Prof. Funsho Olorunfemi, former commissioner in old Ondo State, now Ekiti state, and currently a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, has revealed that as a Commissioner in 1991, he earned N2, 000, adding that with the way present Commissioners allegedly used their portfolios to make money, he has no regrets not doing likewise when he served.
On how it was like being a commissioner during the military era, the Professor of French told The Punch, “I must confess I enjoyed it. For things to be effective, you only need a visionary leader. Then, just five persons could govern Ekiti State perfectly. But things have changed. I was in charge of Lands at a time and some people were fighting over a land. I called them to my office.
“There was a particular woman who was gorgeously dressed. I told the woman to stand up and I asked the people there if they didn’t admire the woman and the way she looked. All of them said they admired her. I told them we just wanted to give Akure a facelift. Akure was in tatters. It wasn’t befitting of a state capital. It is a practical way of relating with people. I told them there was no need fighting over land.
“There was a time two important personalities were fighting over a plot of land in the state. The governor told me I should go and resolve the matter. When I resolved it, the governor was impressed. He asked me how I was able to do that. I told him I just drove to one of the big men’s house in Ibadan. I saw the man, I prostrated and I greeted him. He asked me who I was and I told him. He was shocked. He said he was baffled a commissioner could greet him that way. He said he would do whatever I wanted him to do for me. That was how I got the plot of land from him. There was no fight again.
“You must be ready to live up to expectation and do what is right. As a commissioner, the governor gave me free hand. He believed in me. He knew I had integrity, which is important. I was so transparent in my dealings.”
When asked if he wished politics was played in those days like it is now with most commissioners allegedly using their portfolios to make money, he said, “I don’t have any regret about that at all. I never acquired anything. As at that time, my allowance per month was N2, 000. I would give it to my secretary and we would use it to buy fuel for the car. In all honesty and sincerity, if you work and you are happy with the allowances they give you when you are in public office, the perks of the office should be good enough for you. How many houses would you want to live in at a time?
“You cannot sleep in more than one room at a time. I prayed to God to give me two houses and He did. I have a house in the village. It may not be the modern standard but I live there and I am okay. I have another one where I work. It may not be a fantastic standard but I am happy. I have no regrets that I didn’t accumulate wealth when I was a commissioner. It was service.
“To me, it is madness if you sleep in more than a room a day. My salary is okay. We may be complaining but it is better than before. If I didn’t leave when I was earning N5, 000 per month, I wouldn’t leave now. I started with N500 per month and the money was very useful. I would buy bread of N5 and I would still keep some in the fridge. But it is not the same today,” the Professor quipped.
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