…Ondo North Senatorial Aspirant, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade (Rtd)
Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade (Rtd) is the Chairman of Samalad Water Venture. This retired military personnel is an author, politician cum philanthropist. He is one of the leading aspirants in the Ondo North Senatorial race in the forthcoming general election under the platform of All Progressive Congress.
He is the Balogun of Akure Land, Aare Ataiyese of Oyin Akoko, the Jagungboye of Afa- Okeagbe Land and Otunba Afin-Akoko.
Recently Event Diary Lifestyle, Princess Adeola Shittu paid him a visit at his Oba Ile residence as he bares his mind on the motivation driving his ambition, his plan for his senatorial, his life and how he intends to achieve his ambition. Excerpts.
Let me start by congratulating you on your chieftaincy title as the Otunba Afin Akoko and Ondo State Man of the Year. Please, tell us briefly about Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade.
I am Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade (Rtd). I am a native of Oyin Akoko in Akoko North West local government area of Ondo state. I was born on 18th March 1961 to the family of Alade in Oyin Akoko. I had my early education at St. John’s primary school, Oyin Akoko. Thereafter, I proceeded to Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe Akoko and graduated in 1978 with a Grade 1 Distinction. Precisely, on the 4th of January, 1980, I was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna as a member of the 27th Regular Course. I passed out of the NDA on the 18th of December, 1981 after which I proceeded to Naval Base Apapa Lagos for further naval training; eventually, I was commissioned into the Nigeria Navy in June 1983 as a Sub-Lieutenant and that was the beginning of my journey in the Nigerian Navy. While in service, I underwent training both in leadership and the military profession. I also served in various capacities during my service years and I eventually retired from military service, as it were, on the 31st of August 2017. Effectively, I served about 37 good years in the Nigerian military and I retired as a Rear Admiral.
During your 37 years in service, was there any time you felt like quitting the force for another profession?
No, because I was never forced to join the military. I voluntarily joined the military because I liked it and throughout my career, I was put through what I will call a normal course of training and a normal course of service. There is no single human that can never be ambitious but my ambition when I was in the military was to focus on the establishment, so I was not looking for anything extraordinary; rather, I followed the normal course of my career as laid down by the naval establishment and that was why anywhere I was appointed to serve, I never regretted or rejected it. But on two occasions, I did complain; and it was an observation on a particular appointment.
Why?
The first one was precisely in 1987, and then I was a Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff. I was posted to Nigerian Navy Ship AKASO in Port Harcourt; which was, more or less, an operational base. What was in vogue then, as a sub-lieutenant, was to serve mostly at sea and that is when they know who is a seaman or not. So when I was posted there, I felt why was I posted to a base when I am not a special duty officer. I am a seaman, so I objected that I was not going to report and that I should be appointed to a sea-going ship where I can work. So I approached my boss, the CNS then, whom I was working with and he said, I should be appointed to the ship. And I was appointed to NNS ARADU for watchkeeping. That was the first time I ever objected. The second time was when I was appointed Chief Staff Officer Eastern Naval Command in Calabar as Navy Captain. A week after my resumption, I was promoted to Commodore but there was this talk among my colleagues that there were many seniors that have not done that particular job and why must it be me; and the story was everywhere. But since I didn’t appoint myself and I didn’t write a letter to anybody before I was posted there, I did not bother. Though I just returned from a strategic defence course in India and that happened to be my first appointment, I approached the CNS as at then, Admiral II Ibrahim of blessed memory, to complain because we were close and he was like a father to me. I asked him if it was possible to change my appointment and replace me with a more senior officer while I wait or be appointed to another place. He looked at me and asked if I was the one that put myself there and I said no. He then instructed me to go back to Calabar and do my job. Aside from those two instances, I usually allow nature and the system to guide my steps while I was in service. And for the appointment I was given, I tried to do my best.
You retired as a Rear Admiral in 2017. Between 2017 and now, what have you been doing?
Immediately I retired, I didn’t want to be jobless. Therefore, the first thing I did was to have a sober reflection on my service years. One important aspect of what I did while in service was my participation in peacekeeping operations. Apart from the fact that I participated in the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Operation in Liberia twice, at a time, I was appointed a Military Observer to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR). I was in Rwanda for over a year and that was when the genocide crisis happened. I participated actively in the activities of the United Nations and during that period of my stay in Rwanda, I felt what I saw there and the few things that I learned should not just go like that. So, I decided to put a pen on paper to write a book. In my first year after retiring, I was busy writing and had to travel back to Rwanda twice to confirm and verify information that I could not remember and more importantly to have a glance at what the country looked like in 2018. I was able to reflect on what I saw then and compare it to what was on the ground in 2018 / 2019. And in February 2019, the book was published.
