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Showing posts with label AREGBESOLA. Show all posts

Osun APC and some hard home truths (2): who will help save Osun APC from Osun APC?

Osun APC and some hard home truths (2): who will help save Osun APC from Osun APC?

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE 


Oyetola

As of July 16, 2022, Iyiola Omisore, a Prince of Ife and a celebrated political strategist and master of the game, was the party’s National Secretary. Still, APC lost very badly in Ifeland. Incidentally, that’s where Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, the party’s current State Chairman, was also born. Lawal was at the time its Vice State Chairman. Most, if not all those who pretended to be Big Boys from Ifeland who served in the Oyetola-led government lost even their polling units. Was that also caused by Aregbesola? Again, why did APC contentedly slip into its familiar routine in Oriade and Obokun Local Governments? Why did it end up soaking in the enthusiasm of defeat in Iree in Boripe Local Government, despite what the former governor planted in the ancient town?


For Osun APC to have lost 28 out of 30 Local Governments and 1 Area Office, 25 out of 26 members in the State House of Assembly, and all the National Assembly seats, that speaks volume! But, rather than address the whys and wherefores that broke its heart, among which were greed, indiscipline, uncontrolled lust for privileges and the love of pelf, blame game took over. Osun APC surrendered to the superior firepower of betrayal from the people in power, failure to connect with the people, lack of sense of purpose, lack of shared vision and lofty ideals, lack of cohesion in the party and lack of control, and it was as if the gods were angry.


Whither the roles of the opposition in democracy and why is Osun APC not delivering on its newly-acquired mandate? Take, for instance, reports have it that Adeleke has for over a year been living in his sister’s house but unfortunately, the opposition is not seen to have been hard on an issue which in Yoruba culture amounts to a taboo. Well, while it’s not unusual for governors to live in their private residences while serving (as Lateef Jakande lived in his personal house, even rode in his famous Toyota Crown car as Governor of Lagos State, which of course could be attributed to his known simplicity and frugality), Nigerians hold the notion that Adeleke opted for that path so that the real masquerades who’re behind the scene can manage him and his excesses, and shield him from those who might wish to exploit his naivety in governance.


Although the governor has his personal house in Ede, he hardly ever stays there, and it is believed that he runs Osun State with the counsel and input from her sister who has her imprimatur on every appointment in the state. She’s even believed to be the de facto Commissioner for Works, a portfolio the governor withheld to himself. So, anyone who cannot cringe in their court had better forget getting anything from the government. Is it any wonder that, in Osun, the fear of _‘Yeye’_ is the beginning of wisdom?


When Oyetola was to lose power in 2022, an uninformed cross-section of the public asked that power be taken away from _‘alakowe’_ and given to _‘alakori’._ In their opinion, if the former could not do it well, why not hand over the destiny of dear state to the latter? Not unsurprisingly, _‘Imole Osun’_ has now come to town and … _‘the difference is clear.’_ Amidst a litany of avoidable gaffes, the State Chief Judge would have long been removed from office and the governor’s vuvuzelas would have stood up and clapped for the king, were it not for the timely intervention of the _National Judicial Council,_ NJC.


Again, who will help save Osun APC from Osun APC? Well, I have argued elsewhere that opposition roles are very difficult, especially in a democracy like ours. Not even in a situation where the ruling party has many advantages to its bidding: a monstrously rich dynasty, power which it knows how to effectively deploy, resources sufficient enough to play around with, and the sympathy of the electorate which, for obvious reasons, the ruling party currently enjoys.


I have also had the privilege of raising the issue of contact persons or rallying points in some of the localities in the state. For instance, I’ve cited the case of High Chief Dele Faseru, a respected PDP chieftain in Ijebu-Jesa who, for a very long time, has been the face of the PDP in Oriade Local Government and its environs; and the colourful politician has been delivering on that mandate. How many Dele Faserus are available to Osun APC and how many of them are accessible in the real sense of the word?


Like him or hate him, Oyetola is a fine gentleman and a true reflection of himself. He is not a pretender. Some Nigerians even accused the former governor of being accountable to the last penny at the expense of those who worked for him. In their view, it was accountability taken too far when he left N14 billion in Osun government coffers while the arrears of modulated salaries owed workers as well as November 2022 salaries of political functionaries in the state remained unsorted. Back to the substance of the situation, it needs to be noted that taking Osun APC back on the path of honour demands that Oyetola rethink strategies that can open the gate of hope. To get policies right, politics has to be alive. So, he needs to increase his efforts. He also needs to dig deeper into what variance of illness is actually attacking the party. He needs to look beyond the pathetic admonitions of the swallowers, time-servers and transactional politicians whose personal interests are at variance with the party’s overall interest. In a word, unless the party is prepared to let past troubles ignite positive opportunities, things will only get worse; and that will be bad for opposition politics.


