It gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to Dr Hakeem Jamiu (a.k.a Oluwanisola), member, State House of Assembly, Ekiti State, as he joins the Diamond Club. I have known Dr Hakeem Jamiu for at least twenty-one years. Even though he has had a much longer relationship with my husband, HE Dr Kayode Fayemi (JKF) that dates back to their childhood, I consider Honourable Hakeem to be a dear brother, friend, comrade and confidante. When my husband decided to run for office in Ekiti State in 2004, Hon Hakeem became a regular part of our lives, and remains so. We have weathered many storms together and been through highs and lows, all which have served to strengthen our bonds of friendship.
Hon Hakeem is a man of many talents and distinctions. As a scholar, writer, businessman, legislator, community leader and activist, Hon Hakeem, the quintessential Yoruba Omoluabi (a person of impeccable character) has distinguished himself as a man of honour from the Land of Honour. In his community at Igbemo-Ekiti, he is fondly called, ‘Oluwanisola’. For non-Yoruba speakers, this roughly translates as, ‘It is God who creates wealth’. Wealth in this context is holistic. It includes pedigree, service, opportunity, good health, responsibility, generosity, accountability. Oluwanisola is also a reminder that to whom much is given, much is expected. The God who grants you wealth, health and opportunities also expects you to be a worthy recipient. You are expected to be a servant to all, leader of many and master of none. Hon Hakeem Jamiu is a worthy recipient of God’s grace and blessings, as he has demonstrated in his exemplary life so far.
In the years I have known Hon Hakeem, I have noted a number of things I admire about him, I will mention just three. First, we cannot aspire to be any kind of leader if we are not deeply passionate about the world around us, and the impact we believe we can make. Hon Hakeem feels passionately about people, their right to a better life, and the need to dismantle systems of injustice and unfairness. This is why I believe he wholeheartedly threw himself into the political journey of my husband, because they share the same beliefs. Second, Hon Hakeem is clear, direct and unambiguous in his dealings with people. You always know where you stand with him. He speaks and writes from the heart, and even though he is quite the diplomat in his own way, telling the unvarnished truth to whoever needs to hear it takes priority over ‘eye service’, which is the default setting of many politicians. Even though I have had cause to talk to him about his ‘body language’ and how you can always tell when he is displeased with something or someone, I have always respected the depths of his honesty. It is great to have the likes of Hon Hakeem to remind us that we should endeavour to show up with our authentic selves, and not have to shape shift according to the expectations of others.
Third, Hon Hakeem is one of the few people around who understands the value of knowledge management and documentation. We are so busy living our lives and working ourselves to the bone, that we hardly ever pause to reflect on what we are doing and why. Hon Hakeem’s skills as a researcher and story-teller have reshaped many narratives that would have remained untold or falsified without his intervention.
After the 2014 electoral loss of JKF in Ekiti State, many accounts emerged about ‘disconnection’ from the Ekiti people. It was people like Hon Hakeem Jamiu who ferociously fought this false narrative with facts and figures. This is one of the reasons why this area of work was given due attention during the JKF 2 years (2018-2022). Hon Hakeem’s painstaking collation and analysis of the impact of the JKF 1 administration (2010-2014) was taken a step further, with the publication of the book of essays which he co-edited (with Azeez Olaniyan and Akeem Bello) ‘Swimming against the tide: The Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti State, 2010-2014’, February 2020.
While many invest their energies in sharing information that they know next to nothing about, in order to set a narrative that suits their purposes, Hon Hakeem simply responds with hard facts. Our governance institutions and political spaces would fare so much better if we allowed this kind of approach to prevail. No one is perfect. Nobody is infallible. Yet, no one has the right to deliberately concoct and disseminate falsehoods and try and pass this off as the truth. This is a battle that Hon Hakeem has fought for a long time, and I know he will continue to do so for the rest of his life.
My dear brother Kimoo, as you achieve this milestone, may you enjoy many more years in good health and peace of mind. May you reap the fruits of your labour. May your family be blessed. May the mercy of God Almighty continue to abound in your life. May you find favour wherever you go. Oluwanisola!
Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
Former First Lady Ekiti State
Co-Founder, Amandla Institute for Leadership and Policy Advancement.