On the other hand, while I was busy writing my book, I kept interacting with politicians who are my friends and they were able to convince me, why I should join active politics. I reckoned I was not interested but the opportunity came to join politics when one of my friends and leader (the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Akeredolu) contested and I got involved in the political activities and he won. After that, I got involved in the politics in my local government and since 2018 / 2019, I have been involved in partisan politics. Lots of things have happened and we keep giving glory to God. Aside from politics, am also a businessman, I do business for my survival and at the same time to provide opportunities for others, particularly the youths.
Tell us about your book?
As I said early, my experience in Rwanda inspired me to write the book titled, The Making of a Million Smile: Reflections on Rwanda’s Rise from the Ashes. You see, Rwanda is an example of how an African country should be in terms of governance, economic development, human capital development, vision and people’s attitude. Rwanda is a good example and I believe that other African countries should learn from her including Nigeria. It is not about hype but the content and some of us who saw the rumbles of that country during the genocide will understand that, after 27 years now and within such a short time; Rwanda has moved from nothing to something enviable. She has gotten to the current level and humanity has a lot to learn from them.
Your involvement in politics within a space of 5 years makes you develop a passion for it, what is your view on Nigerian politics?
Well, I didn’t just develop a passion for politics rather; I am a bonafide member of the All Progressive Congress (APC). I joined the party in 2017 immediately after I retired from service. In my view, participating in politics is supposed to be an opportunity to contribute to development either human development or economic development. Looking back at my experience in politics within the short period, I will say much has not changed. We still have a lot to do, in terms of fine-tuning our politics or politicking. Politics in Nigeria should be expanded because what we have now is a semblance of politics of who knows somebody that has money or anybody who knows somebody that has money and this means that it will be difficult for someone or somebody who does not have money or know someone that has money to push his ambition talk less of vying for any political position. And I want to believe that, this is one of the reasons we don’t have the right people in some of our elective positions in Nigeria. It seems to be all about money politics. Anybody that has money can join politics and get what he or she wants. But I have this conviction that this is going to change in the future and I can see signs. The concept is going to change and my only hope is that it does.
There is no way to describe politics in Nigeria other than to say, we are practising democracy and going by the definition of democracy, it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. But I believe that our democracy is evolving, so we need to redefine it so that the benefit can accrue to the society. But the unfortunate thing in our country today is that “Individuals are developing day by day but the society is not developing”.
How?
Everybody is fending for him or herself but nobody is fending for society. For instance, where we are now, I am the one providing electricity through generators and solar energy. I provide the water through boreholes, no public water around us, everybody to himself. We provide security for ourselves because out there it is not available. In my case, I could provide it for my comfort and I am comfortable inside. That means I have been able to develop this place for my benefit but is it the same thing out there? This is why I said individual is developing but society is not. And it is supposed to be the other way round. This is my own opinion.
With my experience and exposure, I believe that we all need to change our orientation both individually and collectively including our attitude towards society and until we realize that, our country/society will not grow. What is in vogue today is how to get money and not how to move forward. Everybody wants to get rich by all means not minding where the money is coming from. You see, if the society is well developed and we are all operating within it, that craze for money will not be there because we all have equal access to the same thing, same quality and same price. But as it is now, those who can’t afford it will go to the open market at Oja Oba, for example, to buy what they can afford not minding the quality of it.
2023 general election is around the corner and as a leading Ondo North Senatorial aspirant, what inspired you to join the race?
My inspiration is simple, the drive to continue to contribute to society. I believe my coming into politics is to contribute and impact changes and running for a particular position will allow me to add more meaningful value and quality to my senatorial district (Ondo North). Am not saying whoever is there now has not done anything. I don't think one can be in a position such as the Senate for 12 years without doing anything; that will be wrong to say because if he has not done anything for his people, he must have done something for himself and members of his family. But if we say what he had done has not met the expectations of the electorates, I will understand with such a person; provided he can prove it.
Why then do you want to run for Senate and not for other political positions?
Simply add values. Am running for the senate because I have this belief that, it will enable me to add more to what we have on the ground in my Senatorial district. When we talk of adding values, I mean to human capital, existing infrastructure including helping to further develop the economic capacity of the people, developing the youth not necessarily empowering them in the usual way but developing the youths so that they can empower themselves. That is my belief. You will agree with me that, our major focus not only in Ondo State but also in Nigeria is the youth. We need to do more for them.
