The general feelings among the masses is that aspirant to a public office should at least have some sort of super human traits. He should at least be above board in all spheres. He is expected to exude charisma, courage and possess qualities of great leaders of the past. Further, such an incredible individual is well expected to exhibit remarkable confidence, mastery, with his flaws and shortcomings away from the eyes of the public. Matter-of-fact, the aspirant is even expected to think of himself as some sort of infallible, an untouchable proverbial wild cat with nine lives! And when the universe conspired to bring fortune by winning election, such individual is expected to work wonder and stay away from controversy. Stay away from controversy?
Here is where it gets interesting: it is quite possible to stay away from controversy by being careful, mindful and cautious both in words and in deeds. But the flip side is that, staying away from controversy makes you even more controversial. Given the danger, volatility and fragility of being neutral and naïve as a political office holder, opposition tend to stick their heads and hands and hammer issues to their side where ruling party and its members attempt to play it safe. In other words, being the Governor or Senator or the ruling party comes with its price and sure has its own ups and downs.
For the Oyo state Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde, a very reserved and reclusive personality, being in the News at all time both for the good, the bad, and the ugly seems to be a political tactics, strategy and masterstroke that has brought its ups and downs, because in all sense of it and in the true definition of a populist, the Governor and his Government have mastered the art and science of thrusting themselves into the hearts and heads of the people. Not quite long, News reported the Governor had joined bands of protesters in commemoration of the June 12 Democracy day. For the South Western Nigeria, Oyo state inclusive, June 12 is both a symbolic and historic day and its recognition by the President, Muhammadu Buhari remains one defining legacy of his administration.
But this year’s June 12 had three different protests staged across the country. Of the three, one was about M.K.O Abiola, the man whose mandate was smashed on the rock of military insensitivity and autocracy. Although, some protesters leveraged on this to draw the attention of Government at all levels to intensify efforts on insecurity (which has made lives cheap in the country), job creation (with about sixty six million unemployed Nigerians), poverty reduction (with Nigeria as its capital in the world) and many more. For instance, this protest attracted more people than the remaining two because the common man on the street is sympathetic to it course as it reflected their pains and agony.
The second of the protest was one ridiculously tagged ‘Buhari Must Go’ with former Presidential hopeful, Omoyele Sowore as its convener. This protest appears ridiculously farcical because the whole idea is self defeating. You don’t ask a democratically elected President to vacate office through protest when you can wait for the next election to mobilize and solicit for people’s votes. And that was why ‘Buhari Must Go’ faded into the quicksand of failed political movement. The last of the protest was one intended to strengthen and galvanized calls for the Yoruba Nation. This was led by Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, Igboho and was staged primarily in Akure, Ondo state capital.
While the three protests are all backed up legally, the only plausible protest is one aimed at charging leaders across spectrum to walk more of their talks. And that was the one News says the Governor actually joined albeit needless. It is needless and unnecessary because such move is contradictory, counterproductive, counterintuitive, and is easier to manipulation and can be seamlessly twisted for political gain. One peddler of this tirade opined that the Governor had joined bands of people asking the President to go. It further says the protesters were even ungrateful to the President whose administration recognized the historical relevance of June 12 in the democratic trajectory of the country. It says the Governor is making a mess of himself by joining those calling for the President to vacate the Villa and head back to Daura. It also cited the Governor’s bromance with Mr. Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary and the executive protection he gave to #EndSARS protesters in October last year in Ibadan.
Of course, this can never be true logically and rationally. This is because a Governor is just a leader of the component parts of the federation. The real poster child for the unitary system we disguised as federalism is the President. Take away the president and the whole idea of democracy comes tumbling down, falling like pack of cards. No Governor worth his name will ever join such bandwagon – asking for the President to go. Each Governor alone is like a resident in the glass house. Throwing stone is not just a matter of abomination, it’s simply the easiest survival means. Send the president away and you are off the plush office as well.
“When you have big historic changes” Condoleeza Rice says “ there are going to be ups and downs…There are going to be peaks and valleys. Some things are going to go right. Some things are going to go wrong. But as long as the strategic direction is going in the right way, that’s really what you have to judge”.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
