I had wanted to do something about the observations of Rufai Oseni of Arise Television regarding the relationship between Governor Seyi Makinde and his anointed gubernatorial candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi for some time now, but for one reason or the other, I could not.
Fortunately, I have some time to analyze Oseni’s comments on the duo this morning.
Rufai raised concerns about the relationship between Adekanmbi. He is afraid that Makinde appears to be turning Bimbo Adekanmbi into his 3rd term Agenda.
Rufai appealed to the people of Oyo state to avoid a candidate that will not have a mind of his own.
Without any vestige of doubts, Bimbo Adekanmbi is Seyi Makinde’s third term Agenda, but before I go on, I am surprised that Governor Makinde’s attack dogs have been completely silent about this very serious matter.
I am saying this, because, I noticed that the Governor’s Camp has been bubbling with all manner of people who are always ready to jump to his defense at any time.
Very recently, I have noticed two gentlemen on a Whatsapp platform who will immediately take you up and even go to the extent of insulting you for daring to come against the Governor.
A couple of days ago, one of them, in the course of an argument on the platform, told me that the WhatsApp platform is populated by elites.
Unfortunately, I found nothing to convince me that the gentleman in question is qualified to be regarded as an elite.
He and another gentleman, Dr. Peter Akande developed negative pregnancies about my story titled, ” Judicial Commission of Inquiry Into Oriire Abduction: Much Ado About Nothing?”
Infact, as we were having the discussion, Dr. Peter Akande released a veiled rejoinder to my story and he titled it, ” Oriire Abduction: It Is Not Much Ado About Nothing – Nigerians Deserve Answers”.
After reading Dr. Akande’s essay, I smiled. Those who love to see themselves as special people just because they created an enclave where they see and refer to themselves as ” elites” could be extremely funny.
When I was in school, I was also the Litigation Clerk for my late brother, the Hon. Justice Adegboye Ayinla Gbolagunte.
In those days, the set of people we love to cross – examine in the witness box are the ” elites”.
It was always easy to puncture their evidence because they always came to the witness box, thinking they knew more, even than the Judge.
I promised Dr. Peter Akande that I would respond to his story at the appropriate time and I will by the grace of God Almighty and when I do, I will start from the headline of my story.
Dr. Akande was so much in haste to respond to my story that he missed a little detail and that little detail is fundamental.
I ended my story with a question mark. Meaning that, I was specifically directing a question to the Commission of Inquiry and perhaps, the Government that set the Commission up.
Not only that, I made it clear that I submitted a Memorandum to the Commission and that I have not heard from the Commission despite the fact that I dropped two of my active telephone numbers.
In fact, the other gentleman even took his ignorance to another level.
He said the Memorandum I submitted is worthless and is not worth responding to.
That is the fellow who started the elitist argument. Imagine such a very laughable contribution from a self acclaimed elite!
You are not a member of the Commission. You are not a Government spokesperson. You haven’t seen the Memorandum you referred to as ” worthless” and you passed such a damning judgment.
In fact, I would never be proud to refer to myself as an elite, if that is what being an elite would turn me to.
The gentleman was also very inconsistent in his argument and I have noticed that trend in Governor Makinde’s lickspittles.
Like I said, I will respond to Dr. Peter at the appropriate time. I have decided that we will take this battle to every corners where those who have been helping the Governor to spread fake narratives are hiding and we will meet them force with force.
At the appropriate time, I will let him know that when you lack the authority to speak about an issue, the honorable option open to you is to be quiet.
Let us go back to Governor Seyi Makinde and his third term Agenda. Like I said, Rufai Oseni was on point.
Sometimes, I used to pity Bimbo Adekanmbi. He will add a burden that doesn’t totally belong to him, with his own baggage throughout the electioneering period.
Did he have a choice? I think he did. He did, because, before he agreed to accept the offer of being Makinde’s anointed successor, he ought to have considered the challenges that will be accompanying such an offer.
He ought to know that on his head, he would be carrying the liabilities of Omi Tuntun and all the same, he accepted the offer.
I have noticed that he has been struggling to take definite stand on some critical issues which will eventually shape the 2027 election.
For me, the gentleman is gambling. He doesn’t and will dare not have a mind of his own on very critical issues.
For example, I have not heard him speak about the critical point of Local Government Administration.
Judging from the ugly experience of the past seven years plus, under Governor Seyi Makinde, the people of Oyo state would definitely want a shift from what we had under Makinde.
