Keeping a date with history is the ultimate goal of every human being. Once you are born, you have the opportunity to make history, doing otherwise would put you on the wrong side of history, you end up as an “imbecile”.
The history of mankind is replete with the contribution of great men and women whose reputations with the populace have continued to soar rather than diminish, because of the niche they carved for themselves in the hearts of men. Such men and women left indelible marks in the soil of time particularly by their own driving efforts as inventors, writers and poets; discovers and explorers; soldiers and statesmen, leaders and reformers.
Hon. (Chief) Ado Moses Okino, belongs to the last group of leaders and reformers. Socrates like our subject, was a great reformer as the world remembers him always as one of the finest philosophers of the ancient world, perhaps the greatest of the great men produced by Athens. His name still command honor, administration and reverence, and we can add Aristotle who had such a profound and lasting influence on the thought and life of the Western World that he was described as the “Professor of Universal Knowledge”.
Our subject also fits into the shoes of great leaders like Benjamin Franklin, the poor American boy who set out to improve himself and became the greatest and most famous American of his time, and Mahatma Ghandi whose visions and tenacious faith still awakens in oppressed people, a sense of their dignity and a resolution to strive for self-actualization and fulfillment. As a man of people, the “Otuoze of Ezi’onogu”, a traditional chieftaincy title bestowed on him by his people. Mahatma Ghandi was involved in a long struggle on behalf of the Indians and spent his life in the service of the people. In my short review of the subject, I have tried, rather briefly to show that Hon. Moses Okino shares a similarity with these men, of Blessed Memory, who are celebrated even today in glowing light because their contributions touched and still touch the lives of their people and mankind in general.
History was made by evening of Monday, 28th August, 2023, when an illustrious son of Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state, Chief (Hon) Ado Moses Okino, was celebrating his 75th Birthday at his resident, number Legacy Estate, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja, with the attendance of crème de crème of personalities, big-wig political associates, captains of industry, government functionaries, Traditional Rulers, well-wishers from within and in Diaspora.
It could not have been otherwise the occasion was also to honour a man who dedicated his life to the service of humanity and has always refused to embrace lust and greed. Hon. Okino is a man of faith who humility uplifts the lives of the youths and less-privileged in the area. He is man of cultured trait who hold truth as sacred. He believes that integrity and personal independence are noble virtues of great men. Both in private life and in public service, Okino has been a man of unblemished credibility. He is a combatant with an optimistic faith, who is inspired to turn every obstacle into advantage and every problem into realizable pact.
About 75 years ago, night life was almost nil in Uhevene, a closed hamlet and hilly in Upake in Ajaokuta Local Government of Kogi State, then Kabba Province of Kwara. Apart from children sitting around elders at moonlight to listen to tortoise-dominated folklores, most activities in the closely-knit community took place in the day. It was into that sedate environment that Pa Salihu Okino, a man whose passion and love for the human race know no bound, welcome a new addition to his large family in 1948. Pa Salihu Okino, an Ebira by ethnicity and Inya Mrs. Adisetu Okino (Nee Oyibo) an Igala Ohieme Gbogbo ruling House in Idah of Kogi East.
The birth of a new baby is always an occasion for merriment. To express that joy, almost every relation had a new name for Pa Okino’s new arrival, either to mark memorable event. They call the new arrival as “Uhovene”, which signifies the name of the village where he was born and the name “Adogu” now shortened as “Ado”, marked the day when a famous traditional ruler, “Adogu of Upaja” DIED. Hon. Ado Moses Okino, was born in a Muslim home, but as destiny could take its course, he found himself in the Christendom, now a devoted Christian.
Undoubtedly, Hon. Okino, our subject, was born into royalty on 20th August, 1948. Digging into his background, he is the only son of his mother to Pa Okino. Hon. Okino grew up in an environment where things are done properly, this is the reason where there is no space for mediocrity in his dictionary.
His untiring gesture as a genuine defender of truth and a peace advocate who is versed in conflict resolution, earned him the Chairmanship of the constituted Inter-party Peace and Resolution Committee set-up by the Kogi State Government, under the leadership of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, to look into the remote causes of the political/clannish crises in Kogi Central and possibly resolution.
Right from the threshold when he had his primary education at INA Primary school, Ihima, now Okehi Local Government Area, he had started demonstrating the traits of a well-focused young man. After he had finished from INA Ihima, he now proceeded to Our Lady of School Teachers College, Ayimba in Kogi East, where he excelled beyond his peers; a school reputed for producing distinguished and erudite scholars who had made an indelible mark in their respective states and national calls. Thereafter, he gained admission into a prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1974; little was known at the time that he was determined to climb into the considerable level of academic ladder. Within the first two years of his studentship, however, the lecturers became convinced that the young man would go places. Many were no longer surprised thereafter when he graduated with Second Class Upper Honour (2/1) in Economic in 1977. His close observers cannot but agree that the young Okino is a well-focused man who cannot be distracted.
Hon. Moses Ado Okino, worked in various capacities; as a pupil teacher; as a Lecturer in a Tertiary Institutions; as Assistant Registrar with Kwara State Government; an Economist with Nigeria Industrial Bank (NIDB), and as Investment Manager with Kwara Industrial Trust Funds. As a prolific Economist, banking to him is not just a profession, he developed great aptitude for the job that he became a successful banker within a very short time before jetting out into political arena.
