religious and humanitarian activities.
Is he sociable?
He is extremely sociable; he finds it easy interacting with people of different age groups, tribe, gender and race, this is an admirable trait. He is quite vast in knowledge and he can be described as a people’s person.
What do you like about him and what don’t you like in him?
I admire his modesty, honesty and integrity. Irrespective of his status in life, he leads by example. He is humble and I draw strength from that character. He has the ability to maintain these values which is quite admirable. On the contrary, as humans, we all have a manner of approach to things and we feel others should respond the same way. He is blunt and I love him. He doesn’t hold back in expressing himself regardless of who that person is or where one is.
What special privileges have you enjoyed being his child?
His contribution to the legal profession has been of great benefit, and people appreciate this. My family always gets warm reactions from people. I’ve been highly regarded just because I’m his son, all thanks to my father who was able to lay a good foundation.
You must feel good being his child?
It is a thing of pride, even if he was not my father I would still see him as a mentor in the legal profession. However, being his son draws a sense of responsibility. He has laid an example of right approaches to things and we have learnt from them. One example is the period when he served as Attorney General for close to seven years. Throughout the seven years, he refused to collect any remuneration from the federal government. He felt public service was service to one’s country and that one should have a choice as to whether or not one is capable of doing the job. He is one person who changed the idea of public service. This is one of the approaches to how this country should be administered. Also, thrice, he was sent a convoy of drivers and cars, but he asked for the cars to be reduced to two. He also requested for the tinted glasses in each of the vehicles to be striped. He saw no reason why he should be in a public vehicle and shield himself from those he served. He was one of the ministers one would see in the traffic on Ikorodu road, Lagos, driving. He refused to live in the government accommodation; instead he lived in his personal house. He lived there for many years, only sometimes work commitments made it necessary for him to live in the official quarters.
What is his view on the country’s current political system?
He has expressed his view on this many times. But from what I have read, he is very much disturbed by the diminishing value system that has become prevalent in terms of governance, integrity and, probity of public service. It has led to the erosion of institutions, especially if the person who heads the institution has a defective character. He says this is the major reason why many institutions have failed. However, with the present government, he is more optimistic than ever about Nigeria’s future.
What is his best food?
I’m not very knowledgeable about that, but I am almost certain he is someone who enjoys simple but healthy meals. He is still very active and agile. He is more concerned about eating healthily. He also enjoys farming.
What challenges did he face in the career?
While he was Minister of Justice there were many attempts to induce public officers into corruption within his ministry and within government which he resisted. This made the then Commander-in- Chief and Head of State accord him respect within the cabinet. He also tried to change the culture in civil service – that is the poor culture of low productivity and their being process, rather than result-oriented. These would have been his biggest challenges. As a judge of the International Court of Justice, a position he was elected, not appointed, he had to present himself before the United Nations Security Council for countries to vote. He ran in a contest with three or four other Africans vying for the position of judge. During the election, each of them had to attain a block of votes one of which was directed by the UN delegates from India at that time. Building interaction with representatives of those countries, the representative of India called him aside and said they would vote for him not necessarily because he was more qualified than the other candidates, but because they were aware that while he was serving as Minister of Justice, there was an occasion when an aircraft arrived into Nigeria with prohibited drugs. The Indian representative said that the aircraft belonged to airline operators from their country. He said efforts were made to secure the release of the aircraft but my father resisted; even when my father was offered a specific amount of money as bribe (which ran into millions of dollars), my father still resisted. This, he said, was the only reason why they would vote for him. This made him win the election and he became a judge. Even after he was made a judge, he recalled years of continuous reading throughout the night. He had to bring himself up to speed to the extent that within his first few years, he was often consulted by the President of the International Court of Justice and referred to as the wise man of the Court.
Did your family fear for his life while he was minister?
That is a natural concern when one is in public view. There were times he had anxious moments. We have witnessed times when there was need for security arrangement just to assuage the situation. But he is someone who personally doesn’t fear for his own life, but rather fears his failure to do what he stands for.
Does he read what people write about him in the papers?
He is an ardent reader of everything; he reads every newspaper one can think of everyday. This is his practice hitherto. He has books and materials of various subjects. He of course takes interest in national affairs.
What time does he sleep and wake?
Throughout his active life, in the years he served in government, by necessity, he had to work late and wake early. Sometimes, he slept for not more than four hours a day. This has always been his nature. In school, he said he was accustomed to not sleeping for long hours and on beds either. He would regularly take a nap on an armchair and that would be sufficient for him for the day.
Describe his daily schedule?
Currently, I think he is active in the administration of the Crescent University of which he is the founder. He also engages himself with his non-governmental organisations. During his spare time, he goes to his farm.
How does he relax?
He exercises or takes a walk. It has become his practice. Otherwise, his days are full of activities, when he is home, he has numerous visitors.
How does he handle disagreements with your mother?
He is patient to a large extent. He doesn’t like conflict and would try to avoid situations where conflict was bound to arise. He is fair-minded and being a judge, he always listens to both sides whenever any issue arises.
Do you remember any special moment you shared with him?
When I was called to the Nigerian Bar, he was the chairman of the Council of Legal Education which is the body in charge of administration of legal education in Nigeria. This meant that he would be the one to present our certificates. I felt special receiving my certificate from my father, which was a memorable day.
Did you enjoy any special preference as a child?
I enjoyed what we all enjoyed. He is someone who accepts each child for what that child has the propensity and aptitude for. If any of us liked a particular activity, he would indulge us with it. I remember that I liked to travel and during the holidays, he particularly would allow me the privilege of travelling.
Who is his best friend?
He belongs to many organisations and I think his “best friend” has varied over the years. His close friends are from his group of classmates at the Baptist Boys High School, the set between 1950 and 1955. Till today, they maintain a close friendship. On a yearly basis, they get together for their alumni meeting. Aside this, his friends cuts across the world and country – people from all geopolitical zones.
What is it Nigerians don’t know about him?
People may not know that he is very religious with his beliefs and service to God. He also has a sacrificial heart; he would allow others to benefit from an opportunity over him.
Describe his mode of dressing?
He was popularly called the bow-tie- wearing minister, a trend he made popular in those days.
What are his hopes and dreams?
His hopes and dreams are for a better Nigeria, starting from the basic, which is the education for the Nigerian child.
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