Of Autism,Adeleke & Osun

By Afolabi Ismail

John Maxwell is a renowned and prolific American writer whose literary works, are majorly focused on leadership. Maxwell in one of his works surmised that, "The strength of any organisation is a direct result of the strength of its leader. Weak leaders equal weak organisations. Strong leaders equal strong organisations. Everything rises and falls on leadership"

In every facet of human endeavors, this is true to life. In fact, Maxwell, while ingraining the above words on the marble, might have had in mind, places like Osun State which is gearing to elect a new helmsman.

Quite indisputably, Osun State is blessed with immense human and natural resources. It is peopled by a population of about five million.

The implication of this is that whoever will lead the state must be mentally and emotionally balanced.With the process of electing a new governor for the state already on, a number of individuals have signified their intentions to occupy the coveted seat to become the next occupier of Government House at Oke-fia in the ancient town.

One of them is Senator Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke whose life, career, etc, are steeped in controversies; and whose aspiration, for so many equally controversial reasons, has continued to generate ruckus in and outside Osun.

To majority of the people of the state who are opposing Ademola Adeleke's aspiration as a result of his obvious deficiencies, it will be an insult if somebody like him whose life, they believe, is dotted with alleged imbecility, is ever allowed to take charge of a state like Osun, which is so blessed with mature and brilliant minds.

Ademola's deficiencies enveloped in mental disability, could be traceable to autism that had assailed him since birth. This unpalatable development, the Adeleke family has been keeping away from the prying eyes of the public for many years.

Autism, for those who do not know, is a form of mental impairment that affects the behavioral pattern of the victim in the areas of social relations, repetitiveness, speech and non verbal communications, among others

The effect of this is what has been trailing Ademola Adeleke up till today. This explains why he lacks communication skills; this is why he can neither read nor write; it is why he cannot effectively function on his own without being guided and goaded; that is why he is academically deficient, and that is why he is incurably focused on one thing – dancing.

Uncomfortably, Ademola is always a happy-go guy whenever he hears rollicking drums which explains why he always has his dancing shoes on – even when he was in the hallowed red chamber of the National Assembly, like Nigerians witnessed in utter dismay while he was a Senator! Unknown to many, it is more than ordinary; it is one of the effects of autism by which the man’s life is being buffeted!

In fact, the much touted degree he claimed to have bagged from an American University, was an online programme said to have been undertaken on his behalf by his Personal Assistant, named Kunle.

Insistence of Adeleke's family to force Ademola on the people of the state by all means is not only an insult but an anathema to a sophisticated setting like Osun. Is it not an absurdity and aberration that someone who is being nannied and taken care of like a baby, is the one the family still wants to force on the state to become its governor? This really contradicts logic.

Maxwell was right; a weak leader in him, will for real, beget a very weak Osun if their agenda is allowed to sail through.

All the hangers-on who are hailing him are only doing so because of the money received.

While one is not rejoicing over Ademola's predicament, it will however be very disheartening and quite unpatriotic of the PDP to impose on the people of Osun State, the ever-frolicking “dancing Senator" whose seeming liveliness at such dancing moments, is merely a shrouded expression of his mental disability, resulting from an underlying ailment.

If, indeed, the PDP is serious about winning the governorship election and not to blow away this golden chance through the greed of some leaders, then the leadership must take a bold step to choose a competent hand among those currently angling for the seat within the party.

More importantly, with the complexity of governance coupled with the myriad of problems which the APC administration has invested the state and its people with, it is only a sound mind who is proven to be mentally and emotionally stable, alert, selfless and, above all, a top banana who can go the full hog in taking progressive decisions that can bail the state out of its present doldrums, that is needed. Not someone that is fickle-minded who will be railroaded into taking actions; one who can easily be manipulated and one who will be driving only by proxy.

An end must come to the reigns of our lords of the manor. It is our collective decisions and actions that can end this. Our 'never-again' affirmation to this must be resoundingly thunderous!

Only then can we be said to be ready to rescue the state; only then can we be said to be ready to steer it into a better and brighter future that we all wish for, pray for and we deserve.

Our destiny is in our hands!

Afolabi Ismail writes from Ilesa, Osun State.

This is what the dictionary called FATALITY.

My brother, fear God nah.

Did you know that you can go to jail for this write up?
Oniranu òṣì

And they elected him as senator right?

Moferere:
Did you know that you can go to jail for this write up?
Oniranu òṣì

It's Brutal Fatality

Nawa o. Fear journalism and journalists. They can turn Hitler into a saint.