On May the 29th 1962, a state of emergency was declared in the Western Region after disagreements within the Action Group snowballed into a Regional crisis.
A sole Administrator was appointed by the Federal Government of Tafawa Balewa to take over from the Action Group Government.
As a result of that, a major crisis that shook the AG to its roots followed because of the suspension of Democratic governance in the Western Region.
A series of trials and persecution of Awolowo and his loyalists also followed that step.
At a particular time, when Awolowo and his most loyal friends and comrades were being held at different places under protective custody, some prominent members of the AG began to romance the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, the Party controlling the centre at the time.
At that point, a gale of defections from the AG to the NPC began.
Awolowo’s opponents in the NPC arranged the defections to unfold serially so that it’s effect would be more symbolic, painful and emphatic.
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Awolowo himself admitted that by the manner the defections were planned and arranged, he felt the impact of its blows as it was administered daily.
The Federal Government at the time also made use of its Newspaper to carry the defections of once loyalists of Awolowo and referred to it as the ‘ shock series ‘.
The caption always read, ” shock number one for Awo” and so on.
You can trust Awolowo.
After a few days of receiving the blows of the ” shock series”, Awolowo called a meeting where every potential saboteurs who were helping to sustain the shock series were identified, their names compiled and they were expelled from the AG.
In his Book, the Travails of Justice and the Rules of Law, Awolowo referred to the mass expulsion as ‘ one mighty blow’.
The ‘ mighty blow’ effectively put an end to the ‘ shock series ‘.
I saw a video some minutes ago and the content served me joy unspeakable.
Oyo APC Youths adopted the strategy of Awolowo to serve a mighty blow against sabotage and impunity.
When I saw a flyer this morning bearing the picture of Hon. Saheed Fijabi with an annoying caption from one Olaniyan T. Alphonso, I became very uncomfortable.
Oyo APC Youths are having a summit today to further discuss the way forward.
From the message on the post of Alphonso, Saheed Fijabi would be attending but of greater concerns to me is the statement by Alphonso.
He wrote, ” I will be attending the APC Youths Summit today and for one reason only, to find a way to build a very good relationship with Saheed Akinade Fijabi”.
He further wrote, ” As a possible governorship candidate under our party, the PDP, I believe it is better that we begin to build relationships with his people early”.
He concluded by saying, ” what a time to be a PDP member”.
The statement is clear, loaded and annoying.
I must also say that I saw a video of the gentleman, Saheed Fijabi about 48 hours ago when he was delivering his speech at the unveiling of the Oyo state at 50 logo by Governor Makinde.
Recall that Governor Makinde had appointed him as the Chairman of the 50 years celebration planning committee.
Not only that, his father, High Chief Fijabi has been seen on video disparaging the APC of recent.
In the video I saw today, Saheed Fijabi actually attended the Oyo APC Youths summit but he got more than he bargained for.
He was shamefully thrown out of the venue at the Civic Center in Ibadan.
Such a bold move by the Oyo APC Youths is not only commendable, it is heartwarming.
There must be a point at which impunity has to stop.
Oyo APC is not a theatre village and the Youths proved that today.
The likes of Fijabi thinks they are wiser than all of us.
You want to feast with the deity and at the same time, wine with the masquerade.
Now that he has been shown the red card, would he be man enough to go and embrace Governor Makinde in the PDP?
I bet he would be extremely sad wherever he is now.
His case is like that of a puppy that is serving two masters.
Chinua Achebe said such a puppy would end up breaking its jaws.
I am particularly happy with the brave action of the Oyo APC Youths, not only because of Saheed Fijabi but because of others like him and most especially, Governor Seyi Makinde.
The Governor must know now that there are no rooms for saboteurs within Oyo APC and once saboteurs are noticed, they will receive the Saheed Fijabi treatment.
I listened to the state Secretary of Oyo APC and I must give him credit .
He did not mince words when he declared that the expulsion letter of Saheed Fijabi would get to him tomorrow.
So be it.
Every potential Judases must be uprooted from Oyo APC.
To Oyo APC Youths, ‘ Kundusi’.
Sola Abegunde.
