The boy says he’s 60 today. We cannot argue, even if he continuously looks 40ish.

We celebrate a fighter for a better Nigeria however who started as a campus combatant for independent student unionism and non commercialised education in the 1980s. Journalism reunited us at the defunct Republic Newspapers and living near each other in Surulere for some time meant a comradely friendship evolved. We quickly became active members of the local Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists also registering as foundation members of the New Trend movement in the NUJ that propagated the philosophy of journalism with social relevance. At The Republic, we belonged to the Church cabal that included Deola Fadairo, Sunny Areh, Tokunbo Oloruntola, the Baba Irohin himself. Story for another day!

If we celebrate him today as a hero of Nigeria’s democracy, it is because he has not abandoned the pursuit of social justice.

In 1989 Femi Aborisade as editor of the Labour Militant was detained by the Ibrahim Babangida regime over an editorial by the pro-working class and socialist journal’s editorial statement that condemned the junta’s dissolution of the executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Shina was almost always with me as I on behalf of the Labour Militant, convinced Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti to head a Free Femi Aborisade Committee. It was a three-man committee of Beko as chairman, me as secretary and Shina as publicity secretary.

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By virtue of the activities of the committee and developing bond with Beko, who by the way I had earlier been acquainted with as NANS President in the course of solidarity with the then striking doctors, our working days would usually terminate at Beko’s famous 8, Imaria street in Anthony, Lagos. The ‘we’ had by then included few other ‘Republicans’. That time, Shina would write his name as Loremikan Shina and introduce himself as such to the amusement of Beko who felt he was the only Nigerian that had such distinction. Beko’s dramatic humour is perhaps the least known about his dynamic personality. Shina and I watched Beko abruptly turn off the engine as we set to depart for the University of Benin in his Volvo car for the 10th anniversary of NANS then led by Opeyemi Bamidele in 1990. He was going to receive a NANS post humous award for his mother Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti as part of the commemoration. He turned to the two of us at the back seat and asked: “E jowo se ko si oloriburuku laarin eyin mejeeji”. He wasn’t just knowing us. We looked at him in disbelief. Then he said: “won ni oloriburuku kan lowa laarin awon ero towa ninu molue to ja si osa laipe yi”. A molue had truly plunged into the Lagoon about that time and the rumour mill had gone to work claiming a cursed head among the passengers caused the crash. Fake news no be today. Beko wanted assurance that such fate would not befall the Lagos-Benin journey. In bursts of laughter we told him neither of us had abominable head. “Okay ti e ba so bee”, he retorted, shaking his head twice before turning the ignition again. We laughed the more.

Congratulations dear Shina. Happy 60th anniversary.

Babangida moved from Aborisade to clamp more activists and critics into detention leading Femi Falana to suggest at a meeting of the Free Femi Aborisade Committee that the name should be changed to accommodate campaign for freedom for the new detainees. Entered Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) with us naturally as foundation members. For Shina, a marathon journey in the world of human and political rights activism had begun. If we celebrate him today as a hero of Nigeria’s democracy, it is because he has not abandoned the pursuit of social justice.

Congratulations dear Shina. Happy 60th anniversary.

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The governor stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 18th National Council of Transportation conference, holding at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta.

Speaking on the theme of the conference ‘Enhancing innovations And Technologies For Sustainable Transportation: Tackling The Energy Challenges’, Governor Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner For Transportation, Engr. Oluenga Dairo, said that the theme of the conference was apt as the nation was facing a serious energy challenge occasioned by the removal of  fuel subsidy, which has a spiral effect on cost of transportation and other associated utilities.

He noted that ever before the federal government rolled out plans for the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, project, Ogun State had taken the initiative by rolling out the CNG compliant vehicles to support green environment, fight against global warming and ease the transportation burden faced by the public.

Prince Abiodun added that other alternative sources of energy,  which include electric trucks and motorbikes will soon be launched in the state.

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He said that the Multi Modal Transport Master plan of the state had created a vista of opportunities for residents and travellers and had enhanced business developments across all strata with a Cargo Airport at Iperu, an Inland Dry Port at Papalanto to cater for the material needs of the ever growing industrial cities across the state and beyond.

He enjoined delegates to build on the potentiality inherent in cross fertilization of ideas, innovations, technologies, noting that at the end of the conference, states across the country would have developed a new model in arresting the energy crisis and the nation would be the better for it.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Michael Oloruntola, expressed appreciation to the state government for hosting the conference, saying that the choice of Abeokuta was symbolic, as it had the cultural and historical tapestry that brought everyone together as a nation.

Oloruntola said that the conference sought to uphold the prioritization of innovative technologies that enhanced affordability, accessibility, safety, security and environmental sustainability.

He urged that deliberations at the conference should tilt towards sustainable transport development which would enhance the welfare of Nigerians vis – a-vis creating job opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Transportation, Dr. AbdulWaheed Olanloye, said that discussions on the urgency of embracing innovative technologies that promote sustainability in addressing the energy challenges facing the transportation sector  could not have come at a better time than now.

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