Kunmi 'Bola
25th June, 2016.

It is no longer news the hard times currently being experienced by, not only the civil servants of Oyo state due to non-payment of over 6months salaries cum the poor welfare situations, but also the entire citizens of the State who have been at the mercies of the callous government of Governor Abiola Ajimobi (GAA)’s passive and lackadaisical attitude towards socio-economic development of the Pacesetter State.
Consequent upon these, the citizens are not just poor and suffering, they are on the brink of starvation. As it is now, the civil servants have embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the ill treatments being meted out to them by the GAA’s government.

Quoting the State governor at a meeting he had with some National and the State’s labor leaders after being persuaded to pay at least three months out of the over 6months he is owing, he said, “Even, I do not have one month that I can pay”.
What a shame, you may say. Apparently, there is no end in sight to the present predicaments of the civil servants in the State. Unfortunately, the bailout fund allegedly granted by the FG to offer succor to some States of the federation remains unaccounted for by the Oyo state government that also benefited from it and the mystery behind how the money was disbursed remains unsolved.

Since the emergence of GAA over a year ago as a second term governor, the State has remained in a total state of stagnancy. Social and infrastructural developments have come to a standstill while the education sector amongst other sectors in the State is on the verge of apparent decay. An instance is the recent WAEC ranking of States’ performances that saw the Pacesetter State appearing as the 26th State on the table. What an achievement!

One may want to take a walk across States and you would discover what a mess the Governor’s passive attitude towards development has turned the State into. Roads constructed by previous administrations have been neglected and un-maintained; those allegedly constructed by the present-day administration are already turning to pools and trenches. What an eyesore!
Not only those, the Governor, known for his tooth-gapped bragging was always seen jumping up and down during his campaigns for re-election, making frivolous promises which he knew he was not capable of fulfilling. This is tantamount to a tale of telling the people what they wanted to hear so as to get what he wanted from them.

A typical instance is one of the empty promises he made to the historical people of Oyo town in the state. Governor Ajimobi identified the people’s desperate need for a radio station and so, promised them one. Thinking he was being true to his words, a location which had been a house to an ancient library was chosen. The library was brought down to allow for the construction of the radio station. Years after, the people of Oyo town are still dreaming of owing a radio station. They fell for the gimmicks of the ‘promise and fail’ Governor.

Naturally, the Governor should be held responsible for the presently poor conditions the citizens are living in and the pathetic states of socio-economic infrastructures in the State. Curses, insults and abuses; he deserves them all but a critical look at the present situation has brought this question to my lips several times; Should we blame Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the afflictions he has brought to his people?
You may want to nail GAA to the cross but should we not remember the roles played by some prominent principals that gave the sitting monster an easy ride to Agodi Government House in the last election? Have we forgotten so soon that the Governor didn’t single-handedly clinch victory but for some unfortunate roles played by these people?

To be continued...

Op you're a wailer.. Gej is at fault

RZArecta:
Op you're a wailer.. Gej is at fault

Really? You must be a joker then.

EPISODE 2

Yours sincerely, in no particular order, here is a list of the set of people that also contributed to the afflictions of Oyo State citizens;

1.The Electorates: These are the first set of people that are responsible for the present situations in the State. Had at least 70% of these electorates, which included civil servants, artisans, traders, pensioners, students etc. foreseen the current happenings, they would not have dared to re-elect the monstrous Gov. Ajimobi. But dear reader, why not also consider the fact that some of these callous acts being perpetrated by GAA did not start immediately in his 2nd term. The writing on the wall was clear enough to convince the electorates that they were reelecting a ne’er-do-well administrator. Money laundering, abandoned projects, unfulfilled electoral promises, non-payment of salaries & pensions, etc. marred his first term. Do we say the electorates did not see all these before choosing the monster? ‘Once beaten, twice shy’ they say… Do we say the people of Oyo State were not wise enough to stand up and unite against the man who is only a harbinger of misfortune to them?

Alas, my people who are now lamenting have forgotten the crumbs they greedily ate up for their votes and not knowing they already mortgaged their future with those of their children. They have forgotten how they allowed their self-interests and prejudiced mind to overshadow their sense of reasoning.

Some gullible elements were even ready to maim and kill fellow citizens all in the bid to return a monster to power. Face the fact, my people; you brought this woe upon yourselves. There is no way you are going to eat your cake and have it.

2.The Selfish and Ambitious Trio: Yes, that is what they are! Greedy, selfish, over-ambitious and inconsiderate are these trio who lost their minds all in the desperate quest to grasp power. These me are not only supposed to be shamed for being responsible for the hardship their selfish and egoistic decisions not to concede to the other party brought on the people they claimed to love, they should also have a fair share of the daily curses the people heap on the poor but monstrous Gov. Ajimobi.