Politics isn’t a funny game; it’s just that some of its practitioners are simply heartless and exceptionally selfish. Since ages, sycophancy has also been a big problem in politics. So, the onus is on Oyetola to rise above the deceit of the men-pleasers because money may manipulate the people but it doesn’t actually deceive the enemies. Since all politics is local, it behooves the leadership to instill a sense of trust in the followership and the followership to believe in the leadership, if the battle ahead is to be won. Who even knows if God allowed July 16, 2022 to happen to Osun APC so that He can use Oyetola to change the course of progressive politics in Nigeria, beginning with Osun State? So, it is up to the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to see to it that this House does not fall, for this, not the office he now occupies in Abuja, will define his legacy. While current efforts in that direction are a welcome development, public opinions favour something deeper than the ongoing sensitization ritual. Most importantly, the poor reward system and selection process, which contributed significantly to the party’s dismal outings in the past, must also be reviewed with a view to righting past wrongs.


In all, just as we expect in public administration, that ‘one person cannot know it all’; and, in democracy, that ‘one party cannot be omnipotent’, let there be ‘room for admissibility of divergent opinions’. Let ideas be transformed or updated ‘in line with dispensations’. Above all, let those working with Oyetola in this task of repositioning Osun APC bear in mind that politics is not a cult and that what defines it is not always about one geography against another but inclusive winning streaks that will help return the party to its past glory.


May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Osun State!


•Concluded.


 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ([email protected]; 08098614418 - SMS only)_



Osun APC and some hard home truths (1)

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE



 _(Published on Saturday, December 16, 2023)_ 



Olajumoke Ogunkeyede is a leader of the _All Progressives Congress_ (APC) in Osun State. JMK, as Ogunkeyede is popularly called, was also a chieftain of the now-rested _National Democratic Coalition_ (NADECO). He participated actively in putting an end to military rule and the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.


In a chance encounter with yours sincerely recently, JMK has these to say on the state of Osun APC:


 “I am not a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and I try not to dabble into the running of Osun PDP. But, with the current situation of things, there’s no doubting the fact that we need to rejig the opposition APC in the state if we are going to challenge the current government. We must create structures that will help put our house in order. Politically, our house is not in order. If we are going to challenge PDP in the next Osun governorship election, we should be doing more than what we are doing presently.


 “The fact that a lot of people are running after former Governor (Gboyega) Oyetola does not resolve the quagmire into which we have fallen in Osun. Charity is said to begin at home. The leadership should do its best to make sure that we are not just sitting on the fence. Whether we like it or not, (Ademola) Adeleke’s government is there and we will just keep complaining, unless we are able to get our house in order.


“With the way Osun APC is going about resolving its internal dynamics, it’s like we are feeling that, because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is in Abuja, we will win. No! Tinubu will only do his best for the party. But his responsibility is to the whole nation and whatever he is able to do will be minuscule, compared to what he would do were he not to be the president of Nigeria. To this end, we should begin to get our people ready so that in the next election, we are fully prepared because, from the look of things, we are not yet prepared. As things stand, the falcon doesn’t seem to hear the falconer. In Osun APC, the centre is not holding. And we are complacent, thinking that it will be good. Of course, that’s the concept of miracle. We can’t fold our arms, thinking that manna will fall from heaven. We can sit down under a make-believe canopy of ‘it’s done’. The way things stand, nothing is done.


“Yes, President Tinubu is known to be a strategist. But he needs that strategy for the nation. He would have done a lot to push the nation up and that may have a positive effect on the electioneering processes in 2026 but, according to an adage, ‘it is a child that raises his hand that will be picked up’. We cannot depend on him doing it alone. It will be a huge joke if we are expecting him to do it for us at all costs. Already, he is doing it for us by being the president. Or do we expect him to move Aso Rock to Osogbo because his party is contesting an election? The more reason we must struggle hard to complement his efforts. If the election is in 2026; and this is 2023, what are we waiting for? We have not done much to reposition our people. We have not done anything in the area of empowerment. Yes, we are criticizing the ruling party, but it should be more than that. For now, we are an empty mouth, just clanging and making noise. There should be substance to the noise-making. If we focus too much on what the PDP is doing, that’s good. But that won’t help the APC. Rather, the opposition should have its strategy to counter and subdue the antics of the ruling party before, during, even after the election.


“Truth be told, Osun APC is not yet ready for the next election. Otherwise, one is never ready by word of mouth. Empowerment should begin right now to be able to face the tedious challenges of electioneering, instead of hoping that, from Ile-Ogbo to Ila-Orangun, and from Orile-Owu to Ilase-Ijesa, we would win.


