Former commissioner for Information in Ogun State and longstanding coordinator of the popular Ojude Oba festival, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, tells AYOOLA OLASUPO about his leadership experience, how cultural preservation and promotion can foster societal growth and forthcoming 70th birthday celebration As a former commissioner, how did your experience in governance shape your understanding and approach to cultural preservation and promotion in Ogun State? As the coordinator of the Ojude Oba festival for the past 20 years and a former Ogun State commissioner for Culture, Sports, and Social Welfare, I have leveraged my extensive experience to promote cultural awareness and unity. During my tenure, I facilitated a cultural renaissance across the state, making it seamless to oversee the festival’s growth. We transitioned the festival from the palace forecourt to the annex, now named the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre. This role has deepened my appreciation of our culture as a powerful tool for tourism and societal cohesion, showcasing our uniqueness to the world. Ojude Oba exemplifies religious tolerance and harmony, uniting Muslims, Christians, and Iseese worshippers in celebration. It is a vibrant spectacle that underscores togetherness. We continue to raise the bar, aiming for an even greater festival in 2025, surpassing the achievements of 2024. How did your influence affect the celebration of Ojude Oba? Normally, we look at the people we want to invite. We know our sponsors and every year, we attract a new sponsor because we have raised the bar, and Kabiyesi has succeeded in lifting the festival to new heights. Our people think of innovations each year to ensure that the festival is seen as a symbol of unity, cohesion, and what the totality of Ijebu stands for. We also liaise with sponsors and look for special guests to honour. We have been expressing the state government’s interest since I joined, and of course, you will recall that it was when we started raising the bar that we also witnessed the re-emergence of the legbelegbe or age grade. They have injected flavour and friendship into the festival, attracting significant development to the town and other Ijebu towns and villages. As a highly recognised event, what strategies have you and your team employed to sustain the relevance of Ojude Oba over the years? Every year after the festival, we take stock. We (organisers) receive feedback and assess how to project into the future. We don’t take things for granted, and we ensure that we improve our activities every year because we try to be proactive. We associate with the various components of the community so that they know what we are doing and can also tell us what we should do. It is society-driven. If the visitors are unhappy with what they see, the festival will not grow. Don’t forget that sponsors have their criteria for ensuring success; if we haven’t succeeded, they will not return. We thank God. How has the festival been receiving much attention, especially from the youths in recent times? That is because of the type of advocacy we do and the publicity we create. Don’t forget that I’m also a journalist, PR expert, and marketing professional. So, it’s not difficult for me to attract my colleagues. We organise press conferences, sensitise the media, get our sponsors to speak, and start the arrangements in earnest. We thank God we have a monarch who has seen it all. Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona (GCON), the monarch, has been on the stool since April 2, 1960; that’s about 65 years ago and he is still waxing strong. How do your sponsors benefit from the festival? If they’re not benefiting, will they throw their money into the lagoon? No! They have done some auditing and compared their participation in the festival to the gains they accrue, whether in terms of return on investment, sales returns, or image, which cannot be quantified, but sales can. That is why we continue to have more sponsors every year because they know there’s something to gain. What legacy has your continued involvement in promoting cultural heritage left behind on cultural leadership? A people without culture will go into extinction, and a people without tradition cannot survive. Appreciating, developing, embracing, and growing our culture is the best way to thrive. My involvement has been beneficial to my society and some extent, to the country. When people read about Ojude Oba, they know the festival belongs to the people of Ijebu. The benefits and publicity don’t stay with Ijebu alone; they spread to the entire country. When they read about the country, they attribute it to the country and narrow it down to the community. It’s a win-win situation for developing your country, state, or community’s culture. What is your view about the recurring religious disputes between the Iseese worshippers and other religions in the country? Religious conflicts are unnecessary. Almighty Allah says in the Quran, ‘Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion’. If Allah had wished, He could have made everyone