I dare say we don’t have any democracy, if we don’t have a Rule of Law because Democracy thrives on the principle of Law. The victim is Ladoja today, it could be you or me tomorrow. That is the point that Wole Soyinka is shouting his voice stiff to put across to all Nigerians. Last time, it was Chief Bola Ige our Chief Law Enforcement Officer and Attorney-General that was cut down by bullets in the comfort of his own bed room. Up till now, his assassins had not been tracked down. Poor Sadatu, the wife of former Governor Rimi and a chieftain of the PDP had been slaughtered like a goat in Kano, in an assassination presumably meant for her husband who was only lucky not to be home by the time the hoodlums came calling. What a country?
Pa Alfred Rewane, Dele Giwa, Mrs. Abiola, Abiola himself and so many other Nigerians have similarly been put to death in our march to Democracy in our country. The Nigerian Police who should all be law enforcers under Ehindero are now saying they take their orders from only one Nigerian, and if that Nigerian’s views happen to run counter to what the Law says, they would rather go along with what the President says regardless. I think we are really in trouble now. If the Judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, would not be allowed to play her own role without let or hindrance, forget it. The nation is all but dead, and we should all be mourning.
We must all thank God for the likes of Wole Soyinka and Oshimole and Gani Fawehinmi, Musa Balarabe, Nuhu Ribadu, El Rufai, Colonel Umar, Ken Saro-wiwa, Jaspar Adakar Boro, Tai Solarin, Dele Giwa, and all those Freedom Fighters who have sacrificed their lives so we could enjoy the little freedom we have today.
Wole Soyinka is already over 70. He may not be around much longer after turning 80 or more, if he survives that long. I just wonder what is going to happen to our country when people like him are now increasingly in short supply. Here was a man who as a young man in the early 60s had found his way to the studio of the old WNBS, at great risk to his life, to make a broadcast to the Nation repudiating what the then Akintola Government was doing to hoodwink the people! That was long before he ever received the Nobel Prize for Literature thus becoming a one man Battalion to speak for the oppressed and the downtrodden of our country around the world.
He had done it when it was unpopular to speak against the pogrom unleashed against the Ibos during the Biafran Wars. He was one of the few Nigerian lions to openly challenge the Federal Government and to side with the helpless Biafran cattle fodder. He had done it when the Balewa Government had attempted to sign a military pact with the British Government in those days to subjugate Nigerians. This enigma called Wole Soyinka has always been there for our country. He is doing it again and the whole nation ought to rally round him. He is a visiting Professor to so many Universities across the globe including Harvard, Berkeley and Emory. He really had no business living in Nigeria, and working day and night to champion our courses. He has recently moved his Headquarters to Ibadan where he is hoping to fight this “Akalamagbo ti ki npodun je” to a standstill in the interest of all of us, with apology to Ewi Maestro Adekoga.
I can tell you that this Akalamagbo is going to “podunje” at Ibadan, and be shown out the door as the legitimate Governor of Oyo reclaims his throne until he is impeached the correct way, if that is what Adedibu and his cohort the President of Nigeria must have.
All we are saying, is do it the right way, and do not create a precedent that could be cited in the foreseeable future. I do not know Ladoja from Adam, and I don’t have to know him, before I stand up for him, because the issue at stake is certainly beyond him. Granting immunity against prosecution to legitimately elected President and Governors is obnoxious, for sure, but it is currently the Law of our Land that needs to be changed, but it is still the Law. All we are saying is follow the Constitution to the letter. Period. All it
needs for evil to triumph is for good people to see evil and keep quiet or look the other way. We would not do that. I am all for Wole Soyinka. This President either obeys the Law or he should start singing his “Nunc Dimitis” in the overall interest of our Country.
I rest my case.
7 comments
I just came about this site,i never knew that it existed.Thank God i came about it at least i can add one or two things too.We nigerians have to be very careful of how we reason.I am very delighted that a lot of nigerians are still awake with a very good sense of reasoning,or how do we think of someone working to install Senator Ladoja and at the end of the day he was disappointed.Why have we not learnt to only trust God.For me I am very assured that nether I nor my father stole Oyo State government money and that is why five years after we can still walk freely the streets of our dear state without being stoned.We have done our best,we still wait to see the man that would beat our achievements and also use a full 4 years term unterminated or beat the record.May God bless us all.
i know mr o olatunde very well.he is not somebody that can be trusted at all.he was a member of eiye confraternity in school then.he can never say anything good.i am so sure he has some fake travelling documents with him,that is for you to understand who he is.pls stop allowing people that do not have integrity on this site coming to say all sorts about our leaders of tommorow.if Lam Adesinas children were spending government money,how come their father has not been arrested for stealing government money.let us fear God in everything we do.goodluck.