These three persons had what it takes to allow for a formidable and strong opposition to tackle and prevent Ajimobi from being reelected. Co-incidentally, the trio came from the same political roots and they also share similar agenda/blueprint meant to emancipate the poor people of Oyo State. Unfortunately, their insatiable thirst for power was blinding and their egos would not allow them to come to a roundtable to re-channel the State from the course of destruction it had already been set to courtesy of GAA.

If the trio had amassed their resources (human, financial and intellectual) coupled with the popularity they already gained in their various constituencies, perhaps, their people won’t be suffering now.

a.Teslim Kolawole Folarin: This very bright and intelligent PDP flag bearer in the last election, who could have been a very good administrator of the State going by his manifesto, knew all along that his popularity amongst citizens of the State, despite coming from the powerful Peoples’ Democratic Party, was controversial. While some had hastily questioned and probed his performances at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly for three consecutive terms, some citizens were always ready to link the innocent Senator to Eleweomo murder case which he had already been absolved of by a Court of Law.
As if these were not enough, TKF was victimized by some greedy party members like Jumoke Akinjide who were equally ambitious and felt his emergence was going to create an obstacle for their self interests.
Consequently, the embittered TKF and the crisis-ridden PDP had a handful of distractions that could have propelled them to seek harmony and support from the other two strong contestants.

b.Christopher Alao Akala: The popular ‘Omo Iya Alaro’ from Ogbomoso twon of Oyo State also played a prominent role in the present situation. The equally embittered ex-governor had a brilliant and rich political background in his home town which brought him into political limelight. This earned him the Deputy Governor post when Sen. Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja became the governor of the State in 2003.
Due to his loyalty to the late siege and strong political godfather, Alhaji Adedibu, Akala ‘became’ the Governor when his boss was ousted out of office in January, 2006; a move that his boss saw as treachery and betrayal. He became more popular and contested against his boss to become the Governor in 2007.
His four years in office, though controversial, was nothing compared to the acts of brigandage being perpetrated by GAA.
In 2011, Akala also lost to Gov. Ajimobi in an election and ever since then, he had been so desperate to get back to power. He worked assiduously to become the flag bearer for the PDP but unfortunately, the band fell into the hands of Sen. Teslim Folarin. This infuriated Alao Akala and he left the party with his aggrieved supporters for a less politically relevant party, the Labour Party thinking his popularity was going to grant him victory.
If only he had not left, if only he had accepted his fate, if only he had not been hell-bent on the ambition, if only he had swallowed his pride and remained in PDP with his forces, if only he had prioritized the interest of this people, if only he knew that his ego and selfish interest had brought no good to his people… if and only if he had known…

c.Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja: Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, loved by his people, also set a wrong footing on this matter. It’s quite unfortunate to note that the ex-governor, being the eldest of thee trio, also played a principal role in the emergence of a monster who is set to destroy the state he once built and would have loved to rebuild if fate and destiny had permitted him.

Adewolu’s tenure as governor remains one of the periods that will always bring smiles to the face of an average citizen when remembered. It was an era of prompt payment of salaries, infrastructural developments amongst others.

Alas, if the ex-Governor and his supporters had sought and listened to advice, the state wouldn’t have ended up in the shackles of an oppressor. A round table talk, a tuck-in ego and a less-bloated ambition would have calmly resolved this issue. He could have sheathed his sword and embrace the younger contestants. He could have made them see reasons why efforts must be consolidated to combat the Tsunami of Governor Ajimobi.

‘Aso o bo Omoye mo,omoye ti ri ihoho w’oja’.

How I wish the trio hadn’t given in to their egos, how I wish they didn’t allow themselves to be carried away by their over bloated ambitions. Definitely, Oyo State would have been delivered from the clutches of the monster!

3.Some Traditional Rulers: Yes, the personalities, not institution should also bear some of the curses and insults heaped on Gov. Ajimobi.

It’s no gainsaying that the relevance of the traditional institution cannot be over-emphasized, especially during the election periods. Most political aspirants seek for royal blessings and supports from the royal fathers, some also do this knowing fully well that the rulers wade strong influence over their subjects. Whatever they tell their subjects to do, they do.

Unfortunately, some of the traditional rulers have seen this as an opportunity to enrich themselves thereby extorting the politicians and greedily negotiating on behalf of their unknowing subjects. They won’t come out to tell the aspirants/political office holders the truth. Sycophancy then becomes the order of the days.

Why not just consider the sacred offices you hold, your subjects and the resultant effects of some of your decisions on then? Isn’t it high time you eschew from hypocrisy, greed and selfishness?

I so rest my case.

After messing up ur states you will go and claim Lagos

Nice writeup.... What is the way out? Guess we have all learnt now.. Never trust a politician with your vote for second term..

Let the people write petition to the EFCC. That's when we will know if the anti-corruption war is not selective.

faaiz4ever:
Let the people write petition to the EFCC. That's when we will know if the anti-corruption war is not selective.

I doubt if efcc will investigate any governor in the ruling party? They have all turned blind eye to the recklessness of the Governors

Msteew.
Pay your taxes.