The Truth In Altruistic Life of Late Dr. John Lawal: A Recipe for Political Office Holders | By Isah Bala
For a true leader who believe in carving a niche in the sand of time for later generations to eulogise and build what will quench the quest of the many societal needs, they prefer to build what the society will attest to as an attestation of their stewardship rather than building an edifice whose dilapidation will be an affirmation of gluttony representation.
For such individuals, they are the truest altruistic leaders who chose 'good name' amidst vast opportunities to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they swore to represent.
Amongst others who painstakingly engraved their names in the book of history in Second Republic during the administration of late Adamu Attah, the first Civilian governor of Kwara State, late Dr. John Lawal stand out.
Late Dr. John Lawal, a trained medical doctor born in 1940 served as Commissioner for Health in the Second Republic to late Governor Adamu Attah.
As juicy as the appointment seems, one would have expected Lawal to ride on the erroneous belief of using public office to enrich himself, family and associates but late Dr. John Lawal trod on the unusual path of building for the future, invest more on the society and later generations instead of personal enrichment that will erode with the passage of time.
To me, the man Dr. John Lawal was not a typical Nigerian Politician, he knew the importance of societal building, he knew the best legacy one could leave behind is that which is beneficial to all the constituents, he went out of his way to carve a niche for himself that will be indelible, and practicalized the avowal of Martin Luther King, Jr. of the blessed memory, "every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness".
As a Commissioner for health in the Second Republic (1979-1983), amongst others, he was able to record the following as his achievements.
√ Establishment of School of Nursing each at Ilorin and Obangede
√ Establishment of 52 Health Clinic across the state.
√ Establishment of Specialist hospitals at new Bussa, Oke-Ode, Kabba, Ilorin and Obangede.
√ Upgraded the General Hospital, Lokoja to a specialist hospital
√ Upgraded school of Health Technology, Offa and School of Midwifery, Egbe
√ Facilitated the establishment of Technical college oboroke.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Okehi community Secondary School Oboroke.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Okehi community secondary school Ikuehi.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Government Day Secondary School Ebako.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Government Day Secondary School Ohueta.
√ Influenced the establishment of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Comprehensive Health Care Centre in the three senatorial district of the then Kwara State.
Late Lawal was not a magician, he saw public office as an avenue to develop the society, he was a true altruistic leader, he wanted a developed society and was able to engrave his feet through the feat he attained.
His leadership mien, his altruistic style and his approach to public office is a recipe political office holders need as we match into 2020 and beyond.
Political appointees that were relieved of their duties recently cannot turn back the hand of time to right some of their wrongs, and the many opportunities they failed to utilise but there are opportunities for those that will be lucky to be part of the next dispensation to utilise every means available to do what will stand the test of time as an attestation of their stewardship.
Whatever means late Dr. John Lawal used, it cannot be unconnected to the fact that he saw public office as a means to develop the society, he faced the business of societal building instead of the ritual embezzling, late Adamu Attah wouldn't have been able to do the magic if Lawal approached political office as a conduit pipe.
Political office holders must see Lawal's approach to leadership position as a recipe for a change of baton, Lawal knew his life, cars and mansions will fizzled out with passage of time, he chose what will stand tall with the passage of time and benefit the later generations.
Many of us may not have witnessed the reign of Dr. John Lawal as a Commissioner for Health in the Second Republic but we've benefited from his legacies and the attestation of his stewardship are everywhere till date even after three decades.
If Dr. John Lawal could achieved such feat as a Commissioner, there are more to learn from his approach to governance, there are more to public office than building edifices and having fleet of cars.
As we step into another year, this should be a recipe for political office holders and emerging leaders. Dr. John Lawal may not have mansions to his name today but his legacies which have benefited thousands are far more than mansions that would have fizzled out.
Think, let's think about this.
©Isah Bala
Late Dr. John Lawal
For such individuals, they are the truest altruistic leaders who chose 'good name' amidst vast opportunities to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they swore to represent.
Amongst others who painstakingly engraved their names in the book of history in Second Republic during the administration of late Adamu Attah, the first Civilian governor of Kwara State, late Dr. John Lawal stand out.
Late Dr. John Lawal, a trained medical doctor born in 1940 served as Commissioner for Health in the Second Republic to late Governor Adamu Attah.
As juicy as the appointment seems, one would have expected Lawal to ride on the erroneous belief of using public office to enrich himself, family and associates but late Dr. John Lawal trod on the unusual path of building for the future, invest more on the society and later generations instead of personal enrichment that will erode with the passage of time.
To me, the man Dr. John Lawal was not a typical Nigerian Politician, he knew the importance of societal building, he knew the best legacy one could leave behind is that which is beneficial to all the constituents, he went out of his way to carve a niche for himself that will be indelible, and practicalized the avowal of Martin Luther King, Jr. of the blessed memory, "every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness".
As a Commissioner for health in the Second Republic (1979-1983), amongst others, he was able to record the following as his achievements.
√ Establishment of School of Nursing each at Ilorin and Obangede
√ Establishment of 52 Health Clinic across the state.
√ Establishment of Specialist hospitals at new Bussa, Oke-Ode, Kabba, Ilorin and Obangede.
√ Upgraded the General Hospital, Lokoja to a specialist hospital
√ Upgraded school of Health Technology, Offa and School of Midwifery, Egbe
√ Facilitated the establishment of Technical college oboroke.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Okehi community Secondary School Oboroke.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Okehi community secondary school Ikuehi.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Government Day Secondary School Ebako.
√ Facilitated the establishment of Government Day Secondary School Ohueta.
√ Influenced the establishment of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Comprehensive Health Care Centre in the three senatorial district of the then Kwara State.
Late Lawal was not a magician, he saw public office as an avenue to develop the society, he was a true altruistic leader, he wanted a developed society and was able to engrave his feet through the feat he attained.
His leadership mien, his altruistic style and his approach to public office is a recipe political office holders need as we match into 2020 and beyond.
Political appointees that were relieved of their duties recently cannot turn back the hand of time to right some of their wrongs, and the many opportunities they failed to utilise but there are opportunities for those that will be lucky to be part of the next dispensation to utilise every means available to do what will stand the test of time as an attestation of their stewardship.
Whatever means late Dr. John Lawal used, it cannot be unconnected to the fact that he saw public office as a means to develop the society, he faced the business of societal building instead of the ritual embezzling, late Adamu Attah wouldn't have been able to do the magic if Lawal approached political office as a conduit pipe.
Political office holders must see Lawal's approach to leadership position as a recipe for a change of baton, Lawal knew his life, cars and mansions will fizzled out with passage of time, he chose what will stand tall with the passage of time and benefit the later generations.
Many of us may not have witnessed the reign of Dr. John Lawal as a Commissioner for Health in the Second Republic but we've benefited from his legacies and the attestation of his stewardship are everywhere till date even after three decades.
If Dr. John Lawal could achieved such feat as a Commissioner, there are more to learn from his approach to governance, there are more to public office than building edifices and having fleet of cars.
As we step into another year, this should be a recipe for political office holders and emerging leaders. Dr. John Lawal may not have mansions to his name today but his legacies which have benefited thousands are far more than mansions that would have fizzled out.
Think, let's think about this.
©Isah Bala
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