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*The Electoral Fraudsters
*The Nigeria State Looters
*Mess Made in Kenya
*Dishonourable honourable
*African Beauty in Ireland
*The birthday Lady
*HUASA Fashion
*Senegalese Night
*Golden Eaglets
*The Nigeria State Looters
*Mess Made in Kenya
*Dishonourable honourable
*African Beauty in Ireland
*The birthday Lady
*HUASA Fashion
*Senegalese Night
*Golden Eaglets
For Now, Count me out of Nigeria Politics- Nigerian Born Irish Politician
Rotimi Adebari.
In just 8 years of living in the Republic of Ireland, Nigerian born Rotimi Adebari did what no black person has
ever done in that country, he became the country's first black Mayor. Just like any other Nigerians, Adebari left
the shore of Nigeria to Ireland in 2000. In 2004 he was elected into the city council as councillor, and in July
2007 he was elected as the Mayor of Portlaoise, about 55 miles outside Dublin.
While vacationing in Bowie, Maryland, USA Editor- In-Chief of African Examiner.com Oludare Fase and the
Managing Editor, Taiye Olayemi ran across him at a local Restaurant and he graciously spoke to us in an
exclusive interview about his achievements in office as well as his views about corruption and politics in Nigeria.
Excerpts:
African Examiner: firstly, for the sake of those who don’t know you, Please briefly tell us about
yourself.
The Portlaoise is about 25,000 people, it is fairly large size town, so I was the mayor of the town up to June this year. It
is a term of one year, and I am back to the council as councilor. We rotate the mayoral ship every twelve month, mayor
are elected by the members of the council in June every year. My term expired this June (June 2008) and I am back as a
councilor up till June next year when we will be facing the public for re-election.
African Examiner: what are your achievements as mayor of Portlaiose?
Rotimi Adebari: In term of my achievements I will leave it for posterity, but I can point to one or two things that I can say
I was able to have achieved. You know we happen to have come from a country struggling with image. We have image
problem abroad. I remember when I was elected the mayor of the town. The charge de affair in Ireland was so
impressed and said this is good for our country and a lot people have said that to me also.
In term of enhancing the image of Nigeria I think my last one year did good public relations for Nigeria. When people
meet me the first thing they will ask me is which country are you from, when I told them from Nigeria, some of them will
say Nigeria? I can understand where they are coming from. It’s being exciting time in enhancing and showcasing the
image of not only the city in which I was the number one citizen but my country of birth. Nigeria.
Another way is that I was able to showcase the accommodating nature of the Irish people to the wider world. I would
have given interview to over 500 media in the last one year. That put the town of Portlaoise in the map. And like I said
earlier on it equally put our country in the map as well too. In the last one year it was one man doing the job of three men,
showcasing the image of my town of Portlaoise showcasing the country and Irish as a race and in fact showcasing Africa
and our own country Nigeria. Another thing I can point to is promoting cross cultural understanding between the
immigrant community and the host society, because an opportunity like this provides a forum for people to see one and
other as human beings; that I have been able to achieve.
African Examiner: let us talk about Nigeria politics, can you compare politics in Ireland and
Nigeria. Can you tell us you views about how politicians play politics in Nigeria
Rotimi Adebari: I would say that politics is pretty much the same all over the world. It is only the way and manner it is
being played that is different. When I was back in Nigeria I said politics will be the last thing I will do. I used to say if
politics were to be water it would be the last play for me to go and swim in. Why is that so? The reason is not
unconnected to the fact that before you can play politics back in Nigeria you must have a god father somewhere, if you
must play politics back in Nigeria you must check your pocket, how much you have to spend, if you want to play
politics in Nigeria you must align with a political party, and I live in a town that I don’t need a political party, I need not
know how much I have in my pocket before I go into politics, I need not align with no political party before I can take
part in politics. So that will actually give people opportunity to air their voices, that is one area that I think Nigeria can
benefit from a country like I live in which is Ireland.
Ireland got independence in 1922, its over 80 years, and Nigeria got hers in 1960, we are talking about 40 years gap,
they have come a long way. Nigeria is not doing badly considering the gap, Ireland since’22; we are talking about over
80 years. When you talk about politics, it is a process, it is not a destination you learn along the way and this is
what Nigeria is going through at the moment, we have to remember that we have military rule for long time and now that
we have civil rule. It will take time before we can catch up with the rest of the world. I see it happening but at the same
time we should be ready as country like Nigeria to enter into a collaboration with older democracies, because country
like Nigeria has a lot to gain, And in Nigeria we need to look at a situation where you want to go into politics you don’t
need to have a god father, you don’t need to check how much you have in your bank account.
