According to Booker T. Washington, "Success is not to be measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed."
Picking up from Booker T. Washington's ingredient of measuring success in life, Obasanjo has decided to open the chorus line of the filthy, devious politics recurring as 2015 is knocking very hard at the door steps of Nigerians. Some communities feel the dividends of democracy while some are yet to smell what Nigeria politicians are cooking.
The fact remains that all major projects are on hold from any elected public officials till after the 2015 elections, which is less than 14 months. Jonathan is still testing the political water in his 'kabuki' dance. Nigerians have started praising the politicians in response to their deceitful election campaigns with empty promises of making the citizens' life better, through some white elephant projects, without any solid item to sustain an average Nigerian.
Any projects, embarked upon by any administration, across Nigeria that has not been completed by the second half of 2014 would be part of the abandoned projects if, and when, the incumbent is not re-elected; even if re-elected, it is going to be the mopping up period. The electorates should be smart enough, this time around, 2014, as their standard of living continue to suffer regression by the hour; not to be caged by any of the ongoing uncompleted projects, especially with those seeking re-election.
Pa, General, Engineer, Dr., Chief, Pastor, Oluwo Mathew Aremu Olusegun Okanlawon Obasanjo, my one and only Baba Iyabo, on his 77th birthday celebration, March 5, 2014, held at the amphitheatre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, (not too sure of his birth date anyway), has joined the chorus line praising his Political Grand Son, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Owu Kingdom, for the wonderful work he has done in his 34 months sojourn in Ogun politics, regardless.
Pardon me please, I am not too sure which title to use for Amosun, Governor, Senator, His Excellency, Distinguished, Ibikunle Amosun, popularly referenced, SIA. In Yoruba, if you are going to deal with someone, you will state that, 'mima se SIA fun e'.
Obasanjo admitted that based on the Nigeria political gamut, the challenge of the assessment of Nigerian politician until they vacate office is eminent. It is obvious that singing their praises while still in office is a way of seeking their favors.
Assisting Chief Olusegun Obasanjo cutting his 77th birthday cake, left are Professor Adeyemi Aderibigbe, Mrs A. Obasanjo-Eweje, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Govenor Ibikunle Amosun, Olori and Oba Gboyega Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu, PHOTO BY WUMI AKINOLA |
Bless Your Heart Olusegun, we wish you happy birthday, my one and only, Baba Iyabo, Balogun of Owu, Generalissimo of 'Do or Die Politics' of Later Day Saints, who dey Kampe at any time of the season!!!
Chief Obasanjo may not "like to say things about politicians especially when they are still in power. It is only when politicians are out of power that you can assess them accurately but this one, I will stick out my neck a little bit…" SIA should note that the stick for the first wife is kept safe in the house of political deceit for him when the time comes. By then we would see how long Obasanjo "would stick out his neck…" for Amosun, as he always do to all his political sons, which would later turned into political sourness. Political Analysts would be measuring and analysing the statements as time goes on.
Good road network at inner cities, within the State is a pointer to development with the hope that the road network would be completed in record time. The road construction in some part of Ogun State would continue till the time of the electioneering campaigns, used like fishing baits for votes. Despite the complaints of demolishing some structures very close to the township roads, some of them may NEVER be completed, while the people high hope is for their completion before the election.
Baba Iyabo could start defending SIA on the logic in erecting a fully air-conditioned overhead pedestrian's bridge on Ita-Eko-Sokori-Totoro Road, Abeokuta, in the Tropical Weather that records over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The overhead pedestrian allegedly leads to SIA's father homestead; considered to be a sheer waste of resources without much economic value, and abuse of office.
A flyover is needed in a very high densely populated environment with heavy traffic for the safety of the pedestrians, not just in an empty environment cosmetically constructed to deceive the electorates as if they are stack illiterates, just for the purpose of buying their votes. After the election, the exciting community happiness would be like the cow shipped to the foreign land, not realizing that it would turn into 'nanmon', corn beef, to nourish the consumers.
