Dr. Charles Remi Akitoye achieved greatness by dint of hard work. A former acting National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he served as commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State during the military regimes of the late Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, and Brigadier- General Raji Rasaki.
In this interview, the Lagos prince, who just turned 80, shared his life’s trajectory.
How do you feel at 80?
It is an auspicious time to thank God for His mercies and I believe that God has been very benevolent to me, to my family and to my friends. I wish to thank Him.
At 80, I feel fulfilled that I’ve led a good Christian life, and I have tried as humanly possible to be nice to others. But I want to thank God once again for the good life He has given me, for the family He has given me, and to the friends that I’ve been able to cultivate over the 80 years.
I’m hoping to get to 90, and between this 80 and 90, I want to pray for absolute peace in my life, good health and whatever benefits of life that the divine grace of God still wants to bestow unto me.
You grew up in Lagos. How was it in those days?
I’m a Lagosian to the core. If you say that I am an Isale-Eko boy, I will gladly accept that because I was born in Isale-Eko, the heart of Lagos Island, into the royal family of Babson Babatunde Akitoye.
Growing up in Lagos was very interesting, highly stimulating and very educating. It did not only make me to grow up amongst my own people, but also allowed the interaction that exposed me not only to the idiosyncrasies of Lagos environment, but also that of her people, cultures, traditions and customs, a situation that has helped me in the past to serve Lagos State well.
Lagos, while I was growing up, was very peaceful and encouraging and there was to a large extent high standard of the public hygiene. Security was adequate, youths were disciplined and moral values were very high then. The situation was such that every family was at peace with neighbours and religious conflicts never existed.
All families had members that were into the three main religions: Christianity, Islam and Traditional. We all blended and were cohesive. All families, realising the value of education, started investing in their children’s education. It was a very beautiful and memorable period because everybody was each other’s keeper.
As a child, I tried to be in touch with all that was happening around me. I looked up to people, great men, whom I saw as role models. I was in love with reading. I read everything I laid my hands on and this gave me the opportunity of reading about great Nigerians such as Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and others. In each of these men, I had something to learn from which made me want to be different and unique in such a way as to be helpful in one way or the other to the people around me.
If you look at these three men, they were part of the history that has shaped this great nation. In primary school, we talked about them, in secondary school, we studied them as part of our history, and in the university, they became reference points to every student who wanted to know more about his country. I wasn’t trying to be like them, but I tried to use their way of life to shape mine.
Internationally, people such as Martin Luther King, Nehru of India and Mahatma Ghandi had one thing in common – they served God and humanity and their people.
By nature, I’m a gentle person. But beneath my soft-spoken mien, lies a very strict and disciplined background, which comes from my upbringing. Although I was very close to my father, the old man would not give you room for nonsense. My father would always insist you did the right thing or faced the music. He made us believe in God and today, I strongly believe in God and have high regards for human beings. Whatever little weakness I may have in life as human being is totally catered for by my humility.
I am a firm believer in the power of the family unit. I was not only brought up to respect the sanctity of the family life, I was educated to know that the family is the unit of a society, and for a developing nation like ours, we all should cultivate a good and strict family life. It’s also one good legacy our generation should bequeath to the oncoming one.
I enrolled at St. Paul’s Catholic School, Ebute Meta, Lagos, in 1955, ten years after I was born. From St. Paul, I moved to the famous CMS Grammar School also in Lagos, for my post primary education between 1961 and 1965; and then, the University of Lagos to study science between 1969 and1972. You can see why I’m a Lagosian to the core. I left Lagos when I went for my Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at University of Salford, London between 1974 and 1978. In addition, I also hold certificates in the Public Administration of the University of Leeds, 1977-79; in Fishery management of Los Banyor University, Philippines, 1980-81; and Fish management and development at the Institute of Fish Management, Korea.
What happened when you came back to Nigeria with the basket full of certificates?
I returned to the country with the patriotic desire to contribute to the development of the fatherland. And I have no doubt made my impact felt in public service, where I pitched my tent.
When I returned from United Kingdom, the federal government quickly grabbed me and made me the zonal head of the Ministry of Agriculture. I was in charge of development, execution and supervision of the entire ministry’s programmes and projects in Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Cross River and Benue states. The federal government gave me all the attention because I was one of the very few people in the country, who read such a course to doctorate level. The most important thing to me was that I enjoyed my job because I could put into practice all that I had studied.
In 1986, the then military government of Lagos State invited me to oversee the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives as commissioner, a job I found very challenging. Challenging in the sense that in the first place, I knew I was keeping an office in trust for the people of Lagos State.
