Tribute to James Abiodun Faleke at 66, by Kola Amzat

Scientifically, it’s been proven that one’s birthday has a direct relationship with how one progresses in the journey of life.

It’s instructive that Hon James Faleke shares the same birthday with Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our fate. The readers are at liberty to make their deductions.

Of course, of millions of APC faithful and members presently spread across the country, very few could be considered as pillars and indomitable rock that the ruling party could place reliance and trust on.

The Ikeja federal constituencies House of Rep member belongs to this very distinguished and highly revered class.

Through the ruling party’s twists and turns, he’s been there, amongst the very few, standing like Rock of Gibraltar.  

James Faleke, a study in perseverance, party loyalty, effective & commanding legislative representation, and more importantly, membership mobilization & welfare, burst into national limelight during the gubernatorial contest in Kogi state.

While in his first term representing Ikeja federal constituencies in the lower chamber, the then ACN leadership drafted him to be deputy governorship candidate in a joint ticket with Audu Abubakar, the party governorship candidate.

The joint ticket triumphed at the polls, but as fate would have it, Audu Abubakar suddenly collapsed and died before the results were to be made available to people of Kogi state.

Some sworn enemies and political foes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu swiftly moved that over their dead bodies would the result be declared, for James Faleke to be sworn in as governor of the state.

They cultivated the then president, late Muhammud Buhari and provided him justifications why Faleke won’t be appropriate as governor, labelling him Asiwaju political godson whose loyalty would only be to his benefactor.

Buhari succumbed and mandated NEC to declare the election inconclusive, an ugly development that provided leverage for Bukola Saraki and his team to shop for a new candidate in Yahaya Bello, who eventually won the conclusive election.

Undeterred and unperturbed by the conspiracy against him, Faleke returned to his seat at the lower chamber.  

It’s instructive to submit that the Kogi born lawmaker never took the party to task nor nursed any animosity with the party till date, as he takes his case with equanimity.

In his subsequent political journey, he has since grown in leaps and bounds, watching the powerful men that stood in his way fall by the wayside.

It’s also noteworthy to mention that he had a glorious and very impressive tenure as Executive Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, where he reigned supreme for eight (8) years, registering indelible foots sprints at the sands of time, and leaving a legacy of visible and enduring infrastructural developments in roads rehabilitation & construction, building medical health cares, building facilities aimed at promoting and fostering educational developments both in primary and secondary schools, the laudable accomplishments that indeed facilitated his political journey to the federal level.       

Presently in his third term (3rd) of 12 years tenure at the lower chamber, Faleke has been one the progressives’ best eleven at national assembly.

A strong pillar of support for the ruling party’s policies, programs and strategic plans in the lower chamber, Faleke was also a stabilizing factor for the tenure of Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker, as well as majority and minority leader at the lower chamber.

He’s been playing the same role for the present speaker, rendering vital and maximum support especially where the party’s overall interests matter.

Remarkably, the Kogi born politician has been Chairman of the House Committee on Finance in the last six years, an assignment meant for a very reliable, trustworthy, tested & trusted stalwart of the party.

Besides, as a key stakeholder of the party, he has been chairman for several ad-hoc committees in the national assembly, as well as been the rallying point for quite a number of important caucuses meant for strategic assignments of the ruling party.

With no shadow of doubt, Faleke has come to the national assembly, saw and conquered.

It seems an auspicious time for him to ascend to higher responsibility.

The crux of this Write-up therefore remains: as the nation inches to another electoral cycle, this writer humbly implore the president and leadership hierarchy of APC to consider James Faleke for higher assignment, at least to reward him for his years of loyalty, fortitude, perseverance, as well as compensate him for bigger office lost in the past.

Of course, the NASS assignment where he has shown like a million stars, as well as other key responsibilities thrusted on his path over decades,   have prepared him for bigger responsibility…senatorial, and, even, governorship assignments.  

There is no doubt that Faleke has the charisma, political know-how and necessary pedigree to restore normalcy and orderliness, as well as seamlessly functions as senator representing Lagos West Senatorial Districts.

He is a core party man with unblemished and untainted records. He is a man of dogged spirit and perseverance.

The heavily built politician is a credible, reliable, and discerning mind that could be trusted to hold party structures and membership together, particularly in that treasure base of Lagos politics … .Alimosho areas.

Having operated at the top-echelon with aplomb, the party would immensely profit and benefit from his wealth of experience, as well as his capacity to herald a new dawn, particularly in Alimosho vast political sphere.

This is the least gift the ruling party could offer to Faleke who will be celebrating 66 years sojourn on earth surface on December 25.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.