Muslim, but in His wisdom, He created diverse religions. Christianity and Islam are Abrahamic religions, that share roots in the teachings of Abraham. Christianity originated in Jerusalem, part of modern Israel and Palestine, while Abraham’s journey was linked to Saudi Arabia. Reflecting on our ancestors who lived before these religions, one must ask: would they go to hell? Ultimately, no one knows heaven’s workings. Worshipping the Creator, whatever one chooses is what matters. For instance, the Iseese people worship their Creator in their way. In Ijebuland, the saying, ‘Esin o le fa’ja’ (religion cannot cause acrimony) highlights the importance of harmony. Nigerians must realise that religion is personal and should not be a cause for division. The Bible says, ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’, without distinction of faith. Similarly, Allah teaches acceptance: ‘If it is my wish, I will make everyone Muslim or Christian.’ Religion should unite, not divide, fostering mutual respect and peace. You’re clocking 70 years soon; how do you feel about that? I must express my gratitude to my Creator, who has kept me this far. He has made me who I am. I may not have had it all, but comparatively, I’m grateful for all I have achieved. I thank Almighty God that it has not been too bad. He has been kind to me because the environment has been kind to me. As the late sage Obafemi Awolowo would say, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. It cannot be like this forever. The world itself is a passing phase. The world is like a stage, and we are all actors. We are just here to play our parts. So, I am playing my little part, and when the time comes, I pray I live to be old. I pray to reach 80, 90 years, and whatever age God decides, but as long as I have good health, I will continue to thank God. At 70, some people want to retire and focus on their grandchildren, but you seem strong enough to be involved in state development. What is the secret behind your energy at this age? Related News Did police fail to stop only one robbery in Lagos since 2007? FG plans crackdown on cultism, bullying in schools Police foil robbery, arrest 12 suspects in Delta One thing I have discovered is that life should not allow you to be complacent, despondent, or withdrawn. Lack of activity is a negative thing that will not help you grow intellectually, spiritually, or physically. If you don’t exercise your brain, it will become rustic and demented. But if you strive to keep your body and mind active, it benefits your brain, mind, muscles, and more. You won’t become despondent or rusty. The body requires nourishment, energising, and fuelling. You can only fuel your body if you stay active. What advice would you give to youths who also pray for long life? Nigerian youths are often criticised for being mentally, intellectually, and spiritually lazy. While this doesn’t apply to all, many seem fixated on quick, effortless wealth, regardless of its sustainability. Some young people engage in harmful behaviours, quarrelling and even resorting to violence, which neither contributes to personal growth nor nation-building. Unlike in developed countries, where youths are exposed to volunteer jobs and taught the value of hard work from a young age, many Nigerian youths lack this ethic. They often misuse technology, turning it into tools for cybercrime instead of productive endeavours. In developed societies, dignity in labour is emphasised; earning and education require effort. Conversely, many Nigerian youths prioritise materialism over hard work, evident in their possession of expensive gadgets their families cannot afford, raising questions about their sources of income. The issue extends to young women engaging in prostitution to keep up appearances, while young men often join cults, commit cybercrimes, or resort to armed robbery. This reflects a broader societal dysfunction, marked by leadership and followership paralysis. Who should be blamed for the decadence in society? Yes. It’s a societal issue. Families must also take responsibility for the values their children inherit. This isn’t only a question of government policy or leadership; it is about the collective moral compass of the society. When the family fails to teach core values such as hard work, humility, and integrity, the youth are left to wander without direction. Government policies, alongside proper family structures and societal values, must work in tandem to guide the younger generation towards more productive and responsible lives. Why are most state governments against local government autonomy? I was in government before, and I believe the Federal Government has no business interfering in local government affairs. These are functions of state governments, which should create and manage local governments to suit their developmental goals. For example, when Bola Tinubu expanded Lagos 20 local governments to 57 LCDAs, former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld allocations to those local governments. This issue arises from the country’s poorly structured federal arrangements, where