Nightingale with YJ Itopa
The late wise Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe had made popular an African proverb in his seminal book, Things Fall Apart, which teaches that a child who washes his hand well will eat with elders.
The above proverb held true for the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Evangelist Kinsley Femi Fanwo, last Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, in his country home, Takete-Ide Amuro in Mopamuro Local Government Area, Kogi West Senatorial District of the State.
The day had hardly broken when guests, friends and supporters of the Commissioner began to throng the premises of Amuro Community Secondary School, Amuro as the venue where Fanwo would soon eat ‘Yam with elders’ of his community like the proverbial child who had ‘washed his hand well.’
Reading through the profile of Mr. Fanwo, one will be convinced that he has actually washed his hands very well. And in many ways. His community’s monarch, HRH Oba Alfred Modupe Aiyedogbon, JP, was right in his judgement, along with his Council of Kingmakers, to spot this illustrious sons of the community for a Chieftaincy title conferment.
Indeed, before and even now as Commissioner, the Royal Father could not pin his fingers on any dark spot in Fanwo’s character traits barometer that could have merited it being described as pitch black for which he could be flung into the waste basket which waits to escort him to a good- for-nothing rubbish heap somewhere in the backyard of dishonour
Yet, no one is saying that Evangelist Kinsley Femi Fanwo (KFF for short) is a Saint. No man is flawless or infallible. Fanwo may have his weaknesses but the Royal barometer of the monarch said his short comings were not big enough not to allow him eat the meal of honour with the elders of Amuro Community.
Truly, as a lad and teenager from a humble background, Fanwo was not known to have involved himself in so deeply pronounced misdemeanors or youthful exuberances. His parent had put him in school, he did not disappoint them as many impish and Yahoo children do nowadays. By dint of hard work, resilience, self-belief and prayer, he stagnated his encumbrances, schooled and became a Barrister even while still serving as a top Government Official. Very inspirational, anyone would say.
In fact, Fanwo’s hunger for more knowledge has again held him by both wrists like a stubborn child by its disciplinarian mother, dragging him back to his Alma mater, Salem University, Lokoja, for an M.sc in Criminology. Not many people could have achieved this feat. Perhaps, Fanwo has his gaze fixed at some juicy academic fruits on the trees of tomorrow; life after office is like a child in the womb; if we know its sex, we cannot tell the fate it will carry.
For this alone, who will say Fanwo is not an inspiration to the youths of his Community in particular and other communities as a whole? For him not to rest on his oars, Alamuro of Amuro had invited him to come and “eat with elders” as a clarion call to other Amuro sons and daughters of emulated life like him to join him in washing their hand with the Amuro elders in order to eat with them for the development of their land of birth.
Since his appointment in the government of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello’s government in 2016, it has been from one height to another height for Kinsley Fanwo. From the position of Chief Press Secretary, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello felt Fanwo had “washed his hand” in the wash bowl of his government and pushed him higher to the next rung of his ladder of elevation as his Special Adviser on Media.
As the decorations of him continued, Fanwo became the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications. His first term came to a close. Impressed by his performances, the Government of His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo followed the footsteps of his predecessor retaining him as Commissioner in his Cabinet.
Today, Evangelist Kinsley Fanwo is proudly one of the longest serving Commissioners in the State and unarguably the longest in the whole of Amuro Community.
Now, who still says Alamuro of Amuro, HRH. Oba Alfred Modupe Aiyedogbon was not fair and just in hoisting the feather of OLUOMO of Amuro land title in the cap of this his son in whom he is pleased. Fanwo indeed deserved the golden feather.
Lending credence to the aforementioned qualities of the Commissioner, many speakers at the OLUOMO event in Amuro spoke glowingly about him. According to many of the illustrious sons and daughters of the Amuro, the enviable title came as a result of Kinsley Fanwo’s unwavering commitment and support to the seven communities in Amuroland.
They all commended him for his uncommon commitment to human and infrastructural development by creating jobs for the unemployed youths, providing working tools and equipment for the artisans, financial support to business women, widows and farmers, providing healthcare services and many other support, too numerous to be mentioned.
Right from the Royal mouth of the radiant king of Amuro Kingdom, HRM Engr Alfred Aiyedogbon, Hon. Fanwo is the quintessence of what an illustrious son of a given community should be.
Hear the Alamuro of Amuro Kingdom himself:
“Evangelist Kinsley Fanwo, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications is no doubt one of our foremost illustrious sons who has, and still continues to make unprecedented contributions to stability, prosperity and progress of Amuroland through his selfless services in the areas of human and infrastructural development.
My speech will not be complete without, on behalf of the entire land of Amuroland in particular and Mopamuro as a whole, thanking their Excellencies, Ahmed Usman Ododo, his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for reposing confidence in our son, Kinsley Fanwo as Commissioner. Be assured, he will never betray your trust in him.
In a conversation with his colleague Journalists after his coronation, the Commissioner for Information and Communications expressed his gratitude and excitement for being honoured by his own people describing the chieftaincy title as the first at home, a development that confered on him the status of the prophet who is honoured at home rather than the prophet who is not only rejected, but beaten, stripped naked in the market square before outlawing him by his own kinsmen but worshiped( The uncapped Prophet) outside of his home.