To justify his political antecedent, Hon. Okino was born into political family. In 1979 political dispensation at his tender age, he was a youth political activist and staunch member of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, in Kwara state, contested House of State House of Assembly election in 1979 and lost to the candidate of NPN, Alhaji Umoru Balogun, [Of Blessed Memory], he retired to faith and continued to remain a committed member of UPN. As a political ideologist, he refused the friendship of the opposition ruling party, NPN, even at the face of all intimidating, oppression and suppression. He has the connection and other qualities to stray for juicy political position under the party, the NPN. This is a demonstration of a grassroots and consistent politician, who never abandon his people for selfish interest.
In 1994, Hon. Okino, moved to higher challenges when the appointed Military Administrator of Kogi State, Col. Paul Omeruo was made. The new Military Administrator, identified him early enough because he wanted seriously to have round pegs in to the round holes, he was one of the appointed Commissioners by the Military Administrator to man the portfolio of Education Ministry, later Information.
During his short sway in Education Ministry, a lot of development in education sector were recorded with his name, because a household in the states and every local government benefitted tremendously from his laudable educational policies, e.g. establishment of Science Secondary Schools in all the three senatorial districts in the state; establishment of IJMB School in the Osara Campus of Kogi State Polytechnic, etc, etc. This are landmark achievement of Hon. Okino in the educational sector that remains indelible in Kogi state.
In Information Ministry, also grew in leaps and bounds, to his credit; State Radio velocity increased, turning round the FM Radio in Kogi State, he performed creditably because excellence was his watchdog. He did what he had to do in all fairness and fear of God. However, from whichever side of the coin one looks at Okino, he remains a gallant victor for all seasons. He is one of few politicians today who had remained uncorrupted by the juices of office and has refused to mortgage his conscience for a mere meal of porridge.
However, Hon. Okino, whose political dynasty had become known in Kogi State, was a foundation member of the defunct All Peoples Party. APP, which featured in the 1999 general elections in the country, Kogi State governorship election, in particular, came out victorious in the governorship election in Kogi state. Okino was able to deliver his local government, Ajaokuta, 100 percent victory to the party, APP, both in the governorship election and House of Representatives, respectively. There Okino’s political might was eventually noticed. After this feat, he was again appointed Commissioner for Information and Culture in 1999-2001 and Commissioner for Youths and Sports, 2001-2003 by Late Prince Abubakar Audu, of Blessed Memory. At this point, Okino performed credibly to earn him accolades as a courageous fair-minded leader that succeeded under a difficult administration. He was able to show his class.
For an achiever like Hon. Okino, politics is a good attraction with his sterling qualities as a mobilizer and a role model. Despite all intimidations from his political opponents in the area, Ajaokuta local government, in particular, his natural strength did not give way and all contradiction did not make him loss focus. His political vision shone by the day as he continued to be role model to many of his political admirers across the state, Kogi Central in particular.
Having left the commissionership assignment in 2003, he yielded to entreaties by his political followers to partake in elective position of House of Representatives. As a good listener to his people, he yielded to their cry and contested. He eventually won the contest with landslide victory. At the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, as a member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, he was able to influence the denied dividend of democracy to his people, which include the installation and commissioning of electricity to the community that has been in darkness for decades.
Hon. Okino, who was rated in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, as member of the “First Eleven” and “Hero of Democracy” attracted friendship with a good number of his colleagues from across the federation. The contacts he had with friends have been long lasting and underpinning his relevance in national politics uptill date. No wonder, the nation’s political intelligentsias have continued to pay homage to him at his residence, Legacy Estate, where he now resides.
As he marks and celebrate his 75 years today, what would be uppermost in his mind would be the fact that he has given back to humanity, much more than he had received, and this reality indeed gladdens his heart more than all the riches of this world. In doing all this, he must have pitched his tent with philosophy of Nathan Schaeffer who says: “The question you will be asked in the hereafter will not be how much you have got, but how much you have given; not how much you have saved, but how much you have sacrificed; not how much you won, but how much you have done; it will be how much you have loved and served, not how much you were honoured. This measure of life is not in its duration, but in its donation”.
As we rejoice with you, Sir, on your birthday at 75 years, I would want to use this opportunity on behalf of myself and my family, to extend our felicitations to our gifted Mummy, Mrs. Juliana Asipita Okino (JP); a woman of dignified poise, epitome of womanhood, grace, charm and affection; a concerned and caring woman who kindles the love and understanding needed by her husband to get positive results; a kind woman of very moderate taste who may not necessarily have had the best of everything but who makes the best of everything shine and glow around her. We congratulate you Ma, for being that special gift and amiable partner whom the Almighty God in His Infinite Mercy has chosen to support chat and help plan your husband’s direction for fruitful and successful result-oriented accomplishment over time.
Now, Chief (Hon.) Okino marks his 75 years celebration today, what the future demands of you, Sir, is to step up your altruistic life of inspiration, your bravery, industry and sterling leadership qualities for upcoming political youths to emulate. You have been an exemplary and innovative society builder; you need to produce more of yourself through conscious and convolutedness. There is no doubt that many have tried to drawn inspiration from your political philosophical and methodology, but no exactness whatsoever. You should always retreat to redouble your efforts as there are still many grounds to be covered and this goes beyond Ajaokuta Local Government.
How does one begin to describe the personality of an outstanding individual, a larger-than-life entity and an enigmatic being, who came, saw and conquered; a man who has achieved so much. For now, we heartily congratulate you Sir, Chief (Hon) Ado Moses Okino (JP), prayerfully wishing you more years of sustained and glorious achievement, Amen.
By:
IDRIS ISAH ITOPA
AREWA TRUST NEWSPAPER, ABUJA
[08035130045].