“In 2022, Osun PDP caught the then party in power by surprise. Though what’s done cannot be undone again, the way out is adequate preparation. PDP had never had it so good like the 2022 governorship election. Although the enemy within made it possible for that to happen, the fear I have now is that we still have some members of the PDP who are diabolical and may still infiltrate our party. I was looking at the list of those that were suspended or expelled. Some names were still missing there. So, we should shine our eyes and make sure that we are prepared for the election.” 


JMK has said it all; and a word is enough for the wise!


Surely certainly, politics as a vocation has a way of mesmerizing its adherents. While one is not attempting to be adventurous as to how Osun APC decides its destiny, that there’s an urgent need for political retooling or reengineering is no longer news. To get the party back to the market, there should be a commitment to seeking the cause in order to prevent reoccurrence. Of course, this is no time to engage in the trappings of politics or dirge of self-pity. Instead, a moment like this calls for a reappraisal of how the party got to this pass. So, let those in need of penance establish a framework for it with penitent hearts and let those who think no one else matters in the affairs of the party pursue a critical political thinking that’s consistent with the dynamic changes in the world we live in.


In the light of truth, nobody is an island. No one is also blameless. Therefore, a recalibration of the party’s politics and needs is a viable option. Those who have no direction shouldn’t delight in elevating peculiar interests over and above everybody. Those who ate all the honey and have relocated to Abuja, struggling to be attached to somewhere must be made to account for the roles they played or failed to play while the honeymoon lasted.


If you ask Nigerians, heaping the loss of the 2022 governorship election solely at the doorstep of Rauf Aregbesola is a tale long stale. Yes, Aregbesola’s factor might have done a lot to July 16, 2022, but it’s time the gladiators invoked critical, self-introspection to find out why their treasured party missed the mark. For instance, was Aregbesola responsible for the party’s loss in Boluwaduro, a Local Government with only 10 Wards but having the immediate past state chairman and more than 20 other high-ranking leaders and first-rate political appointees in its kitty? Was it Aregbesola who made it lose in Ila-Orangun where Bisi Akande and other party bigwigs came from? What about the shallow and hollow fries who pretended to be big birds: those who were adequately mobilized for the election but ended up losing even their Polling Units? Should we start mentioning the names of those who were pursuing vanity and pride which eventually left the party in torments? Have they been sanctioned for their unprofitable adventure?


Let’s face the truth, to say that Aregbesola was the reason APC lost the Osun governorship election in all the three Senatorial Districts is to say that _‘Ogbeni’_ was the most powerful person in the party and that, without him, nothing could be done. Unknown to Osun APC, the political strength and influence that the former governor himself may never possess have already been ascribed to him, freely.


 _*Read part 2 above*


 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ([email protected]; 08098614418 - SMS only)_

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE 


Oyetola

As of July 16, 2022, Iyiola Omisore, a Prince of Ife and a celebrated political strategist and master of the game, was the party’s National Secretary. Still, APC lost very badly in Ifeland. Incidentally, that’s where Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, the party’s current State Chairman, was also born. Lawal was at the time its Vice State Chairman. Most, if not all those who pretended to be Big Boys from Ifeland who served in the Oyetola-led government lost even their polling units. Was that also caused by Aregbesola? Again, why did APC contentedly slip into its familiar routine in Oriade and Obokun Local Governments? Why did it end up soaking in the enthusiasm of defeat in Iree in Boripe Local Government, despite what the former governor planted in the ancient town?


For Osun APC to have lost 28 out of 30 Local Governments and 1 Area Office, 25 out of 26 members in the State House of Assembly, and all the National Assembly seats, that speaks volume! But, rather than address the whys and wherefores that broke its heart, among which were greed, indiscipline, uncontrolled lust for privileges and the love of pelf, blame game took over. Osun APC surrendered to the superior firepower of betrayal from the people in power, failure to connect with the people, lack of sense of purpose, lack of shared vision and lofty ideals, lack of cohesion in the party and lack of control, and it was as if the gods were angry.


Whither the roles of the opposition in democracy and why is Osun APC not delivering on its newly-acquired mandate? Take, for instance, reports have it that Adeleke has for over a year been living in his sister’s house but unfortunately, the opposition is not seen to have been hard on an issue which in Yoruba culture amounts to a taboo. Well, while it’s not unusual for governors to live in their private residences while serving (as Lateef Jakande lived in his personal house, even rode in his famous Toyota Crown car as Governor of Lagos State, which of course could be attributed to his known simplicity and frugality), Nigerians hold the notion that Adeleke opted for that path so that the real masquerades who’re behind the scene can manage him and his excesses, and shield him from those who might wish to exploit his naivety in governance.


