The Agidigbo Concept of "To Ba Koju Sie" (A Message To Ogun State Governor-Elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun) Written By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

 

Sir, I congratulate уσυ for emerging victoriously in the last hotly contested governorship election and I pray уσυr reign will take our own Gateway State to greater heights. Clearly, the majority spoke loudly with their votes and like I have repeatedly argued, what we had last time (judging from Ogun State INEC results) wasn't just the regular elections we have always had but a clear referendum on the people's wishes and values. This is basically the reason I have been a bit skeptical in adding my voice to those clamouring the last elections were largely rigged all over the nation.
Let me quickly state here that my intent in writing this piece is not to eulogize уσυ or say уσυ're the best when уσυ have not even resumed office, rather it is intended to alert уσυ, so уσυ can avoid some mistakes of the last administration, point areas needing urgent attention and more importantly, to be careful of those уσυ include or assign responsibility in уσυr government.
Few weeks ago, someone shared on Facebook the story about how a certain character, who claimed to be NANS leader and Dapo Abiodun's Youths & Students Representative harassed and threatened the Provost of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Professor J.B Bilesanmi Awoderu on phone over none issue and boasting to be strongly connected to the Governor-Elect. The author of the story, Comrade Adebamiro Damilola who happened to know this shady element said the fellow is a thug and has never completed any academic programme anywhere for about 15 years that he has been parading himself as National NANS leader. I brought this story up because I had seen cases where such people got recommended for political appointments and ended up being assigned sensitive roles in the State.
One past Governor of our dear State whose achievements I'll continue to make reference to is Otunba Gbenga Daniel. This progressive arrowhead and bridge builder toiled hard to earn the title, 'Architect of Modern Ogun State' yet part of the reasons his administration lost it in the court of public opinion in spite of his unbeatable records was largely due to the activities of such miscreants. Give a former cultist a political appointment, he'll end up building a killer squad to hunt down and murder anyone who opposes him or his principal. Yet, the innocent principal ends up taking all the blames and facing the fire alone after the expiration of his tenure. 'TOBA KOJU SIE..'
It's a pity the shortsightedness of the outgoing administration did more harm than good to the State. Wherever уσυ turn, уσυ'd find misplaced priorities. The outrageous amount the outgoing administration spent building each model school in the bushes will renovate over 100 dilapidated school buildings in the State. Same Amosun's administration believes starting 10-lane Siun-Abeokuta road is better than fixing the numerous deplorable roads in other parts of the State. These mistakes must not be repeated.
I know pressures are being mounted on уσυ to first begin transforming Ijebu/Remo axis, in retaliation for how Amosun-led government senselessly concentrated developmental projects in Egba axis to the detriment of other parts of the State but Yewaland too needs уσυr urgent intervention as well. 'TOBA KOJU SIE..'
Ogun State is richly blessed and has produced two Heads of State- Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan, the current Vice President, Professor Yemi Oshibajo, nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, late Chief MKO Abiola, Tai Solarin and several other great minds. We have always been a pacesetter in governance at all levels of government and we hope уσυr government will restore the lost glory of our dear Gateway State. Whatever late minute appointments and establishments carried out by the outgoing administration in a bid to create additional financial burden for уσυ can be reversed and cancelled including the senseless unsustainable bureaucracy called LCDA. It's a duplication of efforts and sheer waste of our scarce resources. 'TOBA KOJU SIE..'

SAINT-OLAWALE JIMOH
saintolawalejimoh@gmail.com
©2019

Ogede Nbaje.. By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  Repeatedly I have argued that a nation that prioritize sympathy in lieu of competency will suffer in terms of economic and social development. Everything we are witnessing today- the thriving of abnormality, the shutting down of common sense, the justification of all things in the name of politics and unjustified rewards for incompetence are all indicators of the sickness of this society. If the system is not sick, NEPA Bill wouldn't have been substituted for WAEC certificate. Regrettably the President has no fault in all of these, it's we the people that made the obscenities possible. We have tolerated abnormality for so long that we now deem it normal.
    
