The immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Dr Babatunde Raji Fashola, BRF, has been described as a man with oratory prowess, whose ability to play on words always passes serious messages with linguistic soothing balm that makes serious messages sink with sense of humility and understanding.
The former governor of Lagos State was also described as a man who mesmerizes his audience with the correct language and superb choice of words that entertain, educate and heal injured minds, assuage bruised feelings and at the same time put across messages that have hope for nation building.
Making the above assertions about the former governor of Lagos was the Convener, Royal Peoples Platform, RPP, Prince Dare Aladekoba, while perusing the keynote address delivered by Dr Fashola at the 50th anniversary of Federal Housing Authority on 23rd, November 2023.
The keynote address, delivered by Fashola as the guest speaker was
titled: ‘The Future of Housing in Nigeria and Future Years of FHA: A Call for Action for Political Leaders and Policy Makers for Decent and Affordable Housing.’
Playing with the expression, “Time will tell,” Fashola, while spelling out what is embedded in the belly of time, never deviated from the expression as he used it in a manner that could make the likes of Chinua Achebes and Wole Soyinkas of this world green with envy.
Aladekoba averred that little did the people want to listen to the alumnus of the prestigious University of Benin so much that his two term tenure as governor appeared just like two years, saying, “The way he disseminated his policies to the people always made them asking for more.”
He added that during the keynote address, his audience were very attentive so much that they were convinced with Fashola’s oratory prowess that there is plenty of hope for the future of housing in the country, adding that, “The other occupiers and former office holders should imbibe the technique of getting messages across to the people in such a way that would rekindle hope in the citizenry.”
The concluding part of Fashola’s keynote address reads, “Going forward, all FHA estates must incorporate maintenance contracts, paid for by occupiers to cover painting, repairs, restoration, waste management, water supply and power supply to mention a few.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you can all perceive there is a lot for me to unpack, this is a matter about which I am passionate, but if I continue…time will tell. Let me, therefore, conclude by wishing the FHA hearty felicitations on this Golden Jubilee and hoping that in the next 50 years, time will tell a good story about FHA and its outstanding successes on the provision of decent and affordable housing.”
All hail the former governor, former workaholic minister, brilliant Senior Advocate of Nigeria, latest holder of a Honorary Doctor of Science degree and a gangling man with oratory prowess, Babatunde Raji Fashola, BRF, the man of the people.