I ll basically like to address the person who passed comment one.If you think the way that lam adesina's kids lived is not good enough maybe you should get a life soon.I mean what has the lifestyle of the kids got to do wiv you. if you r not satisfied with it may be you should go jump in to kanjidamn or something.It is so obvious that you are out right jealous and i am sure you are not gonna do better if you were in their shoes maybe you will even be worse.I dont blame you you are a graduate of polythenic of Ibadasn no wonder you are not even ashamed of yourself, you even put it on the internet i wonder why you didnt get an admission into a Federal university if you were so smart.You had better go nfind something resonable to do with your time, other thAN CRITICISING other people.
the young man in comment 1 is a fool. They athe young chaps are suffering from Abacha mentality bcos their grandfathers OBJ and Adedibu destroyed Nigeria. I cry for a wasted generation. All jokes aside, Nigeria is done if we allow this nonsense to stand.
Commentator #1
I could barely read your comments. You are a good example of all that has gone wrong with our education and values. And people like you want Obasanjo and his band of rascals (Adedibu, Uba, etc) to rule some more. We need good leadership so that the younger ones won't end up like you.
Olatunde o,
Your ideas are despicable. I won't comment on your grammar, poor logic, and obvious lack of knowlegde. This is what one gets by having an Obasanjo, Ladoja, Adedibu, and Akala whatever in leadership positions.
The author of this article is no doubt an elderly person endowed with high level of undesrtanding of the nigeria politic,right from the old western region to the present dispensation.
I will like to say He has actualy did justice to the present situation of things in Oyo state. Having said that ,i will like to bring my own perspection of the current political drama in Oyo state.
As a fresh graduate from The Polytechnic Ibadan at the time Adewolu Ladoja was contesting for the Oyo state Gubernatorial election.
We the Fresh graduate of The Polytechnic Ibadan in assocition with the current school actively participated in making sure Ladoja won the Election.
The reason being that we believe we had suffer enough in the hand of the then governor Lam Adeshina.
And there is a vital need for a change .and this is one of the main reason why we voted him and mobilised our parents,brothers and sisters to do the same.
Futher more we believed Adewolu as a very cool headed and successful Businessman/Engineer will be able to manage the state well,couple with the indiscipline behavior of Lam Adesina kids in person of Dapo,tunji and co spending the state money as they like and living like guru of sort in Ibadan metropolis.
May it interest the author of this article to know that Ladoja like is predecessor has woefully failed the trust bestowed upon him by the youth of Oyo state. One notable thing is Development ! Oyo state development has continue to be stagnant ever since Ladoja became Governor and to say the least the state money were diverted to his and his cohort uses.
I was grossly disapointed when i visited nigerian a year ago. Oyo state capital Ibadan which is my home town is in total mess 'ranging from eye sore environment to lack of infrastructures utilities and services.The question on every reasonable person's mind is are they not funding this state?
Since then i lost my interest in the Governorship of Ladoja.
Ladoja was so bussy trying to outsmart his political Grandad at the expensive of the peoples welfare and this is the main reason why he failed. Perhaps he would have been protected by the Ibadan people and the state at large if he had actually exibit an excemplary attitude to his primary assignment as the governor of Oyo state.Because i strongly believe The ever cautious people of Oyo state can do that , considering how we rallied round to sent Lam off the leadership of the state. but due to the fact that he is a gross failure ,people refuse to be there for him.
Another major problem we must bear in mind is that the issue of godfatherism that is rocking this present political dispensation is not perculier to oyo state alone it is a national syndrome that need national attention.
But i must be honest with you if the elected officers can show the populace that they realy want to serve, people will no doubt rise up and fight for thier liberation from these Demons called godfathers.And as a matter of being honest with ourselves ,there is no way you can eat your cake and have it' and this is the major problem with the like of Ladoja.Yoruba people says 'ESU O NI SORE FUNI KO MA GBEJE' THAT IS DEVIL WILL NEVER BLESS YOU WITHOUT YOU COMMITTING YOURSELVE.
Concerning Obasanjo, i will not like to rubbish him completely ,because he himselve is undergoing the process of transformation and i hoped he transformed well into a new being! and besides many people dont know that we need continuity in our nascent democratic dispensation and believe you me the only person on ground now is Obasanjo so that we can realise our dream Nigeria . May be this is why OBJ is supporting the likes of Adedibu so as to realised his third term .
if this is the reason i whish him Good luck.As far as our democracy will survive.
For peace to rain in Oyo state Ladoja should learn his mistake now and embrace peace.
Akala is ofcourse not different from Ladoja !I even learnt that he is a drunk.May God Almighty save us and our people and guide our leaders right.
All i have written here is not intended to black mail or jeopardise anybody's interest but meant to contribute my on comment on the issue.
Long Live Oyo State, Long Live The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.