Although the governor has his personal house in Ede, he hardly ever stays there, and it is believed that he runs Osun State with the counsel and input from her sister who has her imprimatur on every appointment in the state. She’s even believed to be the de facto Commissioner for Works, a portfolio the governor withheld to himself. So, anyone who cannot cringe in their court had better forget getting anything from the government. Is it any wonder that, in Osun, the fear of _‘Yeye’_ is the beginning of wisdom?


When Oyetola was to lose power in 2022, an uninformed cross-section of the public asked that power be taken away from _‘alakowe’_ and given to _‘alakori’._ In their opinion, if the former could not do it well, why not hand over the destiny of dear state to the latter? Not unsurprisingly, _‘Imole Osun’_ has now come to town and … _‘the difference is clear.’_ Amidst a litany of avoidable gaffes, the State Chief Judge would have long been removed from office and the governor’s vuvuzelas would have stood up and clapped for the king, were it not for the timely intervention of the _National Judicial Council,_ NJC.


Again, who will help save Osun APC from Osun APC? Well, I have argued elsewhere that opposition roles are very difficult, especially in a democracy like ours. Not even in a situation where the ruling party has many advantages to its bidding: a monstrously rich dynasty, power which it knows how to effectively deploy, resources sufficient enough to play around with, and the sympathy of the electorate which, for obvious reasons, the ruling party currently enjoys.


I have also had the privilege of raising the issue of contact persons or rallying points in some of the localities in the state. For instance, I’ve cited the case of High Chief Dele Faseru, a respected PDP chieftain in Ijebu-Jesa who, for a very long time, has been the face of the PDP in Oriade Local Government and its environs; and the colourful politician has been delivering on that mandate. How many Dele Faserus are available to Osun APC and how many of them are accessible in the real sense of the word?


Like him or hate him, Oyetola is a fine gentleman and a true reflection of himself. He is not a pretender. Some Nigerians even accused the former governor of being accountable to the last penny at the expense of those who worked for him. In their view, it was accountability taken too far when he left N14 billion in Osun government coffers while the arrears of modulated salaries owed workers as well as November 2022 salaries of political functionaries in the state remained unsorted. Back to the substance of the situation, it needs to be noted that taking Osun APC back on the path of honour demands that Oyetola rethink strategies that can open the gate of hope. To get policies right, politics has to be alive. So, he needs to increase his efforts. He also needs to dig deeper into what variance of illness is actually attacking the party. He needs to look beyond the pathetic admonitions of the swallowers, time-servers and transactional politicians whose personal interests are at variance with the party’s overall interest. In a word, unless the party is prepared to let past troubles ignite positive opportunities, things will only get worse; and that will be bad for opposition politics.


Politics isn’t a funny game; it’s just that some of its practitioners are simply heartless and exceptionally selfish. Since ages, sycophancy has also been a big problem in politics. So, the onus is on Oyetola to rise above the deceit of the men-pleasers because money may manipulate the people but it doesn’t actually deceive the enemies. Since all politics is local, it behooves the leadership to instill a sense of trust in the followership and the followership to believe in the leadership, if the battle ahead is to be won. Who even knows if God allowed July 16, 2022 to happen to Osun APC so that He can use Oyetola to change the course of progressive politics in Nigeria, beginning with Osun State? So, it is up to the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to see to it that this House does not fall, for this, not the office he now occupies in Abuja, will define his legacy. While current efforts in that direction are a welcome development, public opinions favour something deeper than the ongoing sensitization ritual. Most importantly, the poor reward system and selection process, which contributed significantly to the party’s dismal outings in the past, must also be reviewed with a view to righting past wrongs.


In all, just as we expect in public administration, that ‘one person cannot know it all’; and, in democracy, that ‘one party cannot be omnipotent’, let there be ‘room for admissibility of divergent opinions’. Let ideas be transformed or updated ‘in line with dispensations’. Above all, let those working with Oyetola in this task of repositioning Osun APC bear in mind that politics is not a cult and that what defines it is not always about one geography against another but inclusive winning streaks that will help return the party to its past glory.


May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Osun State!


•Concluded.


 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ([email protected]; 08098614418 - SMS only)_



Osun APC and some hard home truths (1)

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE



 _(Published on Saturday, December 16, 2023)_ 



Olajumoke Ogunkeyede is a leader of the _All Progressives Congress_ (APC) in Osun State. JMK, as Ogunkeyede is popularly called, was also a chieftain of the now-rested _National Democratic Coalition_ (NADECO). He participated actively in putting an end to military rule and the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.


