Immensely dislike it when someone self-titles himself without reflecting on the nuances of that appellation. Our politicians are most guilty of this. Many politicians blissfully preen when called “godfathers” while joyfully oblivious that the pejorative term is actually derogatory. Among several other titles now flying in our political space is “the issue.” Oyo State’s former Governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja recently gave this new word a fresh meaning in the dynamics surrounding his latest quest to become the state’s governor again.
Now, about Senator Ladoja. In my observance of Oyo State’s political terrain before now, I found him excitedly refreshing, especially during his infamous tug-of-war with late Lamidi Adedibu during the latter’s halcyon days of single-handedly bearing Oyo’s political fortunes in his pocket. I felt Ladoja’s doggedness and grace under pressure during those trying times marked him as a progressive worthy of favourable continued scrutiny.
But, the same feat which should have earned Ladoja national greatness, heralds his personal tragedy. Maybe, those incidents which led to his impeachment and ostracisation within his former party apparently aged his spirit, stunted his mindset and failed to broaden his outlook. Since his removal from the gubernatorial chambers, he has not convincingly articulated the formerly-noticed endearing virtues that were associated with him. Bit-by-bit, Ladoja has become ensnared in undesirable traits which he accuses the opposition of.
This new Ladoja is glaring in the volley of exchanges between him and incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The exchanges reveal the former governor’s readiness to stumble over the pits of infamy in order to join the ranks of destructive critics of the governor. This is especially buttressed by his evasiveness in pointedly answering questions posed to him by a group called Oodua Truth Seekers in an advertorial published in a national daily on February 17.
The group query is straightforward and unequivocal. Some of the questions posed at him are as follows: “Can he tell the people of Oyo State what actually destroyed Trans International Bank (TIB), the only bank with headquarters in Oyo State, owned by indigenes of the state, thereby throwing thousands into the unemployment market? Did his government actually move Oyo State funds out of TIB and into First City Monument Bank Plc. (FCMB)? Does he remember Tola Duro-Ladipo, Dr. Shehu Ladoja, a driver and four policemen who died in an accident involving his convoy? Did he not drive straight to the Governor’s Office, even when the accident occurred, with the dead still swathed in their pool of blood and the injured writhing in pain? Did he wait after the accident that involved the latter to sympathise with and get help to save the lives of these aides of his? Was there a spiritual dimension to these deaths? Did he not abandon the families to their fates? These questions are too simple to warrant an evasion. Once he gives his answers, he would be free in the court of public opinion which thinks otherwise.
Initially, I viewed Oodua Truth Seeker’s questions as one of the extremes of politicking in our clime. But, that idea became obliterated upon recalling that democracy’s elegance best shines during challenging moments like this as the wheels of political juggernauts criss-cross plains and valleys in scouring for the highest percentage of votes to secure power. Moreover, the public is afforded the chance to know salacious details of wheeling and dealings in quaint demonstrations of freedom of expression which, apart from titillating the masses on the happenings behind the shadowy power curtains, also shapes their voting choices during elections, the ultimate demonstration of expression.
On that basis, I, alongside many other political watchers, waited with tense expectation for Ladoja’s swift and unapologetic answers to the group’s queries, especially as they are damning enough to hurt his current gubernatorial ambition.
It never came. Instead, Ladoja responded through the simultaneously-timed issuance of a press release and advertorial. The press release described Oodua Truth Seeker’s advertorial as a “farago of lies and malicious doctoring of facts” and the advertorial introduces Ladoja’s self-title as “the issue” in Oyo politics. What manner of issue? “The issue” that Oyo stakeholders rather want as the recurring decimal is the continuing provision of affordable and qualitative education, sustainable health reforms, employment opportunities, good infrastructure and security. Calling himself “the issue” in order to score cheap political points insults Oyo people’s sensibilities. Nigerians generally have suffered so much and have been betrayed frequently often by those in whom they repose the strongest confidence, that it is natural that they should be suspicious of any whiff of wrongdoing.
Probably, Ladoja sees himself as “the issue” for, according to him, embarking on road constructions and renovating classrooms eight years ago. But, Ladoja need know that government is a continuum; if he addresses some sectors, subsequent government would not duplicate efforts in focusing on such areas again. Rather, successive administrations would examine new challenges to address. Since Ladoja said his administration tackled all that effectively, it is imperative that Ajimobi tackles areas which the former senator failed to work on, like healthcare reforms.
However, whatever records Ladoja recorded in office is inadequate reasons for discountenancing answering these latest accusations because the dowry of genius is not limited to Ladoja’s administration. In his advertorial, his Man Friday said “he is a man much loved by the people.” So, Ladoja should abandon this Robin Hood mentality of attempting rousing sympathies with patronising and diversionary references to his performance of normal governmental duties he constantly drones about in justifying his refusal to answer the posers raised in the advertorial. Particularly, he should answer Oodua Truth Seekers and Oyo people their queries.
Rather than respond to these, Ladoja calls himself “the issue” in Oyo. I am unsure if his handlers are aware of the phrase’s double entendre. Stripped bare of any niceties, its nuances basically mean ‘problem, obstacle, hindrances.’ Judging by recent events, maybe Ladoja means he is synonymous with such negatives in Oyo State.
While he wallows in self-absorption however, the present “issues” raised by the group are already rife from within crowds at Mapo Hill to traders at Ogbomoso markets and rallying talk among Saki weavers, including all lovers of Oyo State. Ladoja, with his attempt at wishing away these “issues” with his silence, now has giant question marks clouding his much self-vaunted integrity which he should address now, rather than brow-beating Ajimobi’s upward pendulum of progress with accusations and lawsuit threats. Ajimobi has displayed that the hopes and fears, the hatred and bitterness, of past Oyo rulers are centred upon his shoulders at this time, not distractedly fixed on Ladoja.
Ladoja’s advertorial says he “is a passionate leader of repute whose integrity cannot be questioned”. He should exemplify these attributes because remaining quiet is certainly not golden now. Ladoja should answer the posers raised against him with cold, hard facts. Now, is time for inflexible discharge of propriety. Act right, Senator Ladoja.
