AMOSUN AND HIS BAND OF POLITICAL BOOTLICKERS ARE POOR STUDENTS OF HISTORY

By Soetan Adebayo

"People without the knowledge of their past history and culture is like a tree without root" -
Marcus Garvey

As a young student in 2010 who developed a particular attitude towards politics. I could vividly remember how I would always be at a popular newspaper stand in Abẹ́òkúta just to glance through the major headlines of daily newspaper and also attentively listen to the elderly ones who would tirelessly dissect and discuss the political events in the state and country at large. I would always listen to political programmes on our radio stations as different personalities were always invited to deliberate, educate and also churned out their opinions on pertinent issues pertaining to our political environment.

Prior to 2011, Governor Ibikunle Amosun was never part of the so called "progressives" in Ogun state, he was Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2003 - 2007, he defected to the defunct All Nigeria Progressive Part (ANPP) in 2006 and contested the gubernatorial election under the party in 2007 but lost to the then incumbent Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. During the eight years administration of OGD, it was marred with political violence, thuggery and cultism rate increased in the state, rituals and political assassinations. Towards the end of OGD administration, the political environment was so tensed, there was crisis in the state House of Assembly as we had two factions - G11 and G15, both groups with their own Speakers. During this tensed period, a lot of coordinated political assassinations were carried out in the state, the leading aspirant of Action Congress of Nigeria, Otunba Dipo Dina was killed in cold blood by unknown gunmen along Atan-Agbara road, Ota in broad daylight. The dastard act was condemned by the sitting Governor - OGD, his political party (PDP) and other notable politicians in the state. His death made ACN to garner more supporters in the state.

At this period, Senator Ibikunle Amosun was in deep romance with Action Congress of Nigeria in the state in order to get their gubernatorial ticket, the part also romanced him through Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It Is exigent to state it for record purpose that the leader of ACN in the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba had never like Amosun style of politics, Aremo and his array of supporters viewed him as a traitor and betrayal who only wanted to use their fertile party, they suffered and toiled for to achieve his political dream. The state executive of the party then even refused to sell governorship for to him, Amosun was rescued by Asiwaju Tinubu, he appealed and virtually rebelled against his old friend and political ally, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, he succumbed, Ibikunle Amosun clinched ACN gubernatorial ticket, Osoba persuaded his pool of loyalists and teeming party supporters in the state. They gave Amosun the necessary supports, they supported him in kind, cash and logistics. They toured the length and breadth of the state to campaign with him. Prior to this time, there were five (5) - eight ( competent Yewa indigenes, who were all qualified for this position but were all appealed to step down for Kabiyesi Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu unsuspecting the serpent he is.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun, an Owu-Ẹ̀gbá born politician scuttled the dream of the Yewa-Awori and he eventually emerged as the Governor of the state.

In the course of the electioneering period in 2011, there was serious crisis in the ruling party in the state. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Otunba Gbenga Daniel were wrestling over the control of the PDP in the state. OGD was forced out of the party when it dawned on him that he was no longer in control of the party. He boldly defected to PPN, a party many of us called 'Pin Pin Lowo Nasiru' with his supporters.
It is pertinent to state for record purpose that, the two personalities, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Otunba Gbenga Daniel were so concerned with "Ogun West" agenda as they both nominated and supported Yewa men for the gubernatorial election in 2011.
Chief Adetunji Olurin was the gubernatorial candidate of PDP while Gboyega Nasir Isiaka was PPN gubernatorial candidate. This crisis which rocked PDP then, eventual defection of a sitting Governor, OGD to another party and people were tired of incessant killings, rituals and political violence. In short, the alarming rate of insecurity in the state gave Action Congress of Nigeria an edge at the polls which they eventually won convincingly.

AFTERMATH THE ELECTION
It was great outing for ACN in 2011 General Elections in Ogun state. They won the gubernatorial election, all the three (3) senatorial seats, they won six (6) out of the nine (9) Federal Constituencies, PDP won one (1) federal constituency, SDP won two (2) federal constituencies. ACN won majority seats at the state House of Assembly. The ruling party (PDP) had poor political outing, they won only Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency which Amosun preferred, anointed, imposedand consensus candidate, Honourable Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade is currently representing at the green chamber of the National Assembly.