In a chance encounter with yours sincerely recently, JMK has these to say on the state of Osun APC:


 “I am not a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and I try not to dabble into the running of Osun PDP. But, with the current situation of things, there’s no doubting the fact that we need to rejig the opposition APC in the state if we are going to challenge the current government. We must create structures that will help put our house in order. Politically, our house is not in order. If we are going to challenge PDP in the next Osun governorship election, we should be doing more than what we are doing presently.


 “The fact that a lot of people are running after former Governor (Gboyega) Oyetola does not resolve the quagmire into which we have fallen in Osun. Charity is said to begin at home. The leadership should do its best to make sure that we are not just sitting on the fence. Whether we like it or not, (Ademola) Adeleke’s government is there and we will just keep complaining, unless we are able to get our house in order.


“With the way Osun APC is going about resolving its internal dynamics, it’s like we are feeling that, because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is in Abuja, we will win. No! Tinubu will only do his best for the party. But his responsibility is to the whole nation and whatever he is able to do will be minuscule, compared to what he would do were he not to be the president of Nigeria. To this end, we should begin to get our people ready so that in the next election, we are fully prepared because, from the look of things, we are not yet prepared. As things stand, the falcon doesn’t seem to hear the falconer. In Osun APC, the centre is not holding. And we are complacent, thinking that it will be good. Of course, that’s the concept of miracle. We can’t fold our arms, thinking that manna will fall from heaven. We can sit down under a make-believe canopy of ‘it’s done’. The way things stand, nothing is done.


“Yes, President Tinubu is known to be a strategist. But he needs that strategy for the nation. He would have done a lot to push the nation up and that may have a positive effect on the electioneering processes in 2026 but, according to an adage, ‘it is a child that raises his hand that will be picked up’. We cannot depend on him doing it alone. It will be a huge joke if we are expecting him to do it for us at all costs. Already, he is doing it for us by being the president. Or do we expect him to move Aso Rock to Osogbo because his party is contesting an election? The more reason we must struggle hard to complement his efforts. If the election is in 2026; and this is 2023, what are we waiting for? We have not done much to reposition our people. We have not done anything in the area of empowerment. Yes, we are criticizing the ruling party, but it should be more than that. For now, we are an empty mouth, just clanging and making noise. There should be substance to the noise-making. If we focus too much on what the PDP is doing, that’s good. But that won’t help the APC. Rather, the opposition should have its strategy to counter and subdue the antics of the ruling party before, during, even after the election.


“Truth be told, Osun APC is not yet ready for the next election. Otherwise, one is never ready by word of mouth. Empowerment should begin right now to be able to face the tedious challenges of electioneering, instead of hoping that, from Ile-Ogbo to Ila-Orangun, and from Orile-Owu to Ilase-Ijesa, we would win.


“In 2022, Osun PDP caught the then party in power by surprise. Though what’s done cannot be undone again, the way out is adequate preparation. PDP had never had it so good like the 2022 governorship election. Although the enemy within made it possible for that to happen, the fear I have now is that we still have some members of the PDP who are diabolical and may still infiltrate our party. I was looking at the list of those that were suspended or expelled. Some names were still missing there. So, we should shine our eyes and make sure that we are prepared for the election.” 


JMK has said it all; and a word is enough for the wise!


Surely certainly, politics as a vocation has a way of mesmerizing its adherents. While one is not attempting to be adventurous as to how Osun APC decides its destiny, that there’s an urgent need for political retooling or reengineering is no longer news. To get the party back to the market, there should be a commitment to seeking the cause in order to prevent reoccurrence. Of course, this is no time to engage in the trappings of politics or dirge of self-pity. Instead, a moment like this calls for a reappraisal of how the party got to this pass. So, let those in need of penance establish a framework for it with penitent hearts and let those who think no one else matters in the affairs of the party pursue a critical political thinking that’s consistent with the dynamic changes in the world we live in.


In the light of truth, nobody is an island. No one is also blameless. Therefore, a recalibration of the party’s politics and needs is a viable option. Those who have no direction shouldn’t delight in elevating peculiar interests over and above everybody. Those who ate all the honey and have relocated to Abuja, struggling to be attached to somewhere must be made to account for the roles they played or failed to play while the honeymoon lasted.


If you ask Nigerians, heaping the loss of the 2022 governorship election solely at the doorstep of Rauf Aregbesola is a tale long stale. Yes, Aregbesola’s factor might have done a lot to July 16, 2022, but it’s time the gladiators invoked critical, self-introspection to find out why their treasured party missed the mark. For instance, was Aregbesola responsible for the party’s loss in Boluwaduro, a Local Government with only 10 Wards but having the immediate past state chairman and more than 20 other high-ranking leaders and first-rate political appointees in its kitty? Was it Aregbesola who made it lose in Ila-Orangun where Bisi Akande and other party bigwigs came from? What about the shallow and hollow fries who pretended to be big birds: those who were adequately mobilized for the election but ended up losing even their Polling Units? Should we start mentioning the names of those who were pursuing vanity and pride which eventually left the party in torments? Have they been sanctioned for their unprofitable adventure?