Secondly, I was determined to contribute my quota to the socio-economic development of the state and by extension, our national development. Thirdly, because I wanted to excel in the duties and functions assigned to me. And in fairness to all, and with utmost modesty and respect, I actually faced the challenges squarely and I know I scored a high mark. I served under two governors, the late Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, and Brigadier- General Raji Rasaki. Both men meant well for Lagos State.
How do you relax?
I relax by listening to classical music. I’m fanatical about music, and not just any kind of music; it is strictly classical music. Not just any classical music but that of German composer and pianist, Ludwig Van Beethoven.
If I want to relax, I play a very classical music, especially Beethoven series. He is one of the best classical musicians of all time. Then I seclude myself. I pick up an autograph and just get a real sleep. That is best way I relieve myself of stress.
Apart from listening to music, I make sure that I leave the problems of today for today; it ends up today because by 6am the following day other problems will come. So, why add problems of yesterday to today’s? You are just leading yourself to depression. So, one must organise himself to say, ‘okay 8pm today, I thank you God for keeping me alive… All the problems of today I’m leaving them to You and wait for those that shall come tomorrow.’ It gives peace of mind. If you postpone yesterday’s till today by the time you wake up, you’ll just be seeing the graph of those problems on the roof. That means you have not slept well last night and you are killing yourself gradually.
Peace of mind comes with all these things we are saying, leave the problem of yesterday to yesterday and you handle the one of today. That is one thing I have done. One other thing is that I’m very contended in life: I don’t know if you have a jet or Hummer, it doesn’t bother me. I’m satisfied with what God has given me. I’m Akitoye, you find people among your mates that can buy your entire family from the grace God has given them; they are so rich that they can buy Akitoye family. And when you look back you can find some other mates, the same classmates with you who are looking onto you to give them monthly stipends to eat and feed their families. So, at any stage in life one must be contended and thank God.
Do you have any regrets? Are there things you’ve done that given another opportunity you would do it the other way round?
Yes, in life and for every mortal, there will be areas of regret. There are stages of development and along the process of developing yourself you would make some mistakes, which usually most of us now come to say ‘Ah, this is an experience in life’.
I just want to say for whatever I have done wrong in my life that I have regret for, if it were possible for me to come back to this world, I will not repeat those mistakes. But, like I’ve said earlier, I will still thank God for everything.
I would have studied Law, and would have been a very good lawyer. It was fashionable at that time to want to be a scientist and I left the good grades in arts subjects to go and do science.
It is not that science has not benefited me, but behind my mind, I now realise that I would have been better in the arts rather the sciences. That is one of the mistakes one has made in life and that is why it is good for upcoming parents to be able to let their children be exposed to career counselling and not just to pick career because my friend wants to be a doctor or my roommate says, ‘we should go and read Law.’ Let somebody of experience sit with them and show them their capability and at the end let them benefit from their capacity.
Do you mean you could have been a better politician if you read Law?
Obviously, I would have been a better politician.
What are your expectations after 80?
I will initially thank God for keeping me alive till now. I sincerely hope that in His benevolence, He will still accord me more time, He should take me to 90 years and slightly above.
I also want to thank Him for His grace for the little He has done for me in life. His little but essential gift He afforded me, especially the gift of children, all of whom are progressing in life.
However, part of my expectation is to build a befitting Old People’s Home. Maybe, of about 100 well fitted bedrooms. Well fixed, functional and of best conveniences. This desire arose from my experience in looking after my late father and mother in their old ages.
My very last desire is that in my remaining years on earth, may Nigeria grow from strength to strength and become a country that ranks amongst the best in the world. Our youth obviously must be the foundation for this progress.
You always mention Chief Bode George. What impact has he made on your life?
I met Bode George in the University of Lagos. He was two years ahead of me. We were tangentially friends; I wouldn’t say very close friendship. He was a unionist when we were in the university, so politics was in his blood from his relationship on mother’s side to the late Herbert Macaulay. He learnt politics from Macaulay. As a little boy, he was always sent on errand to the house of Herbert Macaulay to do one thing or the other. Macaulay’s house was where you have the General Post Office, Marina. The Whiteman took the house when Macaulay was giving them problem.
When I met Bode and we were getting closer, he was already into big time politics; he was the man Friday for Obasanjo. If Obasanjo writes his paper and said he succeeded, Bode George would be part of that success story.
I was sitting down one day when the late Funsho Williams came to my house and said, ‘Dr Akitoye, if it’s true that some people working with Abacha don’t want me (Williams) to run as governor of Lagos State, because of the bitumen issue, then, you would run for me.’ That’s how I got into politics. That day, Williams and Ogunlewe took me to Sen Bode Olajumoke, and I wrote a letter of intent and they wrote a cheque for N25, 000 for the form.