Possibly the Flyover is in competition with the OPIC building, the architectural beauty by the previous administration in line with the unique symbol of SIA's outdated Cap of the Owambe episode of pitiable Governance. It is a mockery as other projects have no regular power supply. Security doors at the end of the two entrances allow safe havens for all sorts of human beings, a convenient abode for miscreant, a make-shift lovers' den in the comfort of the Air condition.
A citizen naively stated that, SIA is constructing the first international standard road (Express/RSS Junction-Oba Erinwole road), and building the first flyover bridge in Sagamu; as if that addresses Sagamu health needs. Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, still lacks steady power supply, while some Sagamites are rejoicing at the delayed flyover to get their votes.
The State-owned Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Shagamu, is left without regular power supply; while the power plant under construction by the previous administration has been abandoned after millions of Naira has been sunk into the project. Not even revisiting the direct power line with PHCN as done by its neighboring private institution, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo. Interestingly BU has started a modern Teaching Hospital, aggressively pursued by its administration. In due course, BUTH would take full advantage of its easily accessible Teaching Hospital from the East, West, North, and South.
Any medical facility, most especially Teaching Hospital, should have steady power supply with generators at stand-by in case of power failure. Generator has been OOUTH source of power supply. What prevents SIA's administration to complete the power generating project, or direct connection with PHCN, for the benefit of the community? Lack of constant power supply leaves the Health workers, most especially Medical Doctors; perform surgeries using head lamps like grass cutter hunters, or telephone light, that radiates into the patients' open skin.
Our Perfect God has been quietly watching the activities of His products with the instruction to love, forgive one another without any thought of retribution, in fairness with fear of God in mind. Ironically, God's creations on earth have been going against His teachings, hence the self-imposed changes they brought upon themselves; asking God to forgive their sins, why they REFUSED to forgive those that wronged them. Should anyone punish other citizens for hating his predecessor?
SIA, since elected, even before his inauguration, began on a vengeful mission, reversing some policies of the immediate past administration to rubbish the achievements of his predecessor in office. SIA emerged the Governor through the advantage of the cracked political wall in Ogun State. He went wild like chicken just let out of basket, ransacking, ejecting, blackmailing, witch-hunting, demolishing, rampaging, undoing what his predecessors established, without any consideration of the cost-benefits to the communities. Baba Iyabo has to "stick out his neck" for such moves, especially with the realization that when two elephants fight, eventually it comes back to hurt the grass where the fight has been staged.
Obasanjo might explain to the community why SIA's free education promised, witnessed his stylish vengeance governance, by his attempt to scrap TASUED; just for the fact that the past Administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel created it. TASUED is a seven-year-old institution that has a ranking of 42 among 117 public and private universities in Nigeria, the best state university in Nigeria, ranked far and above Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU).
In a civilized society succeeding government does not interject personal vendetta to obliterate meaningful projects for the community of its predecessor just for the ill feelings against the individual who headed that administration. Luckily one of the ACN/APC Senators, who I have personal respect for, Senator Gbenga Kaka, the TASUED Students body, and his Community succeeded, through Abeokuta court injunction, in making SIA's administration to maintain status quo.
In other words, the presiding judge, of the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia restrained the Ogun State governor, SIA, and the state House of Assembly from scrapping the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State. In plain language of the Court, "all actions on the merger of the third (TASUED) and fifth (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye) defendants are hereby suspended until the final determination of the Motion on Notice dated February 9, 2012."
Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun | 
Pupils of Matogun Community High School carrying 6-Inch cement blocks to the school compound. |
SIA took his persecution, vengeance, vendetta, vindictiveness, and his administration bitterness to the House of Worship, 2011, Shagamu. At the funeral of Pa Daniel, SIA surprised everyone at the Church for paying condolence visit to Otunba Gbenga Daniel. I told my wife that day that SIA was on a vindictive condolence visit to the Church. Electorates started wondering weather SIA was elected to go after the personality of Daniel. He might as well hunt for all Daniel's family members, including the aged spiritual man he wanted his body exhumed from his resting place.
