Certainly, the story of my sojourn in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as a journalist and a correspondent for Encomium Magazine would not be completed without a mention of the contributions of Rt. Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the longest-serving Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly( 2005-2015).
Aside, from having access to him anytime I needed his attention, he was always there when invited to Encomium Magazine’s numerous social engagements.I first had one-on-one contact with the United States of America returnee sometime in January 2006, a few days after he was elected the 6th Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. I had requested to interview him then and his Chief Press Secretary, Hon Olarenwaju Odubote (he later became a member of the House of Representatives) told me that if I could join them at Epe, for the Eid-el-Kabir prayers the following day, I would be obliged. Wetin I dey do? The following day I was at his Army Barracks, Epe, residence for the interview. I did not only interviewed him after the Eid-el-Kabir prayers but also had the opportunity to join him at the table for a sumptuous meal of Eba( garri) and egusi soup decorated with assorted meat and fish, prepared by his beautiful and delectable wife, Pastor (Mrs) Mayowa Ikuforiji, whom I also interviewed on that day. For the 10 years, he was the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, I had a very robust relationship with him. As I wrote in my book, ‘Two Decades of Lagos House of Assembly: Face To Face With The Movers and Shakers’, “History certainly would be kind to him for the infrastructural renewal he brought to bear at the Lagos State House of Assembly during his tenure as Speaker”.
Rt. Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji has this to say about me when I asked him how my name came to his attention.” It was very early in my days in the House. The exact time, I can’t remember, but it first came as a very naughty one. There were always talks of ‘aha, that guy is going to write nonsense about you o, be careful’. Each time I heard a story like that, I got curious. When stories started coming out in Encomium (magazine), I started knowing who Tolani Abatti was. Of course, a lot of members didn’t like him, but I enjoyed it because that is what the press is supposed to be doing. And that is, to keep those in power on their toes. You know ours is a highly permissive society”. Were there moments some members reported Tolani Abatti to you? I asked him. “Of course, particularly when I became the Speaker. Do you remember the media parley I held with journalists then”?Yes, I said.”
Many members came to me and said, why would you allow Abatti to attend? And I asked them: is he not a member of the media? Even if you say it is gossip media, it is still media. That is one of the things I told you about. The exposure! I returned from the USA to come and contest in 2003. I was not a rabble-rouser over there. I was a lecturer. I know the role of the media. The calling Fourth Estate came from there. The media is highly empowered. It is a democratic institution”.
N:BThank you very much, Rt. Hon. Sir for your patronage and words of encouragement.