Let’s face the truth, to say that Aregbesola was the reason APC lost the Osun governorship election in all the three Senatorial Districts is to say that _‘Ogbeni’_ was the most powerful person in the party and that, without him, nothing could be done. Unknown to Osun APC, the political strength and influence that the former governor himself may never possess have already been ascribed to him, freely.


 _*Read part 2 above*


 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ([email protected]; 08098614418 - SMS only)_

AREGBESOLA VS OYETOLA: This Family Feud is Going too Far

AREGBESOLA VS OYETOLA: This Family Feud is Going too Far


I have been wrestling with my mind ever since the unfortunate but avoidable impasse between Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past two-term Governor of Osun and now the Minister of Interior, all by the grace of God, and his erstwhile Chief of Staff and now the incumbent Governor of Osun, again by the grace of God. I have been willing and wishing the two eminent Osun personalities will settle their differences as professionals, deeply God fearing with the worldwide display of the Omoluabic virtues which they both revived in us during the combined tenure of the two. But because that, to date, has not been the case, I am putting my opinion fueled position down as bluntly as I have genetically been composed to hoping that the truth, as I know it to be, will guide the two gladiators, their footsoldiers and the leaders and elders of our ruling party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) and well meaning Yorubas home and in the Diaspora in proffering a lasting settlement.


Governor Gboyega Oyetola was brought into Osun politics with the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and was made the Chief of Staff, that fact is indelible in the annals of administrative history. Again, based on my observation of political events at the time (2018), one will sweat to deny the fact that Ogbeni played a pivotal and crucial role in the eventual emergence of Governor Oyetola as the APC Governorship flag bearer. Immediately after the announcement of the Chief of Staff, as he then was simply known, Ogbeni went to "war" in his characteristically energetic manner firing from all cylinders to ensure the victory of APC at that Governorship poll. Many atimes, I would cringe in fear for the safety of Governor Oyetola when Ogbeni yank him on to the roof of the campaign bus. Of course we all know, and he himself has said on occasions too many to remember that give Aregbe, the Mic with untiring backup singers and political lyrics will flow infectiously for days on political campaign trains - that is a golden gift of nature, that is Ogbeni for you and whether by push or pull, you just have to give it to him.


However, in spite of these nature's imbued gifts one must be very careful not to slip into playing God FOR WHATEVER WE ARE, IS ONLY BUT A GIFT FROM GOD. Aregbe himself, in many of his verbal biographies, has told the world how God used Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make him what he is today. Ogbeni would also often say throughout his tenure of eight years as Osun Governor, Asiwaju never made any demand of him. Ogbeni, as a deeply religious man is expected to know therefore that he was a mere tool in the hands of the ONLY and ALMIGNTY GOD, for his contributions, and they are many, in making Oyetola the Governor. If not, one million Aregbe could not have pulled it off! In the same vein, the same God said if men refuse to be used, He has the capability and capacity to raise stones to do His bidding. I therefore become confused and alarmed when some political jobbers sing "A fibi su oloore" ! Of course one must appreciate good gestures but for me, when men are praising you for a great deal, I expect a man as knowledgeable of the almighty God as Aregbe to call these arije nidi madaru to order and sternly warn them to desist and direct their praises to God.


We are Yoruba and at a point it becomes increasingly difficult to severe our persons from those sentimentalities that have been engraved in our minds. One of such is Ti a ba fagbo feegun tan, se laa jokun e le. The APC and in deed the whole of Yoruba will be eternally grateful for the roles Aregbe played in bringing Oyetola to lead the giant developmental strides in Osun and Yorubaland. Why would such a man not restrain himself from using his foot to demolish an edify he used his hands to build?


There were at least three politically active and loudly vocal former Governors during the eight-year tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: The Late Governor Isiaka Adeleke, Baba Bisi Akande and Omooba Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the three gave Ogbeni a free reign, only voicing opinion when called and none was openly at war with Ogbeni as is the case now. If those former Governors, one of whom is well respected, the Chair of the ruling APC with the ears of the President and other notable individuals both within and outside the political circle, could defer leadership of the State to Ogbeni for eight years and there was no Pem! I think Ogbeni should reciprocate the gesture by allowing development enabling peace to reign in Osun for the benefit of all.


In terms of political hierarchical deference, which I did not write, the President of Nigeria becomes the responsibility and thus deferr to the Chairman of his local government once he is in the Local Government area; ditto for the State Governor. A State can only be governed by one person at a time and we fiddle with this golden rule at our political peril.