    Few days ago, at APC campaign rally in Ikeja Lagos, three journalists were shot including the Political Editor of The Nation newspaper. A leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) was reportedly stabbed with knife at same venue. Of all the people affected by this sad incident, only MC Oluomo got people and government attention while nothing was heard about the health status of the affected journalists.
At Eko Hospital where MC Oluomo obtained quality treatment before he eventually traveled abroad, armed policemen with patrol vans were on stand with many top politicians trooping in and out to register their solidarity and presence.
     
     I witnessed a similar situation in Lagos Garage, Ijebu Ode late last year. I arrived there around 6pm and the entire environment was volatile. Everyone looked terrified as they gathered in groups discussing. Suddenly, a team of heavily armed mobile policemen that stood in front of a security patrol van parked near the Oando Filling Station by Ondo Road axis of Lagos Garage began shooting into the air..
Later, I gathered the mobile policemen were those attached to a popular Chairman of the garage transport union and that the shooting was because the Chairman was in the neighbourhood for a meeting. Never have I witnessed an open display of obscenity like this. A garage Chairman guided and escorted by federal security men! This is sickening.
    After the Lagos incident, I realised it's now a normal practice but the question I have been asking is when did we get to this stage of depravity?

     Until we challenge this scourge, we'll end up building a society where thugs and miscreants will not only have a say but decide for intellectuals and credible Nigerians. Our politicians need to have a rethink and realize we cannot achieve greater Nigeria by their myopic and selfish attitude. This practice cannot elevate any society to anything significant other than raising people with nuisance value. Credible individuals with integrity and legitimate work no longer have any value yet we say we are making progress. Our banana is rotting but we say it's ripening.

A New Dawn Beckons At Odogbolu State Constituency. By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

 

 

 

   Quite an incredibly lots could be achieved if young ones are allowed to use their dynamic and agile ability to bring positive change to a system and looking at profiles and capacity of young Nigerians running for various elective positions these days, one is left in no doubts that the future will be great.
  Today, I'm taking a break to showcase my very good friend and brother, a combination of abilities, pure genius, consummate politician, dependable ally and a complete democrat with the IQ of Einstein, OLALEKAN LUKMAN ADELEYE (also known as Senato), who is aspiring to represent the good people of Odogbolu LG in the Ogun State House of Assembly next year. I have resolved to do this piece based on the fact that I know his worth, what he stands for, his hopeful insight into community issues, craviness for new ideas, ability to weigh alternatives before adopting a reasonable option and several other qualities that set him apart from other candidates vying for same position all over Ogun State.
   This tireless campaigner of a truly democratic society has been in the business of defending the interest of his people for years and I personally admire his selfless devotion to volunteer works as we have had cause to collaborate on few political assignments just like we are both involved in #Lado2019 project.
During his days at Tai Solarin College of Education, he was a well known vocal and active student leader with enviable records of co-ordinating struggles that ended in victory. This he has also demonstrated with his involvement in grassroots politics where he had opportunity to prove himself at various positions he was picked to occupy in the past.
  In 2007, he was appointed as Legislative Aide to the erstwhile member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Remmy Hazzan and based on his performance and recommendations he got, the former Executive Chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Chief Tope Tokoya immediately appointed him as a Special Adviser between 2008-2009. Again, he was made a Supervisor for Community Development, Women Affair and Employment Generation from May till December 2010 in same Local Government.
    Few weeks ago, he was nominated for the 2018 Most Ambitious Youth Award organised by 'Ogun Peers In Town' where he was singled out from the entire Ogun East Senatorial District.
   OLALEKAN LUKMAN ADELEYE was born about 40 years ago at Ibefun, in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State. He started his primary education at Holy Trinity Anglican Primary School Ibefun in 1987 and proceeded to Agbowa Baptist Grammar School, Agbowa-Ikosi for his secondary education.
In 1998, he was admitted into Tai Solarin College of Education for his National Certificate of Educate (NCE) programme. He was among the best students that bagged UI-affiliated degree (B.Ed) programme in same Tai Solarin College of Education. In 2017, he completed his Master's degree (Msc) in Analytical/Environmental Chemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. He is a christian; happily married to a delectable Mrs Olamide Adeleye and the marriage is blessed with beautiful kids.
     Olalekan is a dedicated community development advocate who has served in various committees of Ibefun Community Development Association, the most recent role was his membership of the 25th Coronation Anniversary and 70th birthday ceremony of Oba Gideon Adetoye Adesina, the Liken of Ibefun.
  He is humble, approachable, respectful and genuinely ready to support any right cause. A vote for him is a YES for a greater, responsive and quality representation in Odogbolu State Constituency.

