My only experience of Mr Dimeji Bankole other than seeing him on TV was at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja last year. I was standing on the Mezzanine floor when I noticed a flurry of activity on the ground floor, sirens, armed escorts etc. Wondering which VIP was coming to grace the Hilton (surely the site of some of the most corrupt business deals in the history of Nigeria? I suspect that blowing it up would cut down corruption in Nigeria by 50%? Just a thought)I was surprised to see this short chap bound into the reception area followed by his ADC. Now I have had the opportunity to witness a lot of powerful people in both political and business circles around the world but I must say I have never seen anyone walk with such a swagger. I hate to use that word as it is of the moment but really the sheer level of swagger the man was exuding was unreal. He bounded into the lift and disappeared to go and do whatever it is he came for.
I related the tale to my father a few weeks later being that he is an Abeokuta man himself and knows the lay of the land. His response was that of disappointment as he believed that Ogun state had received the returns or benefits one would expect from having a son of the soil in such a powerful position. This sentiment has been repeated in most of the other conversations I have had across all sections of society. The message being - this man is only in it for himself. So if on the way up you do not make friends, then guess what happens on the way down.
Has DB been a great Speaker of the House? I can't really say but I don't get that impression from my informal surveys. The main feedback seems to be about corruption, greed, arrogance etc. Then someone raised the angle that when we talk about corrupt officials we generally tend to think of the home grown taxi drivers who end up as Governors and loot the treasury for all they are worth but what to make of someone who is supposedly well educated, studied and lived abroad, ajebutter etc etc. Are they not supposed to be above all this? Well I think DB's case proves that people are people and that absolute power can corrupt anybody.
On Monday there will be high drama in Abuja as we all wait to see if DB surrenders himself to EFCC or has to face the indignity of being arrested, put in cuffs and taken into custody. This was a man who believed himself untouchable. Recall the British Airways fiasco last year where he allegedly refused them permission to search his luggage? Hmmm, wonder what it contained that was so precious?
What do you think?
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