We must call a spade by its name and be bluntly guided by facts if we want enduring peace that triggers accelerated development to reign in the State's polity. I dare most of today's war merchants, who worked closely with Ogbeni to counter me on the open fact that can the Ogbeni they know intimately take ten percent of what he is doing in Osun today? Ta lo to gbena woju Ekun when he was in the saddle in Osun?!! Of course this is not an indictment of Ogbeni's personality or modu operandi because I am Yoruba and my father said Agbo meji ki mu omi ninu koto kan. There was only one Agbo in Osun between 2010 and 2018 and it is only fair that we have only one Agbo between now and 2026.


I have lived outside Nigeria and was politically aware of the hierarchical positioning of political offices. There can be only one President, Prime Minister, Governor of a State whether in America or Osun and there can be only one Local Government Chairman. In heaven, we are told there is only one God and when Lucifer tried to usurp His powers, even God in all His magnanimity said and emphatic No! We must all accept the fact that there can be only one boss and tiny few would tolerate or allow a back seat driver. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu was a key tool used by God to enthrone President Muhammad Buhari, but that never gave Asiwaju the audacity to backseat drive the President.


For eight solid years Governor Oyetola was professionally, politically and visibly loyal to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It was always Oga this, Oga that! Now that "omode" ojoun has come of age, I think we must give due oko and ada to the infant that has matured to succeed in farming the Osun landscape.


I am writing these because they are the germane issues that must be fairly tackled without any bias if a soluation that transcends Aregbe and Oyetola is to be found.


It was the disagreement between Alaafin Aole and his Are Ona Kaka Kakanfo, Are Afonja, that led to the great loss of Ilorin till date. The feud between Chief Awolowo and Chief Akintola led to the irreplaceable loss of lives and properties during the "Operation Wetie" of the sixties, Chief Bola Ige and Chief SM Afolabi fought in old Oyo State to stagnation, The ever widening gulf in Osun's wall resulting from the implacable duo of Baba Akande and Chief Iyiola Omisore pushed Osun into the political progrom of 2003 to 2010 and the list is endless. Now we are unnecessarily engulfed in a personality dispute that is grossly distracting from the developmental template of Osun for the betterment of its people.


God in His mercies has been greatly benevolent to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; he exited the exalted position of a two-term govership of the State only to be made a core Minister of Interor in a time that the country is so violently volatile. One would expect his hands to be so full as not to have time to be distracted by Osun's administration since he has entrusted it in a hand as able as that of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. 


These, in my opinion, are what the Eldership and Leadership of Osun should say to the two gladiators and their self-serving propellers and the earlier this is done, the better for the generality of Osun people and Yoruba at large.


Ebenezer 'Deji omo Akinsola (EDA)

26 May 2021.


I have been wrestling with my mind ever since the unfortunate but avoidable impasse between Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past two-term Governor of Osun and now the Minister of Interior, all by the grace of God, and his erstwhile Chief of Staff and now the incumbent Governor of Osun, again by the grace of God. I have been willing and wishing the two eminent Osun personalities will settle their differences as professionals, deeply God fearing with the worldwide display of the Omoluabic virtues which they both revived in us during the combined tenure of the two. But because that, to date, has not been the case, I am putting my opinion fueled position down as bluntly as I have genetically been composed to hoping that the truth, as I know it to be, will guide the two gladiators, their footsoldiers and the leaders and elders of our ruling party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) and well meaning Yorubas home and in the Diaspora in proffering a lasting settlement.


Governor Gboyega Oyetola was brought into Osun politics with the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and was made the Chief of Staff, that fact is indelible in the annals of administrative history. Again, based on my observation of political events at the time (2018), one will sweat to deny the fact that Ogbeni played a pivotal and crucial role in the eventual emergence of Governor Oyetola as the APC Governorship flag bearer. Immediately after the announcement of the Chief of Staff, as he then was simply known, Ogbeni went to "war" in his characteristically energetic manner firing from all cylinders to ensure the victory of APC at that Governorship poll. Many atimes, I would cringe in fear for the safety of Governor Oyetola when Ogbeni yank him on to the roof of the campaign bus. Of course we all know, and he himself has said on occasions too many to remember that give Aregbe, the Mic with untiring backup singers and political lyrics will flow infectiously for days on political campaign trains - that is a golden gift of nature, that is Ogbeni for you and whether by push or pull, you just have to give it to him.


