Making his mark

“Adebari ran in the local elections, determined to make a mark for the next generation of immigrants”

Speaker’s Corner
Denise Horan

THERE is something magical about a system that allows an immigrant from Nigeria, black and a mere seven years in this country, to become mayor of his adopted town. The story of Rotimi Adebari, who has just completed his one-year term as first citizen of Portlaoise, should be an inspiration to us all and an affirmation of our country’s growing maturity. But, of course, it’s not a straightforward fairy story.
When Adebari came here in 2000, university-educated and with ten years’ experience in sales and marketing, he was unable to find a job. As the letters of refusal piled higher, his frustration grew. With a wife and three children to support, he wondered had he made the right decision in bringing them to Ireland. It didn’t seem so, not when he was even refused the chance to wash cars at the local park – just to stave off the boredom – on the grounds that the man he asked was told to be ‘cautious with the Nigerians’. Soon after he was refused another job because they wanted someone local.
Stung by this latest rejection, he began to immerse himself in the local community, setting up a support group for the unemployed, and starting an anti-litter campaign with some fellow immigrants. He also set up his own intercultural consultancy, he completed a Masters in DCU and he landed his own radio show – Respecting Difference – with the local radio station.
Then, in 2004, he ran in the local elections, determined to make a mark on his adopted community for the benefit of the next generation of immigrants, and was successful. Three years later, the mayoral chain was placed on his broad shoulders.
The workload involved in this part-time role has been heavy, time with family limited, time to further develop his consultancy all but squeezed out. In spite of his gracious acceptance of this toll, for a not-very-princely sum, he met with racial abuse, taunts and threats throughout his year, with the Gardaí contacted after one particularly hateful message was left on his phone.
I don’t know the circumstances that surrounded Adebari’s election to the Chair in Portlaoise. Was it unanimous? Was he voted in in a bid to keep someone else out? Did everyone who voted for him believe it was the best thing for the town? Did some secretly hope he would fail?
I hope the bestowal of such an honour was done with some grace by his colleagues on the Council. I hope they really wanted him to wear the chain that is the most iconic symbol of their town’s democracy. And I hope they supported him through it at all times, giving him little nuggets of advice about things with which he may not have been as familiar as they.
If you are one of only nine people with the privilege of being able to vote in an election for your town’s first citizen, then you should use that vote in accordance with your convictions, not in accordance with some political masterplan that will benefit you or your party down the road. At the end of the day, in local politics, surely community interests should always come before self-interest or the interests of the party.
Irrespective of the politics or lack of politics that led to Rotimi Adebari’s elevation, he seems to have done the town proud. He brought something very different to the role – his own difference. And through that alone he made a mark that, hopefully, will never be erased from the Portlaoise psyche.
As our three town council mayors/cathaoirligh/méaraí assume their roles as first citizens of their respective towns, and our county council Cathaoirleach assumes his countywide mantle, I wish them all well. For the next 12 months, they are not politicians, but ambassadors. It is a daunting undertaking, a swapping of the pace and patterns of normal life for the hectic, ever-on-the-go schedule that being public property brings. But it is also an opportunity – afforded only to the brave and privileged few – to leave a footprint on the landscape of your locality.