Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, goes the famous comedy from the theatrical stable of Professor Ola Rotimi, the late Nigerian playwright and academic. From the dark tragedy of The Gods Are Not to Blame, modelled after the Greek Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Our Husband is some catharsis, showing that life, no matter how imperfect or grim, could not be 100 per cent gloom.
But some comedies could be tragic, if not by broad classification, then by application. A live example of such is the latest stunt by the Osoko, Ayo Fayose, enfant terrible governor of Ekiti and self-christened Irumale to nje jollof rice (Demon that feasts on jollof rice).
In his latest theatrics, Fayose has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, practically staking a right to nominate a minister for him. His bona fides? Ekiti is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state through and through: from governor, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly — 100 per cent!
So, as Ekiti-Kete lord of manor and commander-in-chief of the Ekiti political warriors, shaped in Fayose’s rambunctious image, he wanted to bless the president with the nomination of a minister of genuine Ekiti extraction. Fair enough.
For effect, he promised Buhari “a worthy and competent Ekiti professional for appointment”. Well, well, well!
“Worthy and competent” — in what field, Hardball might ask?
In political mugging? In truth, this polity can testify to Fayose’s expertise in that line. Since he took office, his army of political muggers and allied underclass denizens have found absolute fulfilment in Ekiti’s one-day-one-trouble odyssey.
In legislative subversion? Walahi, sai Baba, he is your man! If you ever have cause to defrock a pea-cocky National Assembly; and cut to size both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Fayose’s nominee is the one to give the tutorials.
See, as mighty as the constitution is, Fayose has proved mightier. He has sacked parliament, has spent the people’s money without parliamentary approval and has even appointed commissioners, as sole political Leviathan. What is more? He has not only boasted, he has shown that no court can touch him; and no parliament, unhorse him.
In rabble-baiting? Again, surely a proven expertise! As we speak, Fayose’s energetic rabble have rammed trailers to cordon off vital highways, just to shut out exiled Ekiti parliamentarians, allegedly coming to town to impeach Fayose, the mighty man of the people!
Meanwhile, the same Fayose, aka Mr. No Apology, was unapologetically behind the most condemnable hate adverts, during electioneering, claiming the then candidate of the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), would die, if Nigerians made the mistake of electing him.
Why, only a few days ago, at the height of the impeachment saga, a clearly harried Fayose was sending an SOS to this same Buhari, to prevail on Ekiti APC legislators not to impeach him, even if he has committed brazen constitutional crimes! Today, a mischievous Fayose is staking powers to ministerial nominations! That is Fayose for you, blowing hot and cold.
Hardball genuinely feels Fayose should keep his rascality to Ekiti, which people appear to have the extremely elastic capacity to suffer fools gladly. Besides, if the president has spurned governors from his own APC on ministerial nominations, why would he listen to Fayose, a very unserious and unstable character?
Of course, to him, everything is stunt and show-boating. That is why he cuts the picture of a parody of Ola Rotimi: Our Osoko Has Gone Mad Again!