Banire At 50:  ‘Looking Back, I Should Have Avoided Politics’

Dr Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN,

Dr Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN the national legal adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC clocked 50 last Thursday, 6^th October. The Managing Editor, Complete News, Eni Olukotun, caught up with the former Lagos commissioner of transport and environment at Bab Es Salaam Muslim Orphanage, GRA Ikeja, where he celebrated with the less-privilege. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN,   reflected on his sojourn in politics, his future plans and the state of affairs in Nigeria. Excerpt:

Looking back,  at 50 are there things you think you would have done otherwise?

Well, maybe I probably would have avoided politics and its intrigues, because it is incompatible with my nature

What are you most grateful for?

I am most grateful for the gift of life which is a privilege, and it is the foundation of every other things. I am extremely very grateful for that. Particularly when you count back 1,2,3 to 50, it is a privilege.

People ascribe their ascendency in politics to you and even today you are still a major factor in the Nigerian politics. Do you see yourself opting out of politics?

Certainly, I will be opting out of politics in shortest possible time. Except, if things change, which is not likely. Like I said to you my nature cannot cope with the kind of intrigues people play there.

But you weathered the storm for almost three decades, why quitting now

Yes I did, but it is getting more and more polluted. As at 1999, I recall vividly that substantial number of people in politics then were there genuinely but in recent times, I have seen that people have seen politics as a shortcut to success and materialism. So, it is so much polluted that you have sufficient numbers of desperados, charlatans and scavengers all over the place. Because of that kind of politics, it is making it difficult for objectivity, truth and honesty to prevail.

Nigeria has been battling with the problem of credible elections for years, as a committee member of the newly inaugurated electoral reform committee, do you see your committee bringing sanity to the system.  

You see law is a living thing. It moves and grows like you and me. As circumstances and facts change, law must catch up. That is essentially what the reform is all about and it must continue. As you have new challenges you must update your law. Some of our laws are archaic.

Your party, the All Progressives Congress, APC is in power and the recession is biting really hard, do you see a the way out?

Honestly speaking, nobody will contest the fact we are having challenges with the economy. But the truth about the situation is that there must be sacrifice. That we will not go through pains to enjoy comfort is a lie. What we are experiencing now are birth pains, you know when a woman wants to deliver she will go through a lot of pains. But immediately the baby comes forth and the mother hears the cry of the baby, she rejoices. That is the analogy and narrative. I know it is very harsh. God will see us through.

For the benefit of younger generation, tell us how you managed yourself out of Mushin to become what you became in life?

There are so many people that are successful today that came out of Mushin, so many, countless number of people. But unfortunately, people tend to still be looking at that place as the Mushin of the old wild wild west (Wetie). So, it is nothing unique, not usual.

What was the rationale behind the modest birthday celebration you are having  here (Bab Es Salaam Muslim Orphanage )today?

What celebration is all about is to share the joy of God with others. I did it in a very low key way to demonstrate that what we are here for is to show gratitude to God for the privilege of life.

By every measure, you can be described as a highly successful man, what  is the secret and your guiding principles?

You see success is a journey and not a destination. So until you die, you will continue to progress. You cannot reach the destination until you are dead. What success is all about is impacting on the people, society and community. And that is what we have come here to do essentially, to continue to impact on our society positively. So, for me my guiding principle is that our destination in life is to continue to remove sorrow and pains from people. That is the whole essence of life because if you amass one million houses, cars and children, the reality is that one day they will desert you, if you don’t desert them.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future?

I am aspiring hopefully to be one of the greatest God’s crusader in the area of religion, fear of God particularly. Honestly, I will tell you for free, the fundamental problem of Nigeria is the lack of fear of God. Nigeria is a highly religious country but devoid of godly people. Because people tend to mix the two together, religiosity and godliness are two different concepts.

You can go to mosque or church from now till eternity as still lack the fear of God and once that is missing, forget it you are disaster. That is what we need to let people know that you must fear God. If you fear God, you would not leave your house with the intention to go and commit evil.

What is your assessment of the current administration in Lagos state?

I have always resisted that question because honestly speaking I am not privy to anything they are doing. But I can tell you that most of the things they are doing I would have done in another way that will attract more benefits to Lagosians.

But the Government is embarking on massive infrastructural development like construction of roads?

You see there is this confusion all over the place that government built 114 roads. It is the 57 local governments and Local Council Developments Areas(LCDAs) that built the roads.

The roads were built with local governments’ funds not the state. They are different entities, but people tend to throw that confusion into the community. They are two different things.

What do you make of the current internal wrangling rocking your party, the All Progressives Congress, APC , don’t you think it will lead to the break-up of the party?

I will not concur with that proposition. A party that is just growing, you will expect to see hiccups particularly considering the fact that people came from different backgrounds all over the whole place. It will take time to gel .

I believe before the next election everybody would have integrated fully. With time we will all understand each other. These disagreements are bound to happen.

Do you see an implosion in the APC before 2019?

We are already having our implosion which will fizzle away with time. Like I told you, it is contradictions that is happening now which are of course expected.