We should not associate money with politics, they are two different things, if you have brilliant ideas in Nigeria and you
think you want to bring these brilliant ideas into governance, the moment you don’t have a god father your idea is dead
right there, and that is not so in this part of the world. I did not have no god father, I did not check how much I have in
my bank account, and neither do I need to be in a political party, this is what I think country like Nigeria need to look
into in future.
African Examiner: what would you say about corruption in Nigeria, there is corruption in
every sphere of governance, you know there is EFCC which many have mixed feelings about,
with your experience, how do you think Nigeria could better fight corruption?
Rotimi Adebari: l don’t want to generalize here, not all politicians are bad in Nigeria, there are transparent, good, well
mannered, well cultured politicians back in Nigeria and other developing countries as a whole and unfortunately you have
corruption there which we cannot shy away from.
You Know I spoke about where you need to have a god father before you can run for elections in Nigeria that is
corruption on one hand because the way it goes is that If somebody has to fund your campaign, and by the time you get
into office you have to compensate the person and where do you get the money, maybe by ensuring the person gets
contract, and they end up dictating the way and manner you manage the affairs of your office, all these are corruption
and it depends on the way one look at it.
are discovered or apprehended what happen afterwards, in most cases I think I want more action from the EFCC, I
want to see people that are being detected to be prosecuted.
And again what should be central to politicians should be the people not the individual, In most cases we kind of cater for
ourselves and not the people we are serving, though considering human nature, human beings would want to vend for
himself first but the fact of the matter is that politics is not like that, if you are really looking to be re-elected, the people
should be central. I look forward to the time that our politicians in Nigeria should consider that people that elected them
into power should be very central and as well as important. I mean going into power should not be an opportunity to
enrich oneself. You should realize that you are going into power to serve the people, that is how it should be,
and that is how it is in a country I am living at the moment and I look forward to the time that we all can be proud of the
same thing in our own part of the world.
African Examiner: Would you be considering going to Nigeria to join politics?
Rotimi Adebari: That is a very good question, I can say that Nigeria is my country; I mean I love the country, I miss the
country, all of us in the diaspora we all sit together and talk about Nigeria. I remember my children do ask me that, why
is that when you sit with your friends, you always talk about Nigeria? I think the reason is not Unconnected to the fact
that, that is the country we all grew up to Know, I may be in Ireland for 40 to 50 years, I can live the rest of my life in
Ireland, that is not to say I cannot go back to Nigeria to take part in politics but at the moment that is not what I am
considering. I have the mandate of the people who elected me into office.
But that did not mean If I have the opportunity to play a part in Nigeria, I would be delighted to participate especially in
terms of exchange programs where politicians in Nigeria could be invited and shadow what we do or how government is
being run, even lrish politicians can visit Nigeria as well, bilateral relations I can play a part in that area, but playing politics
in Nigeria is not in my agenda for now. We have many competent people back who are capable of moving the country
forward. I think they are doing that at the moment. If you compare Nigeria to what it was 4 to 5 years back, you know
that we are moving forward. We may think we are moving at a very slow speed. We are not going to get there over night
but we will get there one of this day
African Examiner: Your election as the first black mayor in Ireland is a source of inspiration
to many Nigerians, as it were, what would be your advice to Nigerian in the diaspora.
Rotimi Adebari: My advice to Nigerians in the diaspora is this, whether you are in the U.S, Europe, South America,
Caribbean, I want you to engage in your community, that is very Important. If you have the opportunity to participate
politically in your environment I want you to take an active participation in politics. When am saying active participation in
politics, it is not when you put your name in the ballot and you say you want to be a senator, or a councilor you are
actively participating in politics, no, voting at elections speaks volume. What this means is that before any public
representation your vote counts.
It is very important to register to vote. Again we all have to play a part to ensure that all we do in the diaspora reflect
back in the country we all come from. When we talk about country struggling with Image many of us in the Diasporas are
playing a part in that as well. What we engage in matter lot for our country.
If we engage in shady activities, our host societies will always see the country and all of us as being shady people, we will
always have bad ones but the bad ones are very small, majority of Nigerians are wonderful, hardworking people
wherever we find ourselves, we want to make our mark and I want to use this opportunity to say well done to all the
Nigerians abroad, Let us keep on showcasing the image of Nigeria, continue to present to the world the very good and
positive side of the continent of Africa. Thank you.
Rotimi Adebari.
In just 8 years of living in the Republic of Ireland, Nigerian born Rotimi Adebari did what no black person has
ever done in that country, he became the country's first black Mayor. Just like any other Nigerians, Adebari left
the shore of Nigeria to Ireland in 2000. In 2004 he was elected into the city council as councillor, and in July
2007 he was elected as the Mayor of Portlaoise, about 55 miles outside Dublin.