the constitution is often ignored, and successive governments exploit the system. To move forward, Nigeria must embrace true federalism and strictly follow constitutional provisions. However, resistance to change persists. Some benefit from the current system, others fear uncertainty, and some lack understanding of potential reforms. Nonetheless, change is inevitable and crucial for progress. State governments must allow local governments to grow within constitutional limits. We must clarify these issues. If Local Government Service Commissions exist, to whom will they report; state governments or local chairmen? Availability of reliable infrastructure is one of the factors that can attract investors to the country. Why do you think there are many bad roads in Ogun State? The state of roads in Ogun varies depending on the area. For example, the Lagos-Sagamu and Sagamu-Abeokuta roads are in good condition. However, Ogun State’s role as a gateway state, connecting Lagos, the country’s commercial hub, to other regions, leads to heavy vehicular traffic. Virtually all vehicles leaving Lagos pass through Ogun, whether via Epe, Badagry, or the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. This problem is largely due to the neglect of the railway system. In the past, railways were used to transport heavy goods such as iron ore and cement. Today, trailers and tankers dominate the roads, which are often asphalted rather than made of durable concrete. These heavy vehicles damage the roads, especially when breakdowns or fires occur, creating potholes. Rebuilding and promoting rail transport will ease pressure on roads, reducing damage and associated repair costs. Coastal areas like Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, and Delta face additional challenges due to marshy terrain and heavy rainfall, making road construction more expensive compared to the northern regions. Moreover, government funds are often limited, complicating infrastructure development. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive planning, better allocation of resources, and a revitalised rail network to support transportation needs. Is it that successive administrations have not paid much attention to this aspect? Well, I think they will tell you they are trying their best. It’s obvious due to the availability of funds and other factors. For example, when Ibikunle Amosun was in office, his focus was on bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. I’m not in a position to assess or pass judgment on them, but I believe it depends on their focus. “They will tell you that some of these roads, which expose them to ridicule or criticism, are not state roads but federal roads. If they attempt to reconstruct or rehabilitate these roads, the Federal Government may not reimburse them. In contrast, perhaps at the federal level, money has been allocated for the rehabilitation or reconstruction of these roads. However, due to bureaucracy, the funds are not released on time. So, they blame the state. We need to understand the dynamics of some of these things before we can pass judgment. What is your view on the recently proposed tax reform bill? As I said earlier, it is difficult to implement change within the polity. Some people, who had been benefiting from the old system, would not want change. For example, we have been told that the higher you earn, the more tax you pay. Again, we need a lot of sensitisation in this country. Our people are not in the habit of paying taxes. In some countries, especially in the Western world, you can pay as much as 60 per cent of your salary in taxes. What is tied to this is that if you fail to pay your taxes abroad, you will go to jail. How many people have been jailed in this country for not paying taxes? People take it for granted, yet this is where governments get money to provide amenities and take care of their responsibilities. But when we don’t want to pay our taxes and still expect governments to provide so many things, then there is a paradox. It is paradoxical. How do we get to El Dorado without making fundamental changes? So, it is up to Tinubu’s administration to take some of these steps.At 95, standing erect with a military mien to his over six-feet-tall frame, DLF Chairman emeritus Kushal Pal Singh packs a lot in a day. He says he never gets tired. The man who played a big part in transforming Gurugram (or Gurgaon) from a rustic suburb into a gleaming business capital celebrated his birthday earlier this month by launching his life-lessons filled book, Why the Heck Not? , co-authored with Aparna Jain. “You get tired only when you don’t have a vision, or passion, and you are not enjoying what you are doing,” he says. Singh, whose luxurious enclaves, especially DLF Phase 5 in Gurugram, have allowed pockets of India to live as well as any developed economy, is fiercely optimistic about India’s progress to become the third largest economy in the world. “Whatever the forecasts people are making, that it will take five or six years, my gut feeling is we’ll beat the forecasts,” he says, asserting that entrepreneurs in India will