Navy Captain Olubolade’s Platinum Anniversary and Footprints of Service
Etete Enideneze writes on Navy Capt. Olubolade’s Platinum Anniversary and Footprints of Service.
Nationalist and sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, once said, “It is not life that matters but the courage you bring to it”. This edifying paradox depicts some persons who like green plants, sprouted to life of greatness from the humus, despite poor family background, as Mariama Ba states in her novel, So Long a Letter.
Navy Capt. Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade (rtd.) typifies this philosophy of life, as he worked hard to realize his destiny. Like former president, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck Jonathan, young Olubolade had no school shoes neither did his parents find it easy to pay his school fees.
Born November 30, 1954, at Ipoti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, at the age of 8, Olubolade’s early educational career was threatened by the death of his father. Olubolade maintained courage, engaged in farming, completed early education and by God’s grace, he achieved his dreams, yet remains humble.
The Nigerian Navy commissioned him as an officer in 1974. Throughout the 1970s, he attended various schools, including Nigerian Defence Academy, Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom and Naval College of Engineering, India, respectively. He bagged Bachelor of Science in Engineering, among other qualifications.
He held many professional and administrative positions in the Nigerian Navy, and earned many service awards of excellence.
On June 29, 1997, Navy Capt. Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade (rtd.), became Military Administrator (MILAD) of Bayelsa State, after Commissioner of Police Habu Daura served in acting capacity, following redeployment of the pioneer MILAD, Navy Capt. Oladipo Philip Ayeni whose tenure lasted five months, due to illness.
Navy Capt. Olubolade’s tenure ended on July 9, 1998, the period youth crises ensued in Bayelsa State, following agitations for a better deal for the state and the Niger Delta.
He was redeployed to the Naval Headquarters and made Director of Projects, and later retired in 1999.
Touched by the stark reality of underdevelopment in Bayelsa State, he swung into action, after inaugurating his cabinet in 1997, selecting some commissioner nominees from a list prepared by Navy Capt. Ayeni, and added others, after interviewing them.
The pioneer commissioners were Dr. (Mrs.) Helen Bozimo – Education; Hon. Enoch Ikelemo Commerce; Engr. Ayebasin Dianagha Lands and Housing; Dr. Steve Azaiki Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Others were Ms. Tamunukare Yekwe Attorney-General and Justice; Dr. Kobina K. Imananagha Health; Mrs. Flora Abutu William-Ebi Women Affairs; Chief Fred Wariebi Finance; Paul N. Oriewari Information; Engr. Sam Oti Works, while Chief Thomas Iti was pioneer Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government.
The administration’s policy thrust was provision of office and residential accommodation, considering the lack of major facilities in Yenagoa and the entire state, due to uneven spread of development in the then Rivers State; neglect by Federal Government and multinational oil companies.
More so, the new state created by the General Sani Abacha on October 1, 1996, without a take-off grant; a monthly allocation of N70 Million or so, and low internal revenue, posed serious challenge to administration of the new state.
Yet, Olubolade administration left footprints such as provision of buildings in government house, he named Creek Haven; Samson Siasia Stadium; first traditional rulers’ complex; first secretariat complex; cultural centre; Ekeki Motor Park; Women Affairs Hall; Family Support Nursery/primary School; Newspaper Corporation administrative building and printing press block and the first Radio Bayelsa building/procurement of broadcast equipment.
Other legacies are pioneer commissioners’ quarters; civil servants quarters; School of Nursing, Tombia; Shopping complex later redesigned as ICT centre; link roads in official areas; regular and free electricity supply from the Kolo Creek Gas Turbine, under management of Engineer Dika Moses; ensuring the state got its share of assets from Rivers State, etcetera.
His successor, Lt. Col. Paul Edor Obi, however commissioned a few of these projects, while civilian administrations, especially the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha government, restructured or improved a few of them.
Olubolade achieved the landmark projects through direct-labour approach, given the urgency of basic amenities, paucity of funds, and decision not to award projects to contractors at staggering sums of money only to have them delayed or abandoned. The approach created jobs and incomes for people, even though some Bayelsans wanted contracts awarded to indigenous contractors.
Inadequacy of funds also made the administration not to implement the Yenagoa Development Master Plan designed and approved in the Navy Capt. Ayeni era, a plan Bayelsans want full implementation.
The administration’s plan to implementent more projects was curtailed by inadequacy of funds and the shortness of the tenure.
On retirement, Olubolade aspired to be governor of Ekiti State, through Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2006, and later Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, to contribute to the development of his state but the ambition did not materialize.
From 2010 to 2015, he was Minister of Special Duties; Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, and Minister of Police Affairs in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, which he made innovative input into governance.
Indeed, the meteoric rise of Navy Capt. Olubolade, is the narrative of a man who worked hard to conquer life’s challenges, and achieved a lot in his private and public endeavours.
He clocks 70, tomorrow, and chose to mark the platinum birth anniversary in Bayelsa, to relive his experiences and reinforce affinity with the state. The anniversary takes place at Samson Siasia Stadium tomorrow, with a variety of events, while a dinner party holds at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, today.
As friends, colleagues, Bayelsans and government officials cheer the former MILAD, at 70, plaudits are in order for the accomplished soldier and servant-leader.
Best wishes, Navy Capt. Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade (rtd), and many happy returns!
Etete Enideneze is a journalist and public affairs analyst, he writes on Navy Capt. Olubolade’s Platinum Anniversary and Footprints of Service.
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