First Anniversary: Ondo lawyer Babaleye replies Akeredolu’s son
And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light – 2Corinthians 11:14
I draw my inspiration from the second epistle of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians this morning. In the chapter eleven of the above quoted scripture, Paul warned the elect that he had espoused to Christ lest they are beguiled as the serpent subtly did to Eve and robbed humanity of eternity.
In Nigeria, it seems there is a serious pain in the hearts of men who have left power just yesterday. As much as El-Rufai is fighting hard at the Centre, Babajide Akeredolu, a one time de-facto Governor, suddenly found his voice in Ondo state. I will not waste words on the Kaduna politician but rather be concerned about my state where I have a big stake.
Aketi, though late, but brought so much troubles to this state. He exalted impunity and raised the bar of greed. If there was any truth Aketi told to power, it was the one he never told himself. Remove Amotekun from him, he would be left with mere grandstanding. A man who brought his in-laws, children, friends and family to feed fat on our collective patrimony had no truth in him. Former GovernorMimiko brought the LP logo of Papa, Mama and Pikin to Ondo State but it was Aketi that used the logo. Even in death, the disorganization is felt in his house as everyone speaks for him. Today, the wife speaks, tomorrow, his eldest son speaks and at another time, the youngest son opens his mouth on behalf of the family. One family, different speakers. We await when his numerous in-laws would speak too. Who speaks for the late Governor? Who should we even respond to? Why is it always about them as if nobody had governed this state before? Why is Mimiko, Adefarati and Ajasin Family not speaking? What do Aketi family forgets in Alagbaka Government House? What is the meaning of all these?
My reaction is not to dwell much on the one year anniversary of the late Governor. That’s not my business. But does Babajide know that in one day, Aketi could be honoured by the kegites club, ODSG, Anglican church, his immediate and extended family separately? Does he know that ODSG doesn’t need his approval to celebrate a past leader who fed on tax payers’ money?
I read the first note of appreciation in the evening of event held at Ọwọ. The writer copiously appreciated the Governor of Ondo, being represented by the Deputy Governor. Or does Babajide think in his fickle mind that Dr Olayide Adelami graced the occasion as an Ọwọ man? The evil plan to hit the Governor is an afterthought. His anger against the incumbent Governor is misplaced. There was a committee set up to plan this event and they do not need the approval of the former mighty DG to function.
But Jide is audacious o. How could he complain that Aiyedatiwa didn’t finish in one year the projects that his late father didn’t complete in 7 years? Does that boy fear God at all? Aketi was sick for how many months? Was there any contractor working on Ikun to Idoani road? Was Akungba Township roads not abandoned? What about Oda road, Ijoka road and the flyover at Onyearugbulem? What was the level of work done? The projects they left at 25 to 40 percent completion? What did Jide as DG do during the reign of locusts and caterpillars other than to plunder this state into avoidable ruin? Where is our money deposited in Zenith Bank for over 10 years? Was Ondo State doing anything other than paying salary for months? What did they do with the money? Who was in charge? One of the legacies of Aketi was his sectionalism and clannish tendencies. Road projects only worked in Ọwọ expeditiously. The one in Ikare even dragged before he finished it. The one he is doing at Akungba has remained an abandoned project till date.
Now Jide has become emergency comrade and Human rice Activist in the words of his mother. I love the way emergency comrade Jide itemized what the Governor should do and did not do. People truly see better when out of power and Jide is another testament.
But let me remind him that the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic workers that his father didn’t pay for years received salaries under Governor Aiyedatiwa. That should excite him more than the upgrade. His sudden identification with the workers of Ondo State oozes dishonesty. Ondo State workers cannot forget in a jiffy how Remita under their watch was used to shortchanged their salaries. Comrades are not tricky. He should stop that. Can Jide explain to the world the sources of his sudden wealth? A young man whose NYSC was as recent as that of our last child? Have they returned all government properties in their care? We know more than they think we know and they should go and enjoy their loot in peace in the words of their mother.
I am glad that Babajide has joined the league of comrades in Ondo state. I am his leader and he shouldn’t join through the backdoor. I yelled against the injustices of his late father and that earned me a lot of persecution. My house was marked for demolition, my hotel was marked for demolition and unreasonable tax demands were made from me at various times. It took God’s intervention for me to come out in peace. Let the Emergency Comrade know that this is the first Christmas that notable politicians in Ondo state didn’t travel to Imo state for one phoney program or the other. This is the first December without Fowosofo. In the name of political patronage, does Jide know the number of politicians that were conned in Alagbaka? I know how many that paid for unavailable party ticket. For the first time, those of us that were ostracised for seven years of the pharos reign are back to the mainstream. For the first time we know how candidates emerged for the forthcoming Local Government election in Ondo State. Sanity is returning to the State gradually and we thank God.
I must remind Emergency comrade Jide that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is more than the person they used to know. He’s no longer their pushover. He’s the substantive Governor of Ondo State and should be respectfully criticized going forward. If we could tolerate his father, he should drink enough water, get popcorn and take the back seat.
I appeal to him to bring the entire Babs Squad into this comradeship. He can’t do it alone. I am ready to baptize all of them as a senior comrade. We can ignore the Mother but definitely not the Son, enough is enough!
Happy Christmas and prosperous new year in advance to the People of Ondo State! O ti dirorun!
I am Tolu Babaleye writing from the position of truth.
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