While vacationing in Bowie, Maryland, USA Editor- In-Chief of African Examiner.com Oludare Fase and the
Managing Editor, Taiye Olayemi ran across him at a local Restaurant and he graciously spoke to us in an
exclusive interview about his achievements in office as well as his views about corruption and politics in Nigeria.
Excerpts:
African Examiner: firstly, for the sake of those who don’t know you, Please briefly tell us about
yourself.
- Rotimi Adebari: Rotimi Adebari is my name, I was born in a town called
Oke-odan in Ogun-state, western part of Nigeria, I did my schooling in
Nigeria like any other person. I did my primary education in Oke Odan, I
did my secondary in Rev. Kuti memorial grammar school Abeokuta. I
went to Tai Solarin College of Education, Abeokuta, and later proceeded
to University of Benin to obtain degree in Economics.
- I worked with Ogun state television. I had a little romance with teaching
before moving to the television. I worked in the sales and marketing
department. In the year 2000 I left for the Republic of Ireland. I live in
Ireland from 2000 to date; this is my 8th year there. In 2004, I was
elected into the town council as councilor, and in 2007 July I was elected
as the mayor of a city called portlaiose. The city is 53 miles outside
Dublin. Dublin is the capital of Ireland.
The Portlaoise is about 25,000 people, it is fairly large size town, so I was the mayor of the town up to June this year. It
is a term of one year, and I am back to the council as councilor. We rotate the mayoral ship every twelve month, mayor
are elected by the members of the council in June every year. My term expired this June (June 2008) and I am back as a
councilor up till June next year when we will be facing the public for re-election.
African Examiner: what are your achievements as mayor of Portlaiose?
Rotimi Adebari: In term of my achievements I will leave it for posterity, but I can point to one or two things that I can say
I was able to have achieved. You know we happen to have come from a country struggling with image. We have image
problem abroad. I remember when I was elected the mayor of the town. The charge de affair in Ireland was so
impressed and said this is good for our country and a lot people have said that to me also.
In term of enhancing the image of Nigeria I think my last one year did good public relations for Nigeria. When people
meet me the first thing they will ask me is which country are you from, when I told them from Nigeria, some of them will
say Nigeria? I can understand where they are coming from. It’s being exciting time in enhancing and showcasing the
image of not only the city in which I was the number one citizen but my country of birth. Nigeria.
Another way is that I was able to showcase the accommodating nature of the Irish people to the wider world. I would
have given interview to over 500 media in the last one year. That put the town of Portlaoise in the map. And like I said
earlier on it equally put our country in the map as well too. In the last one year it was one man doing the job of three men,
showcasing the image of my town of Portlaoise showcasing the country and Irish as a race and in fact showcasing Africa
and our own country Nigeria. Another thing I can point to is promoting cross cultural understanding between the
immigrant community and the host society, because an opportunity like this provides a forum for people to see one and
other as human beings; that I have been able to achieve.
African Examiner: let us talk about Nigeria politics, can you compare politics in Ireland and
Nigeria. Can you tell us you views about how politicians play politics in Nigeria
Rotimi Adebari: I would say that politics is pretty much the same all over the world. It is only the way and manner it is
being played that is different. When I was back in Nigeria I said politics will be the last thing I will do. I used to say if
politics were to be water it would be the last play for me to go and swim in. Why is that so? The reason is not
unconnected to the fact that before you can play politics back in Nigeria you must have a god father somewhere, if you
must play politics back in Nigeria you must check your pocket, how much you have to spend, if you want to play
politics in Nigeria you must align with a political party, and I live in a town that I don’t need a political party, I need not
know how much I have in my pocket before I go into politics, I need not align with no political party before I can take
part in politics. So that will actually give people opportunity to air their voices, that is one area that I think Nigeria can
benefit from a country like I live in which is Ireland.
Ireland got independence in 1922, its over 80 years, and Nigeria got hers in 1960, we are talking about 40 years gap,
they have come a long way. Nigeria is not doing badly considering the gap, Ireland since’22; we are talking about over
80 years. When you talk about politics, it is a process, it is not a destination you learn along the way and this is
what Nigeria is going through at the moment, we have to remember that we have military rule for long time and now that
we have civil rule. It will take time before we can catch up with the rest of the world. I see it happening but at the same
time we should be ready as country like Nigeria to enter into a collaboration with older democracies, because country
like Nigeria has a lot to gain, And in Nigeria we need to look at a situation where you want to go into politics you don’t
need to have a god father, you don’t need to check how much you have in your bank account.
We should not associate money with politics, they are two different things, if you have brilliant ideas in Nigeria and you
think you want to bring these brilliant ideas into governance, the moment you don’t have a god father your idea is dead
right there, and that is not so in this part of the world. I did not have no god father, I did not check how much I have in
my bank account, and neither do I need to be in a political party, this is what I think country like Nigeria need to look
into in future.
