…Urges investment in human capacity, entrepreneurship
The Apena of Egbaland and Oluwo of Iporo-Ake, Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole, has called for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s political and administrative structures, saying the country’s challenges cannot be solved merely by changing the individuals occupying political offices.
Bankole, who spoke during a media interaction to mark his 85th birthday, argued that many of the nation’s political, economic and social difficulties were rooted in what he described as a defective system of governance.
The octogenarian businessman and former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said Nigeria needed to look beyond individual leaders and examine the institutional arrangements within which elected officials operate.
According to him, the constitutional and political framework sometimes places limitations on a leader’s ability to assemble a government based strictly on competence and expertise.
“The system is responsible for our present-day calamity,” he declared.
Bankole, who is the father of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, said his decades of experience in business and politics had enabled him to observe Nigeria’s development from different perspectives.
He maintained that it was unfair to attribute the country’s problems solely to presidents, governors or other political office holders, arguing that those in government were often compelled to operate within established constitutional and political structures.
He cited the constitutional requirement for broad representation in the composition of the Federal Executive Council as one of the factors that could affect the selection of government officials.
“To be President, you must work with a team. How do you get a good team in Nigeria when the Constitution says you must take at least a minister from each of the states?” he asked.
The traditional chief therefore advocated a deeper conversation on the structures governing the country, stressing that replacing one political administration with another would not necessarily produce fundamental change if the underlying system remained the same.
‘You Can Only Give What You Have’
Bankole said the quality of leadership was inevitably influenced by the structures and resources available to those entrusted with governance.
“You can only give what you have,” he said, stressing the need for Nigerians to focus on institutional development and human capacity alongside political leadership.
He also traced some of the country’s administrative challenges to structures inherited from the colonial era, questioning whether sufficient efforts had been made after independence to adapt those systems to Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances.
The former ANPP chairman said his experiences in public affairs had strengthened his conviction that the country required stronger institutions capable of delivering effective governance irrespective of who occupied political office.
Bankole Advocates Work, Enterprise for Nigerian Youths
The Apena also used the occasion to address unemployment and poverty, urging parents and society to prepare young Nigerians for self-reliance rather than raising them solely to seek salaried employment.
He said children should be exposed early to productive activities and taught the dignity of labour, recalling that young people of his generation often combined formal education with practical work.
Bankole remembered returning from school to the farm as part of the responsibilities expected of young people at the time.
He expressed concern that some parents were making life excessively comfortable for their children without adequately equipping them with practical skills for survival and wealth creation.
“Teach people how to make money; don’t give them money,” he said.
According to him, entrepreneurial education and practical skills would help young people become economically independent and reduce excessive dependence on white-collar employment.
From Petrol Attendant to Businessman
Reflecting on his early life, the 85-year-old traditional chief recounted how financial difficulties temporarily disrupted his education after elementary school.
He said he subsequently secured work at a petrol station through a family connection, while efforts were later made to enable him combine schooling with employment.
The arrangement, he said, exposed him to the fundamentals of business and management at an early age.
By about the age of 18, Bankole recalled, he had progressed from being a petrol attendant to managing two filling stations.
His responsibilities included travelling to Lagos to place orders, receiving petroleum products and supervising the day-to-day operations of the businesses.
He said the experience became an important foundation for his later career as an entrepreneur.
Bankole subsequently moved to Lagos, where he worked with the Federal Office of Statistics before joining the banking sector.
His posting to the foreign exchange department, he said, further exposed him to international commerce and strengthened his interest in entrepreneurship.
He eventually left banking after he was asked to relocate to Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Civil War.
Bankole said he declined the transfer because of the security situation and his responsibilities as the eldest son of the family.
‘My Achievements Are By God’s Grace’
Looking back on his 85 years, Bankole attributed his accomplishments to divine grace and the opportunities he encountered throughout his life.
“Whatever I am today and whatever I have been able to do is by the special grace of God,” he said.
He also reflected on his long involvement in Nigerian politics, disclosing that his interest in politics began at about the age of 35.
His political journey eventually saw him become a prominent member of the defunct ANPP and serve as its National Chairman.
Bankole recalled his interactions with political leaders and his participation in political and governmental affairs over several decades.
He said those experiences further reinforced his belief that Nigeria’s challenges were largely structural and could not be adequately addressed by simply replacing one set of political leaders with another.
At 85, he said his major concern was no longer the pursuit of political office, but the development of institutions that could produce better outcomes for Nigerians.
Family, Legacy and a Life of Conviction
Bankole also reflected on his family, particularly the achievements of his children, including former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, who presided over the lower chamber of the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011.
He said he had consistently encouraged his children to pursue education, acquire professional skills and make meaningful contributions to society.
According to him, the true measure of family success should extend beyond material wealth to include the positive impact children make on their communities and society.
Reflecting on the legacy he hopes to leave behind, the Apena said he wanted to be remembered as a man whose position on issues was clear and consistent, even when others disagreed with him.
“You may not agree with your friend or colleague on many issues, on many occasions or in many instances, but you should always know where he stands,” he said.
For the octogenarian businessman and traditional chief, that clarity of conviction remains one of the qualities he values most as he looks back on 85 years of life, business, politics and public service.