However, in spite of these nature's imbued gifts one must be very careful not to slip into playing God FOR WHATEVER WE ARE, IS ONLY BUT A GIFT FROM GOD. Aregbe himself, in many of his verbal biographies, has told the world how God used Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make him what he is today. Ogbeni would also often say throughout his tenure of eight years as Osun Governor, Asiwaju never made any demand of him. Ogbeni, as a deeply religious man is expected to know therefore that he was a mere tool in the hands of the ONLY and ALMIGNTY GOD, for his contributions, and they are many, in making Oyetola the Governor. If not, one million Aregbe could not have pulled it off! In the same vein, the same God said if men refuse to be used, He has the capability and capacity to raise stones to do His bidding. I therefore become confused and alarmed when some political jobbers sing "A fibi su oloore" ! Of course one must appreciate good gestures but for me, when men are praising you for a great deal, I expect a man as knowledgeable of the almighty God as Aregbe to call these arije nidi madaru to order and sternly warn them to desist and direct their praises to God.


We are Yoruba and at a point it becomes increasingly difficult to severe our persons from those sentimentalities that have been engraved in our minds. One of such is Ti a ba fagbo feegun tan, se laa jokun e le. The APC and in deed the whole of Yoruba will be eternally grateful for the roles Aregbe played in bringing Oyetola to lead the giant developmental strides in Osun and Yorubaland. Why would such a man not restrain himself from using his foot to demolish an edify he used his hands to build?


There were at least three politically active and loudly vocal former Governors during the eight-year tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: The Late Governor Isiaka Adeleke, Baba Bisi Akande and Omooba Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the three gave Ogbeni a free reign, only voicing opinion when called and none was openly at war with Ogbeni as is the case now. If those former Governors, one of whom is well respected, the Chair of the ruling APC with the ears of the President and other notable individuals both within and outside the political circle, could defer leadership of the State to Ogbeni for eight years and there was no Pem! I think Ogbeni should reciprocate the gesture by allowing development enabling peace to reign in Osun for the benefit of all.


In terms of political hierarchical deference, which I did not write, the President of Nigeria becomes the responsibility and thus deferr to the Chairman of his local government once he is in the Local Government area; ditto for the State Governor. A State can only be governed by one person at a time and we fiddle with this golden rule at our political peril.


We must call a spade by its name and be bluntly guided by facts if we want enduring peace that triggers accelerated development to reign in the State's polity. I dare most of today's war merchants, who worked closely with Ogbeni to counter me on the open fact that can the Ogbeni they know intimately take ten percent of what he is doing in Osun today? Ta lo to gbena woju Ekun when he was in the saddle in Osun?!! Of course this is not an indictment of Ogbeni's personality or modu operandi because I am Yoruba and my father said Agbo meji ki mu omi ninu koto kan. There was only one Agbo in Osun between 2010 and 2018 and it is only fair that we have only one Agbo between now and 2026.


I have lived outside Nigeria and was politically aware of the hierarchical positioning of political offices. There can be only one President, Prime Minister, Governor of a State whether in America or Osun and there can be only one Local Government Chairman. In heaven, we are told there is only one God and when Lucifer tried to usurp His powers, even God in all His magnanimity said and emphatic No! We must all accept the fact that there can be only one boss and tiny few would tolerate or allow a back seat driver. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu was a key tool used by God to enthrone President Muhammad Buhari, but that never gave Asiwaju the audacity to backseat drive the President.


For eight solid years Governor Oyetola was professionally, politically and visibly loyal to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It was always Oga this, Oga that! Now that "omode" ojoun has come of age, I think we must give due oko and ada to the infant that has matured to succeed in farming the Osun landscape.


I am writing these because they are the germane issues that must be fairly tackled without any bias if a soluation that transcends Aregbe and Oyetola is to be found.


It was the disagreement between Alaafin Aole and his Are Ona Kaka Kakanfo, Are Afonja, that led to the great loss of Ilorin till date. The feud between Chief Awolowo and Chief Akintola led to the irreplaceable loss of lives and properties during the "Operation Wetie" of the sixties, Chief Bola Ige and Chief SM Afolabi fought in old Oyo State to stagnation, The ever widening gulf in Osun's wall resulting from the implacable duo of Baba Akande and Chief Iyiola Omisore pushed Osun into the political progrom of 2003 to 2010 and the list is endless. Now we are unnecessarily engulfed in a personality dispute that is grossly distracting from the developmental template of Osun for the betterment of its people.


God in His mercies has been greatly benevolent to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; he exited the exalted position of a two-term govership of the State only to be made a core Minister of Interor in a time that the country is so violently volatile. One would expect his hands to be so full as not to have time to be distracted by Osun's administration since he has entrusted it in a hand as able as that of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. 


These, in my opinion, are what the Eldership and Leadership of Osun should say to the two gladiators and their self-serving propellers and the earlier this is done, the better for the generality of Osun people and Yoruba at large.


Ebenezer 'Deji omo Akinsola (EDA)

26 May 2021.

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