By Sunday Olugbenga Abire, Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State
The recent article purportedly written by Seun Akingboye and glaringly published in The Guardian, emphasizing the imaginary hurdles before Governor Aiyedatiwa as Ondo APC prepares for governorship primary next month is watery. Ordinarily, I would have glossed over these dead mischiefs as I have done in the past but nothing could be left to chance at this time when angels of darkness parade themselves as angels of light because of politics.
Thankfully, the writer chronicled Governor Aiyedatiwa’s ordeal to fulfilling the unambiguous provision of the law by being the Acting Governor when his late boss was away in Germany for months. He captured perfectly the ugly past of Ondo State navigating through political tempest, travesty of justice, deliberate interregnum of policies and procedures of government, abuse of legislative power and total return to primitivity. Seun Akingboye just informed the world that the constitution was suspended in Ondo State until Statesmen and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu salvaged the mess. What could be more agonizing than returning to the Hobbesian state where life is brutish, solitary, nasty and poor?
It is a notorious fact that the Goebbels of this world would pretend that the holocaust happened in Ondo state. But we owe it a duty to rebuff political amnesia while placing the truth above jejune arguments.
Funnily, dissolution of cabinet is one imaginary hurdle being advanced by the writer. Even when the writer agreed in principle and reported without any distortion that the 7th Civilian Governor of Ondo State faced terrible challenges within the Akeredolu’s cabinet, he still expects him to keep the same cabinet so that they can continue to be clogs in the wheel of progress? Governor Aiyedatiwa wasn’t even bothered by the challenges of the past. That wasn’t the reason for the dissolution. As much as it’s the prerogative of the Governor to dissolve the cabinet, he didn’t do so to seek revenge but to reposition governance by injecting fresh blood to cover for the months of mis-governance and political turmoil.
However, the allegation of appointing the enemies of Aketi is sacrilegious to the towering figure of the late statesman. How could people conjure enemies for the dead? Which faith condones unforgiveness even to the point of death? Do they know how much they make a bad person out of the great Aketi by courting enemies for him in death? How could the present Deputy Governor, Chief Olayide Adelami, who shares the same umbilical cord with the late Aketi be regarded as his enemy? Aketi was a devout Christian and a lover of God before his passing. It is the height of disservice to the dead to continue to make enemies for him. For the records, chief Olayide Adelami, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State was instrumental to the emergence of Aketi as the Governor of Ondo State. Out of the six Commissioners appointed by Governor Aiyedatiwa, three were members of the old cabinet formed by Aketi.
Governor Aiyedatiwa understands that if the task to inherit friends is enormous, what will it be like to inherit enemies? Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko remains a statesman and the only former Governor alive in Ondo state. He doesn’t share political views with Governor Aiyedatiwa. They are both of different political parties but he cannot be disrespected. The antecedents of every political player cannot be hidden. Was it not on record that Governor Aiyedatiwa demonstrated uncommon wisdom by rejecting the blank cheque given to him to contest against his party at a time? He stood by the party, worked for its candidates even when cheated. If he didn’t leave when the powers that be had interest in him, what more fidelity can any party man show to his party than what Aiyedatiwa has demonstrated. A cursory look at his political trajectory reveals that Governor Aiyedatiwa has never left the progressive fold since he joined in 2011. If there is anyone who can be trusted in and out of power, none comes close to Governor Aiyedatiwa among the contestants. The party will not gamble with a serial defector or the man who openly lampoons his party on a National Television.
Interestingly, one should just laugh at the analysis of the uninterrupted two terms of eight years promoted by those who aren’t in touch with history in the South. It is the way of politicians who are beclouded by ambitions to think they own time and season. How many Governors have actually spent two terms of eight years in Ondo state aside former Governor Mimiko? Clannish politics wouldn’t have made any sense if the leader sees himself as the leader of the state and not a clan.
What is being pushed as a major hurdle in the South by a few people is a great blessing in other parts of Ondo State. This is one major reason Governor Aiyedatiwa reigns loudly in the Central and Northern Districts. Does that mean those who are contesting against Governor Aiyedatiwa from the South have made up their minds to punish the other Districts? Are they not giving the other Districts a genuine reason to be paranoid? Is it even automatic that someone else from the South would spend eight years? Didn’t some of them contest against Aketi, Agagu, Mimiko and Adefarati? Where was this Senatorial arrangement then? Four years ago, aspirants from the South contested against the late Akeredolu. The burden being created by peddlers of this insipid narration is huge. This is divisive and dangerous to the bond of unity that Aiyedatiwa represents. He’s the Governor of all Districts, not just the Southern part.
Chief Olugbenga Ale and Engr Razaq Obe are quality additions to Governor Aiyedatiwa. At no time have they or anyone issued a statement amplifying their angst against Governor Aiyedatiwa’s alleged ill-treatment. This only exists in the imagination of traducers who are bent on causing disaffection. Both men mentioned in the article authored by Seun Akingboye were conspicuously present during the official declaration of intent at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park. They couldn’t wait to have another four years win in continuation of the purposeful leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Moreover, Governor Aiyedatiwa respects chief Betty Akeredolu, the Ada Owerri, the widow of his late boss. He sees her as a mother and nothing has changed. To insinuate that her harmless tribute to her husband was directed at the Governor even when she didn’t mention his name is to stoke fire where there should be none. That’s irresponsible and distasteful. The Governor holds the former First Lady in high esteem.
Finally, Governor Aiyedatiwa is not banking on the power of incumbency but the love of the people of Ondo state in and outside his party. Aiyedatiwa is focused on governance and delivering values to the people of Ondo state. He is loved not because he’s lucky but because he’s leading rightly with the fear of God. Why won’t Ondo people fall in love with a Governor who pays 35,000 naira wage award when other Governors are yet to start? Why won’t women and children sing his song when he’s done paying their WAEC fees? The women said Aiyedatiwa made history to have appointed the first Female Commissioner for Finance in Ondo state. Why won’t student leaders support him when they can feel his midas touches in the state owned institutions? The civil servants do not joke with Governor Aiyedatiwa at all. His three names have been adopted everywhere in Ondo state.
Peoplesmind