Not less than 6 aspirants including the incumbent have indicated an interest in the Ondo North Senatorial ticket in your party APC, how prepared are you for the battle ahead of you?
Let me correct this, am not battling anybody rather I am offering myself for service to my people and see myself as the best option in the forthcoming election. We are talking about re-strengthen our senatorial district and I believe I am the best candidate and option for my people. I hope to be allowed to serve. Don’t forget, it is a race and the winner must emerge I Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, aka SIA, have started marketing myself to my people and letting them see the reasons why they should give me the chance to represent them at the senate.
As a close friend of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), there is this assumption that you joined the senate race because of the bond you share with the governor, which will give you a smooth landing to get the party ticket during the primary. How true is this?
False. I have just given you one out of many reasons why I am contesting for the senate. You will agree with me that election is about the people and I am asking the people to let me represent them. Don’t forget that Mr. Governor, Aketi as popularly called, is an individual and a citizen of Ondo North Senatorial district that I want to represent in the senate. I have approached him the same way I have also approached other party leaders asking them to assist and support me to get the party ticket and also to win the general election come 2023. Is there anything wrong with me soliciting support from my people? My ambition is to represent and serve my people. Your assumption is wrong.
How fulfilled are you?
I am very fulfilled. I have not had any regrets about what I have done but rather I give all glory to God every day. Firstly, for being alive and secondly for bringing me this far as a human being and as a son of that small village called Oyin Akoko and more importantly as a son of Ondo State. I always thank him every day. And I also ask for more enablement to allow me to give back to society because I want to believe God has done so much for me in life. As it is, I am asking God to give me the unique opportunity to serve in the senate and also to give me the wisdom to use that opportunity positively. At 61, I am very contented because what is in life; life is when one can sleep well, eat good food, have good health, ability to relate well and opportunity to impact people’s lives. I should give glory to God. According to a popular Yoruba adage which says “Bi a o ku, Ise o tan” (meaning once we are alive, there is hope), the action continues until we died. We are asking for more grace so that we can continue the good work He asks us to do on earth.
As a son of Oyin Akoko, who was installed the Balogun of Akure, are you in any way related to the Akure kingdom to have been honoured with the title?
You see, Akure is an ancient city in Yoruba land just like Oyin Akoko is an ancient City too in Yoruba land. I am a Yoruba son but if you ask me, how I got the honour, I may not be able to tell because I don’t have the idea. All I know then was that I received a letter from the Office of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo that I have been selected as the Balogun of Akure Land. That was in 2017. At first, I said no and that what was my business with Akure. The response was that they have searched and found me worthy for the position and that the Akure people and the Deji in council have taken their decision. After much deliberation, I told them to give me time to consult and after my consultation with so people including my mother, who said we are all descendants of Oduduwa, I accepted the title. My mother told me that by history, it was assumed that all of us came from Ile-Ife and it makes us one big family. That was how I accepted the title of Balogun of Akure but the coronation was done after I retired from service. I retired in August 2017 and I was installed the first Balogun of Akure land in November 2017 by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo, the Odundun II, Deji of Akure land.
Though civilization has taken over the war in society compared to the olden days, assuming a war starts now, how prepared are you as Balogun of Akure land?
My over 35 years of service in the military is no joke. I am very prepared and ready to lead the war for my people. Balogun title is for warriors and if I was not ready for war, I won’t take it. I am a warrior and always ready to lead. Balogun is not the only traditional title that I hold. I am the Aare Ataiyese of Oyin Akoko, the Jagungboye of Afa- Okeagbe Land and Otunba Afin-Akoko.
As a community leader and lover of the youths, what has been your contribution to the development of Oyin Akoko and Akoko as a whole?
In simple words, my selfless service to my community within my God-given capacity either financially or otherwise.
On 24th April 2022, you will be honoured with the 2022 Ondo Statesman of the year by Hero International Magazine, how do you feel?
I am not a man of ceremony. I don’t like too much ceremony. I love to remain behind the scene to do what I have to do. But people tend to always bring me forward for whatever reasons. I feel honoured anyway. Secondly, I feel such a gesture is an opportunity to do more. So, being honoured with the Ondo State Man of the Year Award is an honour; though it took me some time to accept the award and at a stage, I told them to pick someone else but the organisers insisted that they have done their nomination across the state and I was the highest nominee for the award. Consequently, I accepted it.
How do you unwind?
I relax by watching television, I love to write, I am a golfer, I play golf to excise myself most of the time and early this year, I was made the Patron of Crosscreek golf Club, Ilado Akure. I like socializing and meeting people.
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