Kwara, RAISE and ten lessons from the bar

Kwara, Raise and ten lessons from the Bar

By Mariam AbdulKareem

With a magisterial gait, he enters into the hall with the calm and ease of a dove and takes his seat with no air. As if on cue, he stretches his hands to douse the deafening sound of applause for him, indicating the start of the business of the day. In these 120 seconds, a curt smile dots his lips, doing enough to mask the majesty of the lion in our midst until he roared!

"My name is Salman Ayinla Jawondo SAN. I am from Asa LGA," the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Kwara State, a firebrand in the legal system regally announced himself to the audience's delight. 

Many may not know every corner of Kwara, my home country. But we know many cornerstones have come from Kwara who have done it proudly in theology, science, law, medicine, academics, business, military, politics and public service, among other human endeavours, to earn it prestige in the comity of states in Nigeria. 

From Ilorin to Offa  to the fertile lands in the North, Kwara unfurls in the last decades in imperial majesty, like a mermaid with beauty and riches to die for. She sits daintily between the North and the South. Occupying such a unique space, she raised the first professor of Geology in Africa, Prof Mosobalaje Oyawoye. Late AGF AbdulRazaq was the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria. Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya emerged the 4th richest woman in Africa. The theologians, late Sheikhs Kamaldeen and Adam Al-Ilory, were icons in spreading Islamic education from coast to coast of Africa. Late Mustapha Akanbi SAN, Justice Alfa Belgore, to mention a few, remain reference points in the African Legal system. Whether in the 80s, 90s and 2000s, the state gave the world her fair share of beaters. 

We know their names. But how much did we know, celebrate and learn from them before they die? 

It is the question they sought to answer with Raise, a monthly lifeclass held by young people with high achievers, to gain direct knowledge and experience, share ideas to deepen social cohesion, growth and development of the state. 

Another of the state's shining lights, Jawondo SAN, took the stage over the weekend to talk about his childhood, growth, career, failures, successes, and experiences. It was a little over one month after he joined the list of the illustrious title holders. 

"I have spent over 30 years in practice. As he has introduced me, you all can tell where I am. But you would not really know how far I came," began the man into an inspiring story of valour, courage, perseverance, contentment, and embodiment of integrity. 

From cradle to adulthood, he narrated his coming-of-age story, leaving in its wake a bevy of lessons to pick for the participants. One of those that tickled my fancy was the one on friendship and political tolerance. 

A certain friend of Barr. Jawondo was gunning for an elective position in their community. He was young and capable. Someone who was older and was an associate of his father was the challenger. They'd reported him at home for showing support to a younger candidate. Jawondo met with his father and explained to him why he'd be picking his friend and the father agreed. 

"On the day of the election, my father and my uncle stood in line for their friend. Myself and my cousin, the son of that same uncle, stood on the other line for our own friend. We won on that day," sweeter than the victory though, is the sacrifice and support they were taught and encouraged to make for friends to achieve their dreams. It is a timely lesson for the young Turks across political parties, as 2023 elections beckon in Kwara.

Here goes the one on intolerance. Long before now I had concluded, people truly die at the warfront, no battleground is bigger than in the Bar.

The hostility, plot and intrigues have no match. It gets even worse for an honest practitioner. 

That was exactly Jawondo's lot when he contested for NBA Chairmanship. Neither competence nor certification was a problem but issues of his principles and love for pursuing justice often against the government. He was then tarred with ugly brush just so they could defeat him in the elections. 

"Lawyers are Like taxi drivers. They stop to carry who calls them," the irrepressible advocate had fired during a grueling manifesto, justifying that he takes briefs from people against government wishes because they believed in him. 

He did well in the manifesto, cutting to pieces all cobwebs of lies about his candidacy, going all out to win the elections. 

"I think what has worked for me mostly in life is my hard work, principle and honesty. As a person, don't live without principle and be identified with it. Many already knew who I was. It may really be hard but you lose nothing by being honest."

He could certainly say that as someone who had suffered unjustly in the cause of his profession and rise to stardom for his political views. He bears the title of SAN today by God's grace. 

"You live every day to combat and win challenges. I applied for SAN two times. And I have gotten it. The first in 2017. The first and second time, some people worked to scuttle it. That is what I faced. I didn't apply again until 2020 when God made it happen, despite all their efforts to stall it. As young people, you need to be very prayerful and focus on your dream."

I am just picking what appeals to me the most. He gave a lot of nuggets. And I think these may interest you too. 

"As a young man, learn to let your 'no' be 'no' and let your 'yes' be 'yes', the reward that comes with it is beyond measure," he started. 

"Long before now, people knew where I stood. It is a reputation I had before we got into the government. To protect my integrity, I declined appointment and was denied many briefs for it. Yet, I survived outside of their patronage. Some people cannot survive outside of government, you should never make that mistake. 

"As a young person, do not be desperate at getting things, let God choose for you but do not stop knocking. I have never sought anything desperately. 

"There is nothing like a professional politician, it is fraud and thievery. As a young man, it is good to do politics but don't be a professional politician, have a life outside politics. I am a professional in politics."

My mind says many of these young comrades have a lot to pick from there. Or maybe the one below. 

 

"As a young mind, always give your career an utmost priority, don't be deluded by frivolities. There was a time I had no interest in politics because I needed to grow in my career. And when the time came it was no longer inevitable. But I entered as someone adding values and who knew what he wanted. It helped. 

"Politics should not be about getting appointments. I sought public offices and lost yet I moved on with my life and business. If I had none of this, I'd have done otherwise. You can see how some of our people are doing today. Leadership should be about pursuing change and impact, not appointments or patronage. 

"Not all positions help one's career. Consider your growth and career before taking appointments. Many people fear I might not be able to get the SAN title now if I had achieved my HoR bid in 2019. I'd have been out of practice and it may affect my chances. Also, if I had been offered any other position aside from the AG, I'd have declined. It is the only office fit for my expertise and services to the people."

He went on and on with gusto, reveling in the ecstasy of a life well spent. He was visibly happy to share experiences with young people. We also felt fulfilled to have such an interesting time engaging him. I had never met Salman Jawondo SAN and never thought I'd meet him that day. I'd never have missed that programme for anything. Young people truly have a lot to pick from the elders. All I do now is look forward to another day when I meet and learn directly from another hero! 2022 just started and I already feel like Raise is a clincher! Kudos, Hon. Ibraheem Abdullateef and Team.

Mariam a serial entrepreneur and community development enthusiast writes from Ilorin.