THE PRINCE, OUR PRINCE, YOUR PRINCE, ROTIMI IBIDAPO
The name that rings a bell and reverberates across the length and breadth do not believe in petty dragging and hustling for political relevance. He does not subscribe to the political style of electing persons without the requisite preparations into the public offices. He believes that leadership should not be given accidentally. In his view, leadership culture and teachings should be injected into the schools’ curricula, such that the young Nigerian, right from the beginner’s class would have been thoroughly exposed to and learned in leadership expectations and responsibilities, as opposed to the current experience in this clime.
Prince Ibidapo is fighter of repression, stagnation and corruption. He is a distinguished progressive and a polished welfarist too. Ibidapo‘s political cum ideological contents are the type required to turn around a sickly polity. Pius’ makes a legendary model, an aromatic voyage for growing men with the penchant for difference; a fella who had it rough through the rungs but whose well-spelt ends have driven to consequence; standing irrepressibly up on the inside, even when he seemed knocked down on the outside. He’s never knocked out!
That leaders should lead by shining examples; that leaders should embody the strength of character; that leaders should see themselves as servants of the led and not otherwise; that leadership should be seen as a call to sacrificially serve ; that leadership positions should not been used as conduits for siphoning the common wealth to feather private nests; that a leader must be an optimist and an untiring crusader; of the best standards; that the resources of the state should be utilized judiciously to address the needs of the citizenry. These, among many other fine virtues and values are what Ibidapo stands for.
The passion for politics, more than inbuilt, is inborn. The vigour for profound leadership is instilled carefully early at the formative, rooted and germinated, honed and polished, it has travelled sturdily with its aromatic sheen on Pius through the bends and ends. Here is a man whose enduring sickness with the lopsided socio-political clime where nature seed him has made him to fight the unjust in whatever portrait, however obscure or obvious.
Prince Rotimi believes that the county Nigeria is lavishly blessed, and that the ample resources should be maximized and utilized for the socio-economic health of all citizens irrespective of the social rung to which the individual belong. His campaign against corruption, both in the public and private sectors is a public knowledge, a crusade which he champions across the country’s geographical bends, irrespective of whose ox is gored. But for the corrupt practices which have crippled the political system of the county for about three decades now, the socioeconomic prosperity of the country Nigeria would not be the dream that it’s by now. But for the same sin of political corruption, the army of destitute, impoverished, homeless, hopeless, jobless Nigerian citizens would have been healed of these inhuman conditions. These unhealthy socio-economic living situations are Ibidapo’s persistent headaches, for which he strives to correct as a political leader.
Prince has continued to constructively criticise lazy leaders. He is one famed crier for the way it should be. He believes that a leader lacking in political steel-will to effect corrections where and when such need requires has no business in politics. He frowns at the ideological ineptitude of politicians and political parties. He holds that the best political leaders are those who lose sleep over the agonies of the ordinary people.
A detribalized Nigerian, the Prince is a sturdy patriot who believes in the equality of all Nigerians, and the ranking sameness for all her ethnic nations in the federation. He frowns at discrimination on the ground of sex, religion, race, education or economic status. He sermons the training and education of the girl child, and a fair share to the womenfolk in appointive and elective positions. He, a humble Nigerian from the Yoruba ethnic population of the West of Nigeria, respects as he honours Nigerians of other ethnic groups, and esteems every Nigerian irrespective the class to which he belongs.
Prince Ibidapo is a law respecter who reveres the rule of law and the inalienable right of all citizens, and a citizen who believes that the rule of law should take its course in whatever circumstance or situation, in public or private, and at all times. He holds that the judiciary as an arm of government and justice arbiter, and the electoral umpire of the country should be truly independent of the executives’ interference such that their responsibilities and exercises can be done without hiccups whatsoever. Prince Ibidapo is of the viewpoint that transparency should not be compromised in political transactions and those leaders who holds offices on trust should be held accountable to the people.
That leaders should lead by shining examples; that leaders should embody the strength of character; that leaders should see themselves as servants of the led and not otherwise; that leadership should be seen as a call to sacrificially serve ; that leadership positions should not been used as conduits for siphoning the common wealth to feather private nests; that a leader must be an optimist and an untiring crusader; of the best standards; that the resources of the state should be utilized judiciously to address the needs of the citizenry. These, among many other fine virtues and values are what Prince Rotimi stands for.