Before now, other places in Okunland such as Ayereland and Otafun Amuro had conferred on him Ateweje of Ayere and Atunluse of Otafun Amuro respectively. For this latest title, he said:
“I am immensely grateful to my Royal Father, Alamuro of Amuro, HRH Oba (Engr) Alfred Modupe Aiyedogbon for this very important honour. I have taken Chieftaincy titles in other places, this is the first time I am being decorated at home within their seven Communities of Amuro land coming together to make me the OLUOMO of Amuro land.
“I am excited. I feel honoured and this will spur me to continue to do my best by contributing to the development of Amuro communities. This title, OLUOMO is like the head of all sons and daughters of Amuroland. Kabiyesi, I quite understand the meaning of this title and the responsibility it carries in its bulbous gourd. I will try my best to live up to your expectations of me.
I call on the very respectable sons and daughters of Amuro, both at home and in the diaspora to let us join hands together in the task of developing our community and as we do this we should not fail in instilling the same spirit in our children for they are the leaders of Amuroland of tomorrow.
Also, I want to assure my Governor and His Excellency, Ahmed Usman Ododo that we are working round the clock to ensure that our election activities are on top gear towards the coming LG Council election activities. We will abide by the law, live peacefully together as we show unwavering commitment to the actualisation of your vision and aspirations for the common good of the people of Kogi State in its entirety,” he concluded.
From the records of the Commissioner’s concern for his Community, his new title is a worthy recognition for his patriotism. Through his KFF Foundation, Fanwo had positively touched the lives of students and widows and other vulnerable members of the community. He was reported to have printed and distributed books, note books and other instructional materials to schools.
Those pursuing skilled acquisitions like vulcanizing, hairdressing and other skills, for them he was also said to have bought vulcanizing machines, hair dryers, mechanical tool boxes- filled to its brim -grinding machines, musical instruments, motor bikes, sewing machines etcetera.
This is empowerment in the real sense of the world. Unlike many other leaders in the state who prefer to grudgingly cut the fish for the citizens, Commissioner Fanwo is giving his Mopamuro men and women fishing nets, hooks and baits, and teaching them how to become renowned fishermen like him.
Not only the above gesture, he has been praised as one man who remembered his roots, understood their plights and identified with his people by building a befitting Health Centre and equipped it in Takete-Ide Amuro for the health need of Mopamuro people and even beyond. Fanwo had since handed the facility to Government for a better and enhanced status and more equipping
The occasion was a big one. It was attended by dignitaries from every walk of life. Hon. Olawumi Jacob -Member of KSHA, Mopamuro; Engr Joseph Oluwasegun -Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management; Engr Faruk Danladi -Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi – Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Monday Anyebe -Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Ademola Bello -Chairman Transition Committee Mopamuro LGA, HRM Oba Muyiwa Ibeun -Elelu of Mopa and Chairman Mopamuro Traditional Council, the Olujumu of Ijumu Kingdom -HRM Olusegun Ayeni, the Olukotun of Ife Olukotun -HRM Shuaib Mohammed, other eminent traditional rulers we’re all present to make the crowning of Evangelist Kinsley Fanwo as OLUOMO of Amuroland.
From the Commissioner’s Ministry, many senior staff members set aside their schedules to go and express their love for, and appreciate the Commissioner by attending the event at its venues in Amuro Community Secondary School and Takete-Ide Amuro for the coronation.
The team was led by the simple and firm Acting Permanent of the Ministry, Mr. Abdul Yakubu. Others include the influential Adurodija Ebenezer who is the Director of Digital and Information Services, the calm, cool and smiling but blunt Mrs. Sanni Fati Oiza, is the Director of Planning and Statistics; the easy going Sunday Adeniyi as the Ministry’s Director of of Information Services, the humble Haruna Yakubu as the Director of Finance and Accounts and the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mallam Ademu Haruna Seidu. Their presence had no doubt, added colour and blaze to the historic Mopamuro ceremony.
In fact, the list is a long one. Both staff of The Graphic Newspaper Corporation and Kogi State Broadcasting Commission (Radio Kogi) were conspicuously present. Yours sincerely as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of The Graphic was there. James Oyewole and Otaro Peter as Executive Editor and Corporation Secretary respectively of the Newspaper were there respectively.
Leading the Radio team to solidarise with the Commissioner was Hajia Nana Hauwa Yusuf as the Director General of the Radio House. On her entourage to Amuro was her sister and friend, Habibat Umar Ibrahim. Ibrahim is the Director of Programmes in the State Broadcast House.
Also present at Amuro were the trio of Adebola Teddy, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Adekolade Samuel, former MD/CEO of The Graphic Newspaper and Alhaji Ojo Oyila Ozovehe, the retired DG of Radio Kogi State.
The three were at the event to show gratitude to the Commissioner for the support and robust relationships he had obliged them while they piloted the affairs of the Ministry and the State Media outfits at different times. If the liquor of Office had stirred the Commissioner into trampling upon them from his high horse and, or spitting on their humble head from his balcony of the Ministry power, they would have shunned the Amuro Chieftaincy festival like a new plague. I said this to say that Evangelist Kinsley Femi Fanwo (KFF for short) is a friendly and a beautiful boss.
Last line
The Hon. Commissioner Sir, on behalf of The Graphic Newspaper Corporation, I heartfully congratulate you. May the red cap and the royal horse tail of the OLUOMO of Amuroland respectively last long on your head and in your hand, spreading the nimbus or the nectar of it to The Graphic Newspaper family. Congratulations once again.
