LAGOS ENVIRONMENT FAMILY HONOURS MUIZ BANIRE

Hon. (Dr.) Muiz Adeyemi Banire was the commissioner for the environment in Lagos State between 2007 and 2011, and his tenure witnessed a turn-around in the all-important ministry.

So, on Friday June 24, 2011 a send-forth party was organized for the trained lawyer at the Eko F.M Multi-Purpose Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos to appreciate a man they described as a workaholic.

Most of those who spoke on the occasion attested to the fact that Banire was a man, who did his best to ensure environment moved to the next level in the state.

One of them, Mrs. Titi Anibaba, the Permanent Secretary of Environment in the Ministry recalled how the former commissioner would come to the office as early as 8.a.m and called her on the phone complaining that nobody has reported for duty. She also told the guests that Banire was strict, worked 24 hours of the day, but would never hurt a fly.

“Oga can sack you with ordinary mouth ten times a day. He would call you in the midnight to complain about a job that has not been done. He would tell you to get in touch with a particular contractor even as early as 3.am. He would ask me to query all the staff once he gets to the office and nobody is around, yet he would never hurt anybody, he is just a man who wants excellence at all times. We will miss him a lot because the ministry won many awards during his time and Lagos environment witnessed several turn around, while was in the ministry,” she said.

This was echoed by other staffers, who maintained that Banire is a man, who does not joke with the job of making Lagos State clean.

This was corroborated by Mr. Ola Oresanya, the Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), who said that Banire has helped to improve waste clearing and management in the state. he recalled that Banire came to him to inquire if he could work with him and he said that he answered in the affirmative.

“I enjoyed working with Hon. Banire, he is a man who is passionate about his job. He is somebody that would give you a task and ensure that you accomplish it by all means. He doesn’t believe in failure and that is why you see wastes being cleared, drainages being cleared and Lagos State has excelled in the area of environmental cleaning,” he said.

After many speakers had been called to say what they knew about the man Banire by popular comedian, T.A, the man of the moment, who was there with his beautiful wife, was called to react to all the statements.

Banire expressed appreciation to the workers for sending him forth. He however, enjoined them to be more hard working than before, promising that he is still with them despite the fact that he is no longer their commissioner.

Banire, who is now the National Legal Adviser of the Action Congress of Nigeria and who has promised to go back to the classroom as law lecturer, apologized for disturbing his workers during crucial hurs as commissioner.

He stated that he believes Lagos should be maintained as the centre of excellence, which is why he put in his best as first commissioner for transport and later commissioner for the environment.

“I decided to bow out as commissioner after working as public officer for 12 years since 1999, but I am still a politician. I am still part of the Ministry of the Environment. I am passionate about Lagos State, I am interested in everything that is happening in the state, so don’t think I have left you. I will still disturb you with text messages over drainages and other environmental issues. As the legal adviser of the ACN, I have to devote more time to pursue all our election cases in the courts and tribunals,” he stated.

Reacting to insinuations in some quarters that he is interested in becoming the Governor of the state in 2015, Banire said that it is only God that determines what everyone would become in life. The accomplished politician sermonized that people should not be over-ambitious and that we should allow God to determine our fate in life, adding that his ascension into public office and political life was made possible by God as he got into office in his early 30s.

Ambassadors on the Environment in Lagos State such as popular musicians, Daddy Showkey, Abass Akande Obesere, Chairman of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Rafiu Olohunwa, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Kayode Tejuosho, senior civil servants and several others were around to witness the colourful ceremony.

July 02, 2011