Unfortunately for Bimbo Adekanmbi, Governor Makinde did not hide his disdain for the existence of the Local Governments despite the fact that they are a creation of the Nigerian Constitution.
He was not ashamed to say it loud and clear in 2023 that he doesn’t believe in the existence of the Local Governments and that he wouldn’t sign up for Local Government Autonomy.
We have seen the results of Governor Makinde’s idea of what a Local Government should look like and it is extremely disgusting.
What will Bimbo Adekanmbi do differently? In fact, what can he do?
He has to come clean on this very important issue and I can assure him that we will draw him out.
There is no middle ground. Bimbo Adekanmbi needs to come out clean. Does he believe in the existence of Local Governments, contrary to the position of Governor Seyi Makinde and will he sign up for Local Government Autonomy?
The All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli has come out clean in support of a stronger and vibrant Local Government system where the Councils will be receiving their monthly allocations without hindrance.
What will Adekanmbi do?
There has been a series of crisis in the Broadcasting Corporations of Oyo State, BCOS and I’m surprised that Bimbo Adekanmbi has not said a word about it up till now and this is one of the reasons I agree with Rufai Oseni.
Governor Seyi Makinde has a duty to intervene in the BCOS and, perhaps, deliberately, he has refused or neglected to do the right thing.
A couple of weeks ago, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli addressed the issues in the BCOS and he was emphatic about the fact that he is unhappy with the disturbing occurrences in the BCOS.
He promised to immediately addressed the issues identified as being the reasons for the crisis in the BCOS if he is elected as Governor of Oyo state.
Is it that our friend, Bimbo Adekanmbi is unaware of the crisis in the BCOS or, he chose to look away so that he would not offend his godfather or is it his Principal we will now call Governor Seyi Makinde?
For over a month now, the people of Saki and Ogbomoso have been calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to drop the idea of handing over their Farm Settlements to Estate Developers.
I don’t know whether Adekanmbi is unaware of this disturbing developments despite the fact that Governor Makinde had issued a quit notice to the Settlers in Ogbomoso?
Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli had also adequately addressed this particular issue.
In a release personally signed by him, he condemned the sales or handing over of Oyo state assets and Farm Settlements to Estate Developers while also promising to review all sales and handing over of Oyo state assets and Farm Settlements immediately he resumes office as Governor of Oyo state, May 29, 2027.
Why is Bimbo Adekanmbi quiet? Why won’t he say something?
I saw a video of him in a meeting with some home owners in the 110 km Ibadan Circular Road. In fact, I really pity him on the day.
Apart from saying that he also has a property on the Ìbàdàn Circular Road, he could not clearly address the issues, despite identifying the problems.
He can not. How could he? Will he have the mouth to condemn Governor Seyi Makinde?
Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli on the other hand, didn’t only identified the problems, he gave a timeline for the resolution of the disputes arising from the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor. He was specific and deliberate. Within 48 hours of his assumption of office as Governor of Oyo state, he promised to set up a Committee which will look into the disputes arising from the Circular Road corridor.
That is the beauty of freedom. That is the beauty of a free mind. Specifically, what is Adekanmbi promising, beyond the rhetoric?
In Bimbo Adekanmbi’s shoes, I won’t accept the assignment of the Chairmanship of the Committee saddled with the responsibilities of upgrading the Alakia Airport.
I am saying this, because, as at the time he took the responsibilities, both of them knew that Adekanmbi would be Makinde’s anointed successor. Whatever any of them might want to say, differently from that, is mere politics.
The choice of Bimbo Adekanmbi was agreed upon a long time ago.
Now, does Bimbo Adekanmbi think we will not ask questions about his stewardship as the Committee chairman? Of course, we will and he is better prepared.
How much was given to the Committee to start its job? As at the time he left, how much in total has the Committee received from Government?
I have also not heard Bimbo Adekanmbi talked about our Education sector.
The other time, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli spoke about his vision for the Education sector.
He reminded us of the glorious days of Ladoja, when we used to have just 30 Pupils in one class and he promised to bring those days back.
What will Adekambi do differently?
I agree completely with Rufai Oseni. Oyo state can not afford a Governor who will not have a mind of his own.
In the case of Bimbo Adekambi, it is even much more complicated.
Two godfathers will be struggling for the soul of one Governor. Seyi and Seye!
A o nii ri aidaa l’Oyo o.
Sola Abegunde.