Crisis ensued immediately after he was inaugurated as the Governor of the state, formulation of his (Amosun) cabinet caused crisis in the party, he never consulted the party leaders before he assembled his cabinet, he outrightly rejected the party leaders list for consideration, he bluntly told them they already had their ways before elections, he was never consulted when the party's candidates for national and state assemblies were constituted. He neglected those who worked for actualization of his gubernatorial ambition. He brought unknown names and faces to govern the state, he neglected party members who had laboured day and night for the success of the party at the polls, he distanced himself from Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who sacrificed his time and resources for the success of the party at the polls, he usurped party structure from Osoba, he was running a non-inclusive government, he made sure he frustrated and humiliated Osoba and his teeming supporters out of the party. They (Osoba and his political structure) left the ruling party (APC), the party he laboured for, a party he was a foundational member. He defected to SDP even after much plea from Jagaban in Bourdillon. He dumped the party and cross-carpet to Social Democratic Party. It was a dream come true for Amosun and his praise singers, they had chased away the "enemies" from the party, the "enemies" that had laboured day and night since 1999 to make the party what it later become in the state. Osoba defected with three (3) Senators, Six (6) House of Representative members and many House of Assembly members.

The reality has not dawned on Asiwaju Tinubu that Amosun was in a mission to create his political empire in South West. Through his movement, actions and decisions, he was ready to destroy Tinubu political empire in South West. He was among those that supported Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representative against the party decision and wish. His Commissioner of Information (2011 - 2015), Yusuph Olaniyonu later became Saraki's spokesperson. Amosun has his way in the Ministerial list, he joined forces within the party (majority who had defected to PDP) to humiliate and frustrate Tinubu. He worked against Jagaban in Ondo and Ekiti state gubernatorial elections, he sponsored the opposition party in Osun state gubernatorial election, his moves were felt in Oyo state, Asiwaju as a committed and faithful party man accepted all in good faith

It became clear to Asiwaju, the serpent Amosun is, who is ready to destroy his political empire, he appealed to his old friend, Olusegun Osoba to return to the party as a foundational member. The day Osoba was welcomed back to the party in April, 2016 with open arms and applause by some APC chieftains at his residence in Lagos state, Ibikunle Amosun was conspicuously absent. At that critical time of his defection back to APC, Senator Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as YAYI was household name in the state, though he was frustrated and made to back out of the gubernatorial race of the state by Kabiyesi Amosun but he was compensated by Asiwaju School of Thought for a job well done with a return ticket to Senate (Lagos West Senatorial District).

THE INTRIGUES BEFORE AND AFTER APC PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN OGUN STATE

The emperor was boasting around about his candidate, he could be seen and heard boasting at political, religious social gatherings and every other available platforms. In truth and honesty, he openly declared his support for "Ogun West" agenda and that others should not waste their time and resources. He was openly grandstanding he had prepared "Consensus Candidates" for his party for all elective posts in the state. He never consulted party leaders, he never had a real and genuine consultation with the elders of Ogun West, he turned himself to a third ń God, he imposed Honourable Adekunle Akinlade on the party and the so called Ogun West elders, he presented him to the state party executives who are mere political toys to him. The other aspirants were aggrieved, they saw the Governor's actions and decisions as flagrant disregard to rule of law and democracy. The aspirants met with APC NWC, they agreed on direct primary, it was obvious his consensus candidate would lose with a direct primary because the emperor has disconnected himself from the genuine party members across the state, the emperor in his usual egoistic character distanced himself, his praise singers and band of political bootlickers from NWC direct primary. In one of their meeting at the MITROS Hall, a government owned facility, the opposition aspirants who were against his undemocratic moves and their supporters were attacked in a sponsored and co-ordinated attacks. There were gunshot everywhere. They turned Abeokuta, the state capital to a Theatre of War due to their selfish interests and also to satisfy their ego. It was clear to him that 10 men Electoral Body led by a retired Police officer Idabawa wouldn't compromise, he directed his political toys at the state chapter to conduct a Kangaroo parallel congress, they openly display show of shame, the other aspirants did not participate in their naked dance to market square, on the agreed day of the direct primary conducted by the NWC, the emperor mandated his consensus candidate and supporters not to participate, he thought they would have their way through their usual deceitful and cunny ways but they lost.
The oil magnate, Dapo Abiodun emerged, Amosun and his confused camp opened the book of lamentation, they started wailing and crying like the age of the ruling party in power, the emperor started casting aspersions on his perceived enemies, he started attacking them on the pages of newspaper, he sponsored lies on both print and social media unknown to him he was the cause of his predicament and political fall. They couldn't manipulate the electoral process to their favour.

A man who does not believe in rule of law suddenly becomes an advocate of democracy, a man who lies at ease, he started blaming his perceived enemies for his political woes, he was/is running helter-skelter to safe himself and his candidate from shame, Aso rock became his second home, as he has visited the presidential villa with different personalities four times within the space of three weeks. It will do him good, if he accepts his party's decision in good faith as no one can safe him from his self caused political woes. He is a known betrayal, and believes no man can survive without pranks and dubiousness. I hope this will serve as a lesson to other arrogant and egoistic politicians who sees themselves as a thin god and will hold grip of power till eternity.