African Examiner: what would you say about corruption in Nigeria, there is corruption in
every sphere of governance, you know there is EFCC which many have mixed feelings about,
with your experience, how do you think Nigeria could better fight corruption?
Rotimi Adebari: l don’t want to generalize here, not all politicians are bad in Nigeria, there are transparent, good, well
mannered, well cultured politicians back in Nigeria and other developing countries as a whole and unfortunately you have
corruption there which we cannot shy away from.
You Know I spoke about where you need to have a god father before you can run for elections in Nigeria that is
corruption on one hand because the way it goes is that If somebody has to fund your campaign, and by the time you get
into office you have to compensate the person and where do you get the money, maybe by ensuring the person gets
contract, and they end up dictating the way and manner you manage the affairs of your office, all these are corruption
and it depends on the way one look at it.
- Politics should be practiced in a
transparent manner, before you go into
politics, you should be able to declare
how much you worth, this is what you
have, we do this in Ireland, every one of
us in every January, we have to declare
what we all have because you cannot get
more than what you get from the state.
If you have your job the record should
be there that this comes in from the job
you are doing, everything should be done
in transparent manner. Transparency is
very important that is one thing we
should actually build into Nigeria politics
- You spoke about the EFCC, it is good,
and it is great.
are discovered or apprehended what happen afterwards, in most cases I think I want more action from the EFCC, I
want to see people that are being detected to be prosecuted.
And again what should be central to politicians should be the people not the individual, In most cases we kind of cater for
ourselves and not the people we are serving, though considering human nature, human beings would want to vend for
himself first but the fact of the matter is that politics is not like that, if you are really looking to be re-elected, the people
should be central. I look forward to the time that our politicians in Nigeria should consider that people that elected them
into power should be very central and as well as important. I mean going into power should not be an opportunity to
enrich oneself. You should realize that you are going into power to serve the people, that is how it should be,
and that is how it is in a country I am living at the moment and I look forward to the time that we all can be proud of the
same thing in our own part of the world.
African Examiner: Would you be considering going to Nigeria to join politics?
Rotimi Adebari: That is a very good question, I can say that Nigeria is my country; I mean I love the country, I miss the
country, all of us in the diaspora we all sit together and talk about Nigeria. I remember my children do ask me that, why
is that when you sit with your friends, you always talk about Nigeria? I think the reason is not Unconnected to the fact
that, that is the country we all grew up to Know, I may be in Ireland for 40 to 50 years, I can live the rest of my life in
Ireland, that is not to say I cannot go back to Nigeria to take part in politics but at the moment that is not what I am
considering. I have the mandate of the people who elected me into office.
But that did not mean If I have the opportunity to play a part in Nigeria, I would be delighted to participate especially in
terms of exchange programs where politicians in Nigeria could be invited and shadow what we do or how government is
being run, even lrish politicians can visit Nigeria as well, bilateral relations I can play a part in that area, but playing politics
in Nigeria is not in my agenda for now. We have many competent people back who are capable of moving the country
forward. I think they are doing that at the moment. If you compare Nigeria to what it was 4 to 5 years back, you know
that we are moving forward. We may think we are moving at a very slow speed. We are not going to get there over night
but we will get there one of this day
African Examiner: Your election as the first black mayor in Ireland is a source of inspiration
to many Nigerians, as it were, what would be your advice to Nigerian in the diaspora.
Rotimi Adebari: My advice to Nigerians in the diaspora is this, whether you are in the U.S, Europe, South America,
Caribbean, I want you to engage in your community, that is very Important. If you have the opportunity to participate
politically in your environment I want you to take an active participation in politics. When am saying active participation in
politics, it is not when you put your name in the ballot and you say you want to be a senator, or a councilor you are
actively participating in politics, no, voting at elections speaks volume. What this means is that before any public
representation your vote counts.
It is very important to register to vote. Again we all have to play a part to ensure that all we do in the diaspora reflect
back in the country we all come from. When we talk about country struggling with Image many of us in the Diasporas are
playing a part in that as well. What we engage in matter lot for our country.
If we engage in shady activities, our host societies will always see the country and all of us as being shady people, we will
always have bad ones but the bad ones are very small, majority of Nigerians are wonderful, hardworking people
wherever we find ourselves, we want to make our mark and I want to use this opportunity to say well done to all the
Nigerians abroad, Let us keep on showcasing the image of Nigeria, continue to present to the world the very good and
positive side of the continent of Africa. Thank you.
| From L-R Oludare Sunday Fase, Editor-In-Chief, African Examiner, Rotimi Adebari, First black Mayor in Republic of Ireland, and Taiye Olayemi, Managing Editor African Examiner Posed for photograph. |
| Rotimi Adebari, Nigerian born first black Mayor in Republic of Ireland |
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