Paul Alaje vs Seun Okinbaloye: Between Better And Best

I was watching my favourite Talk Show on Channels Television yesterday, Sunday Politics, anchors by Seun Okinbaloye, featuring Dr. Paul Alaje, a Chief Economist at SPM Professionals, to dissect the fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal Government with regards to the statement made by President Bola Tinubu in Brazil about the stability of the Nigeria’s economy, and something very interesting happened in the course of the programme.

Okinbaloye, in his usual dramatic gesticulation made allusion to the sterling performance of Zacch Adelabu Adedeji as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) who graduated with a first class from OAU, Ife. The commendation was sharply corroborated by Alaje in a normal tradition of every ‘Great Ife’ saying such performance is expected of Adedeji being a product of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife(OAU)

The anchor would not allowed that comment to go without a corresponding response to eulogize his Alma Mater too, and he responded by describing his Alma Mater, University of Ilorin as ‘Better’ among it’s equals; Alaje, therefore, punctured Okinbaloye’s statement with lucidity,”Yes Seun, but there is difference between Better and Best”.

I knew Paul Alaje back then on OAU campus, not through academic activities and interactions as I was a year ahead of him and from different faculties but at the popular Awo Hall Café, the traditional Legislative Chamber for OAU Students’ Representative Council(SRC) the most powerful and revolutionary Students’ Parliament in Nigeria and the point of convergence of Great Ife Students for deliberations on topical issues of interests.

Paul Alaje was not a member of the SRC, but a member of the parliament by the virtue of his studentship, in line with the Union’s tradition. He had the right of contributions from the ‘Gallery’, while I was a Parliamentarian representing Faculty of Arts. Alaje became so famous by the quality of his contributions and exceptional oratory prowess, which endeared him to many students.

Prof, as he was fondly called then, the name given to him by his course mates in the Department of Economics because of his brilliance and analytical capacity would not missed a single parliamentary session, despite the fact that the meeting normally held at night till early morning sometimes. His consistent and informed contributions later gave him an identity that later threw him up politically.

By the end of the parliamentary year and in tandem with the constitution of the OAU Students’ Union, the Students’ Electoral Committee must be constituted at the last meeting, and I emerged as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee. Immediately my Committee lifted ban on political activities and reeled out activities for elections into different offices in the Union, ranging from the HEC(Hall Executive Council ) to SRC(Students’ Representative Council) and CEC(Central Executive Council) Paul Alaje expressed his interest in the CEC for the position of the President .

Although, he was popular among the students, Alaje to us then was a rookie n OAU politics, because the politics on that campus then was ideologically driven and inclined, dominated by leftist tendencies, so it appeared practically impossible for someone from the reactionary right like Alaje Paul to lead the students in that exalted capacity.

Expectedly, Alaje set up an all-inclusive Campaign Committee, including all shades of students. He began an aggressive campaign in every nook and cranny of the campus, including churches and mosques, mobilising the mass of students in the most efficient manner.

Despite this effective campaign strategy, the left still perceived Alaje as mere jester and political clown, who was simply advertising his eloquence and gift of the garb among great Ife students, saying the tall guy would not make any difference in the elections.

As an umpire, my position was extremely dangerous, first as a result of my fraternity with the left and secondly because of my affinity with two of the contestants for the position of the President, namely Olorunwa Emmanuel Adeleke, popularly known as Godey and the former Speaker of the SRS, Destiny Adodo, who is now a very successful Legal Practitioner in Lagos.

Adeleke, a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement(DSM) was my ‘Comrade’ at the bar, while I contested against Adodo for the position of the Speakership of the Parliament , which brought us together after the election and in the course of parliamentary sessions as I led the clique of resistance in the parliament.

Alaje was aware of all these and on one fateful day, he accosted me around Moremi Hall, expressing his fear and reservation about the credibility of the election, citing my closeness to two of the contestants. I quickly allayed his fear and assured him of my determination and resolve to conduct credible election that would be free and fair to all.

After studying the political environment carefully and painstakingly, I devised an electoral methodology that seamlessly and practically made manipulation implicitly impossible, which I coined: “Anti- Manipulation In Transit”. Unlike the usual method of voting at the faculties which represented polling units for students and counting and declaration of results at the Central Collation Centre, I made every faculty the collation centre in which results at every faculty were counted in the full glare of all voters and agents and subsequently declared after endorsement by all the agents

This method unprecedently made the elections highly credible, free and completely fair, as Paul Alaje emerged as the President of the OAU Students’ Union. My two friends lost the election gallantry and we continued our friendship thereafter in principle.

It is therefore, very fascinating and interesting seeing the great mobilizer and great orator of those days, Paul Alaje , doing profoundly well in what he knows how to do best across the globe, flying the flag of Great Ife with utmost pride and confidence.

There is truly difference between Better and Best.

Olaniyi Ajibola, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Strategic Communications.

08/09/2025