From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) not to dictate to Dangote Refinery the price at which it can sell fuel in the country.
The Senior Advocate warned FG and NNPCL against the monopoly of fuel price, saying such tendency will increase the hardship of Nigerians. He said they should allow Dangote Refinery to sell at its own price which he believes will be cheaper and affordable.
Babalola made the remarks when he spoke to newsmen after he was honoured by Ekiti Kete Coalition in the United States of America (USA) with an award as the “Outstanding Achiever of All Time.”
The members of the group comprising indigenes of Ekiti State living in the United States, said the award was in recognition of Babalola’s iconic achievements and immense contributions to the development of education, agriculture, law, healthcare among other sectors in Nigeria and beyond.
Babalola said: “Years back, I learnt when I was studying for my first degree in Economics that free trade is the best thing for any society. If Dangote can go all out to spend his money, borrowed money to put up a huge refinery, why is it that NNPCL is asking him to sell to them before selling to us?
“Let all those who can afford to put up refineries do so and sell to people, the prices will come down
“There should not be a monopoly of NNPCL dictating the price. Let Dangote sell at his own rate. We will be surprised that others will bring the price down and the price will come down.”
Presenting the award at ABUAD campus, Ado-Ekiti, President of Ekiti Kete Coalition in USA, Joe Olugbamila, said Babalola is an icon and a blessing to Ekiti State, Nigeria and the world at large, who should be celebrated now that he is still alive.
He urged the Ekiti State House of Assembly to organise public hearings and enact policies that will celebrate individuals who have made impactful contributions to society
According to Olugbamila, he initiated the idea of celebrating Afe Babalola Day which has been taken up by Ado community.
He called on the government of Ekiti State to buy into the idea, institute Afe Babalola Day and make it a statewide celebration like Martin Luther Day in the United States.
“For Aare Afe Babalola, I don’t even know where to start. I read about Ekiti in one news item then something within me told me how do we celebrate this baba when he is still alive, when he is still with us?
“I called my Secretary, Mrs Opeyemi Aisha Oni and told her we need to have Afe Babalola Day. You might have heard about Afe Babalola Day from some other groups and organizations but I was the one who first talked about Afe Babalola Day..
“I live in the US, I know about Martin Luther Day.. Martin Luther has passed away. He fought for the black Americans but when we are talking of Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola is Ekiti, Ekiti is Aare Afe Babalola.
“Before now I was reading about baba in theory, but for the past one week I can see the practical. When I went round the university as directed by baba. After I went round I summarized everything that this university is the finest and first class university that I have ever been to. I have been to America and my children are in different schools, I have been to their campuses but this is a first class and world class university.
“Ekiti is like Houston State in the United States of America. It is an education state and that is their source of income and if you know Ekiti our source of income is education. Any family that wants to change is through education and Baba Afe has gone through the whole world and decided that he wants to have the best university in the world.”
“I thought, can’t we celebrate this baba when he is still with us? Can’t we celebrate this man and have Afe Babalola Day? If we have other people doing the same thing Baba Afe Is doing, Ekiti will be greater.
“We need to celebrate Baba Afe when he is still with us. We started the process but we thank God that Ado community has taken it up.
“We are not going to stop in Ado-Ekiti, generally, we are still going to be having Afe Babalola Day in Ekiti State. We will continue with the struggle.
“All the achievements of Aare Afe Babalola are beyond words. We are celebrating him to encourage others and change our mindset, so that Ekiti can be better.
“Afe Babalola is an institution, an icon, it is not him as a person but what he stands for and we all know it. If we have other people doing the same thing Baba Afe is doing, Ekiti will be greater.
“Ekiti State House of Assembly represents Ekiti state. They are the representatives of the people at the grassroots so, they should give what Ekiti wants instead of turning them down.
“I charge them to do a public hearing. They should hear the views of the people in every local government so that individuals who deserve accolades should be celebrated.”
Responding to the gesture, Babalola appreciated the group for the recognition. The legal giant said the group has set the pace and he hopes other people will emulate it
“I do not know why it has to take those living in America to appreciate me when those of you who are here do not appreciate me. Maybe now is a good lesson for you people. The more you appreciate what others do for you, the better for us and the whole country. There are a lot of people who have more money than I have to build universities but they didn’t.
“I thank them for coming all the way to teach you the lesson which Jesus Christ had taught many centuries back. When you had 10 lepers He still asked them to go and report to the authorities, only one came back. He said but I asked 10 of you to go and see the authorities, where are the other nine? The question is, where are you? Why are you not appreciating me?”
