Auxiliary!

HARDBALL

Something is brewing in Oyo State.  But it is not exactly the “good news” the media handlers of Governor Seyi Makinde love to share.

Indeed, it could be nasty news, an avoidable re-live of Oyo’s push-and-shove politics.  That is why the governor and his handlers must be very careful.

On February 18, the South West zone of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) addressed a press conference at Osogbo, Osun, where they issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Oyo State government.

Their grouse? Governor Makinde’s appointment of Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary, the former chairman of a faction of the Oyo wing of NURTW, in the pre-Ajimobi days, as chairman, Disciplinary Committee, for Oyo motor parks.  Besides, they alleged the governor, by suspending union activities,  was usurping their legitimate functions as a lawful trade union, thus hampering their means of livelihood.

Now, NURTW and allied road unions are often known for their excesses; and frankly, any government may feel obliged to take tough actions against them, for the sake of public peace.  Governor Makinde may well be in possession of intelligence reports, to have necessitated his action to emplace a motor park disciplinary committee.

But the choice of Auxiliary is very odd.  Auxiliary, you may recall, was at the vortex of near-anarchy that seized Oyo, during the latter part of the governorship of Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, dovetailing into the one-term of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.  It was the high reign of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s democratic garrison commander for Oyo.

During that period, Ibadan was a virtual war zone, with many members of its elite fleeing for dear lives.  Why, the sitting commissioner(s) of Police back then flatly told not a few among them that he could not guarantee their safety and security –particularly if they belonged outside the ruling party!  Auxiliary himself was, in July 2016, jailed six years, for intra-Union scuffles, that led to loss of lives.

It was the Auxiliary era insecurity question that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had to first tackle, when he assumed office.  That virtually recalled Ibadan to life, to use the image of Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities, leading to the city regaining its peace.

This background, therefore, makes the choice of Auxiliary, a clearly polarizing figure, well and truly controversial, if not outright bizarre.  Given present rumblings,  and if past trends are anything to go by, Ibadan appears again set for destabilizing violence.  That appears a doom foretold; and you just wonder the quality — and sanity — of this gubernatorial decision.

Well, it is very easy to start a fire but very difficult to put it out.  That is true of almost every Nigerian crisis; and a living and troubling proof is the Boko Haram insurrection, which was totally avoidable.

Besides, it took quite an effort for Ajimobi to stamp out road union violence, that shattered the peace of the state and endangered innocent and law abiding citizens.  It therefore makes no sense to lead the state right back into it.

Auxiliary is the acid test for Makinde.  Will he prove his campaign-era fresh spring (Omi Titun) giving fresh life?  Or just another muddy water (Omi Erofo) endangering the wellness of all?

Hardball waits with bated breath!