My background is such that even if N10 billion is given to me, one Kobo would not miss and I would account for it. The politicians ask: ‘Which type of man is that?’ Honesty and being able to face politicians and tell the truth gave me that integrity where some politicians in PDP today would say, ‘Dr Akitoye is the conscience of the party.’ But, I could not have been the conscience of the party if not for my closeness with Bode George. I don’t know how much adjective I can use to describe him – very intelligent, very astute, and welcoming; he would go out of his way to do things for people; the last kobo with him, he would use for politicians who are sick. How many people in politics has he sent to England for health purposes? He is a big time philanthropist. He found me a reliable partner and I found him too like somebody I could trust.
When people say he is the problem of Lagos State, it is a complete lie. All the people that are against him or talk evil of him are the evildoers; people who think of themselves alone. He believes as leader that he should be in control; but he is not dictatorial. In any political party, there will be arguments, disagreements. He has been my mentor; he has done very well for me.
What was your experience when you acted as the national secretary of the PDP?
I have been to five universities all my life; my period as the acting national secretary of the party was the sixth university I went. It is when you are in that position that you will know politics at a high level. That encompasses all I can say. I was in the university where politics was at a high level. The other thing I can say is that I did my best using my background and everything that, till today, people I worked with at Wadata Plaza will tell you that Dr Akitoye was a different secretary and one of the best they have ever seen.
What are your memorable experiences?
When I was in the secondary school, I was still very small and was in a boarding school. I was missing my mother so much that I always had the urge to return home. But we had a prefect then called Da Silva. He just picked on me and became a guardian angel to me. That gave me the reassurance to stay in school. I passed out from that school in second grade, Grade II of those days. The day I passed out from that school was very memorable.
From 1969 to 1972 in UNILAG, when I got my first degree, it was very memorable. I thereafter taught for about two years. That period of teaching is very memorable; it is also very influential. Till today, I still get benefits of being a teacher for only two years. There are people who would meet me and say, ‘excuse me sir, you don’t know me again, you taught me in class five’. And they will help me to carry my load. Some are very high-ranking officers.
The day I got married and the day I had my first daughter are also memorable. The day I had a seminar in my MSc class and I decided to represent my group. I spoke so well that the professor of the university stood up and said ‘Akitoye, I offer you a place for your PhD.’ That was how I got a place for my PhD when I had not completed my masters.
Another memorable thing that happened to me was when they wrote me a letter from the department saying that because of the way I speak English, I would be the person to represent the whole of the African students in England to address Prince Philips. He was the visitor to my university, the University of Salford in Manchester.
Another memorable experience is that when you want to do your PhD, they will give you three years minimum. Some Indians did it for eight years. But if you do well in your first year and the post-graduate people sit down and say that your work is a progressive one, they will honour you by reducing it to two years minimum. The day I got my letter to that effect was memorable.
The day I was nominated as a commissioner for Agriculture during Akhigbe’s period was very memorable, but at the same time fearful because I didn’t know what a commissioner was supposed to do. It was just a political nomination where I had no experience but when they said I would serve as Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, I know I have a post-graduate degree in Agricultural Economics. So, agriculture shouldn’t be the problem but the political side of it because I was nominated to represent a particular constituency. But through the help of God, after five years, the press corps at the Government House, Alausa paid money to celebrate me as the best commissioner they ever worked with. Why they did that was because they found the best humility in me.
What are your regrets?
I had a son that I lost at the age of seven. I also lost my parents and if there is anybody that I truly love, it was my mother. Not even my wife. I was there when she lost her marriage and she really suffered. I was with her and I saw the suffering. I told her not to marry any other man. I promised her that I would study hard, work hard and marry her. I didn’t know I was having a commitment with God. Eventually, I had to build a house for her at the back of my house. She lived there for over 20 years and died there. I have two sisters who could have taken care of her but I refused. The day she died was not a good memory for me.
The latest mishap was that I found myself in politics. I started rising in politics because of my attitude to life. I can boast of integrity; honesty resides in me. But the moment you enter into politics, you will lose part of your integrity because politics has a lot of branches. The first branch is ‘they said’. The next one is lies; then rumour and rivalry. But on the left side of the three are beautiful things – honesty, integrity, lack of avarice and so many other good qualities. Politics is very good; it is the people who practice it that are bad. It is the politicians that are bad, especially in Africa, where a typical politician places his self interest first and then the amount he can scoop from the common purse. Yes, when you are in politics, doors will open for you; you don’t have to steal. I didn’t steal one kobo when I served as commissioner and I can swear before God and even lesser gods. But because of the fact that we all rose from poverty background, we adore money and the more we can get, the better, whereas, we forget that money is an ordinary paper. If there is any law tomorrow that says don’t take that, if you have millions of it in the house it turns to trash. But there is nothing that can compare with a good name.