take the country forward. “The tragedy is that I’m 95. I wish I was younger, I would have participated. It is a fascinating time for India,” he says. We are meeting the real estate doyen at his elegantly appointed “air-purified” home in Lutyens Delhi, where a smart dashboard shows indoor AQI of 13 versus the 407 outdoors. While his book packs juicy anecdotes from his life and has his “blueprints for success”, we can’t resist asking a few “what if” questions. In the book, Singh has talked about how, in his formative years, England held him captive — the parties, the tennis, the polo and a girlfriend, and it was a hard decision for him to give up his aeronautical engineering studies to join the Indian Army as a cavalry officer. Why fast-moving goods are slowing Corporates look to tread the India Way Nvidia: The lynchpin of the AI revolution How Jio is powering Reliance’s media, entertainment biz What would your life have been if you had not returned from England, we ask. “I would have been dead by 70, leading the indolent life of the aristocratic class,” he retorts. What prompted him to return to India, he says, is that he weighed the options and allowed his head to rule over his heart. “In my life, it has always been head over heart. When you are at a crossroads, the heart tells you differently, the head tells you differently. If you follow your head, you will succeed. With emotions, you cannot succeed. The ability to separate head from heart, and remove biases, is key.” The story of how Singh took over his father-in-law’s struggling firm, turned it around and transformed urban real estate infrastructure is legendary. As is the way he played a part in GE coming in and the BPO boom that ensued. But is he satisfied with the Gurugram he has created? “Firstly, I pioneered and coined the term ‘knowledge city’. There were only industrial cities or residential cities... I worked very hard with the government. I made them understand that a knowledge city would attract people who are very well-educated, entrepreneurial and talented, and who will grow businesses, hire labour and people.” “Today, Gurgaon is already contributing 60-70 per cent of the tax revenues of Haryana state. Most of the Fortune 500 companies are there. Today, would you believe that the per capita medical facility for Indian cities is the highest in Gurgaone? There were no medical facilities earlier. Medanta came with my intervention. Today, the best medical beds, schools, malls, offices, golf courses and restaurants are in Gurgaon. It has become the capital for a rich lifestyle,” he stresses. It’s called the Millennial City for that reason, we tell him. “Well, that is used by the media frankly, but for me it is Knowledge City. Am I fully satisfied with Gurgaon? No. If you go inside Phase Five in DLF, it is an oasis of prosperity, good roads, green spaces, beautiful buildings. I wanted the same everywhere in Gurgaon. But developing it became two-steps forward, one step back. What is lacking is the supporting infrastructure, which unfortunately can only be provided by the government.” Ask Singh about DLF’s recent luxury developments (Camellias, Dahlias), which sold out within days, and he says, “We are amazed ourselves because our dealers never take cash. So the person is bringing a ₹50 crore cheque, which means this is money people are making legitimately. So growth is taking place in the country but one has to ensure that the purchasing power likewise increases for the middle and lower income people and they can afford good homes.” Surprisingly, Singh bats for demonetisation, calling it a good move. Ask him why, and he says that it led to payments going digital and more tax compliance. In 2017, Singh divided his assets among his three children, ensuring succession planning. In 2020, his son Rajiv became Chairman. Is he happy with the way the company is doing under Rajiv? “He has improved it. I am frankly very proud of Rajiv,” says Singh. More so, he says, because his son has progressive ideas. He shares an incident. Six or seven years ago, when Singh was in England, a building caught fire there and investigations revealed it was due to the cladding material on the building’s façade. Promptly England changed the regulation for it. Singh describes how, although there were no regulatory changes in India, Rajiv took it upon himself to get all the cladding material changed. “His approach is very forward-looking,” says Singh. Throughout the book, from the various stories recounted, three facets of Singh stand out — his patience to deal with bureaucracy, archaic regulations and stubborn tenants; a strong moral and ethical fibre; and his candour, fearlessly recounting incidents involving politicians. “I speak up because I am clean,” asserts Singh. Finally, we cannot resist asking why Singh did not get into politics even though he had the chance. “I was asked several times and could have been elected unopposed,” agrees Singh but says he followed his father-in-law’s advice not to mix business with politics but always have good political friends. Comments
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