Gov. Amosun, Yeye Olufunke Daniel and OGD at the Church Service | 
Politics of Bitterness |
We could replay Victor Olaiya's song for SIA that 'in this world no condition is permanent'. We could possibly start with series of debates between SIA and OGD at all the Tertiary Institutions across the State; a motor race across the state; wrestling matches at the Shagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ilaro, Stadia, with the final at the MKO Abiola Stadium; injuries would be treated at any of the Health Institutions and Medical facilities. Possibly, Ophthalmologists could help those loosing their sights, engaging some of the Ear and Nose Throat Doctors to hear, smell, and see better. Citizens would be encouraged to watch these events live onOGTV Station, over the OGS Radio Station, possibly Shoaaga and Funmi Wakama would get the citizens to benefit from their NTA experiences in the State.
It was a relieve when in December 20, 2012, SIA ordered that the severance packages of all political office holders, who served in the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, between year 2003 and 2011, should be paid. The order through a circular issued by SIA's Commissioner for Budget, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, to prepare and pay the allowances without further delay, as reported by National Mirror of December 21, 2012, has not been effected till date, March 2014. Obasanjo has a lot to stick his neck into.
Meanwhile, in June 2012 a hook was put in SIA's incessant careless allegations, with two different lawsuits filed under Suit# AB/152/2012 and AB/154/2012, by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Sina Kawonise (publisher of Compass Newspaper), Mrs Toni Soboyejo, Dr. Isiaq Kunle Salako, Mr. Raheem Ajayi, Mr. Ifekayode Akinbode and Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, against 'persistent character assassination', reckless statements; of Ogun State Governor, Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Olaniyonu, and Commissioner for Finance, Kemi Adeosun. The magic wand worked.
SIA believed to have wrathfully handled some media crew in one of his outings (February 2014) during the APC crisis in Ogun State with the Governor, National Assembly members, and other Stakeholders. The people of the press were taken aback when SIA leashed out his anger in his local language, "Nka it eri ohun ko in e nko. Ohun to sele in yen. Eyin na mo pe gbogbo nkan it e nko yen, agbelero in. E ki i se ore mi o! Write it o, that I said you are doing 'agbelero'. "E it ko o; emi o kan soro mo in o. Gbogbo agbelero it e nko; se b'o it sele simi ri, mo kan now yin in; e maa lo ko lo! Mo ri pe enko loo, esi ma ko lo!" Wow! What a way of working with the media. In a simple translation, SIA declared that the journalists in the state were not his friends, and also dared them to publish all he was saying; accused them of fabricating news about his role in APC.
How is SIA going to handle the 2015 election with the Journalists that have been neglected since he successfully sneaked into the cracked Ogun political wall? I hope Journalists in the State would not join the 'Cash and Carry Journalism' Club. SIA's Senior Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Funmi Wakama might have her basket full with the manners SIA handles the Journalists in Ogun State. She should give a fair advice on media management based on her experience with NTA, beyond her pretty face.
Now that the election is around the corner, the activities of the current administration are on the bargaining table with the Ogun Citizens for the next election. With the challenges in bringing democracy to the door steps of an average Ogun Citizens, politics of bitterness should not replace the enhanced and progressive programs, building upon his predecessors to make Ogun State the pride of its citizens and Nigeria.
SIA has to give OOUTH steady power supply, complete those roads, honor the severance packages for all political office holders who served in the administration of the immediate past administration. SIA should construct Air Conditioned Flyover in each key Cities of the State. Abi I lie?
SO HELP US GOD!!!
Femi Ajayi is a Professor of Policy, Management & Conflict Resolution, at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State
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