2019: The One Good Thing PMB Government Has Done To Us. By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

 

Without mincing words, Buhari-led government has disappointed Nigerian masses and like never before, we have achieved an overwhelming statistics, indicating his monumental failure. His inefficiencies and incompetencies have reduced the Office of the President so much that every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to be the next President because they believe they can run this government better than him. Interestingly, the situation has equally helped to unveil several bright minds with impressive CVs.
If not for PMB inactions and weakness, we wouldn't have acknowledged Kingsley Moghalu, the Presidential aspirant of Young Peoples Party? A Professor of International Business and Public Policy at Tufts University, President of the Governance and Economic Transformation, former United Nations official and former CBN deputy governor. What amazes me the most about Moghalu is his sound and revolutionary ideas.
What about Fela Durotoye? An OAU, Harvard and Yale trained leadership expert, business strategist and motivational speaker. This excellent communicator always has a way with words. Someone once said 'you can't be in any of his sessions and not take down a few notes.'
Earlier this year, at NuStream Events Centre in Ibadan, during one of Durotoye's campaign tours, someone in the crowd, moved by his speech donated the sum of One Million Naira to support his campaign!
Omoyele Sowore, is the founder and publisher of Sahara Reporters. He holds Degrees from the University of Lagos and Columbia University, Lecturer at the City University of New York. This renowned writer, public speaker and human rights activist has the advantage of owning a known media brand with extensive reach which he can leverage on for publicity and propaganda.
We equally have Atuejide Eunice, a 39 years old founder of National Interest Party. Holds Law Degrees from BPP University, London and Msc in Business Administration from University of Siegen, Germany. She owns EB Consults Limited, a consultancy company operating out of the UK and Nigeria.
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is also interested in the Office of the President. This 55years old Professor of Language and Communication Arts at the RSUE hold Degrees from the Universities of Ilorin, Port Harcourt and Northwestern University. She founded the Agape Bible Church.
Donald Ike Igwegbu, Jaye Gaskia, Thomas Wilson, Ibrahim Abubakar Lajada, Emiola Ojajuni, Miss Godstime Iroabuchi Sidney, Chris Emejuru and many other distinguished Nigerians have so far indicated interest in the contest.
Honestly, I admire the courage and efforts of these young and great Nigerians. However, it's doubtful if any of them can win an election in a complex society like Nigeria but collectively, they have made a statement. We now have a political reawakening atmosphere. They have succeeded in introducing the standard to the masses. They have helped to sensitize, re-introduce and re-define what genuine governance entails. I can assure you that we will get there, may be not 2019.
Part of why it may not be 2019 is the problem of building sustainable structures in all the 36 states and their late entry into the business. They ought to have been working across all regions for at least 2 years. Nobody wins a presidential election 6 months to the race without being in the system for so long.
Still, I give kudos to them and more importantly to PMB whose actions and inactions paved way for these guys to be known.

SOON, IT WOULD BE A CRIME TO BE FREE! By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

Your land or your death statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adeshina, in which he was quoted to have said that all communities opposed to ranches should choose between their lands or lives is a further pointer to the fact that the Presidency has greater alliance to the herdsmen than to the country. Don't be deceived by the prepared speech he delivered to the representatives of CAN from the 19 Northern States yesterday. We know where his priority lies.
The killings in Maiduguri during Goodluck Jonathan's administration was the reason one renowned activist said Nigeria doesn't look like a nation anymore. Today, the unimaginable is happening and everyone is terrified. There's virtually no part of Nigeria that is safe. There's virtually no individual that is not living in fear in Nigeria except the Fulanis.
The murderous herdsmen first unleashed hell in Enugu and nothing happened because the victims are Biafrans who didn't support the government. Then they executed a massacre in Benue and nothing happened as well. Admittedly, they have succeeded in fishing out non-Fulani suspects as the perpetrators of the recent killings in Plateau State but over 300 people, comprising of women and children, were killed in 11 different communities.
In fact, according to US Council on Foreign Relations, a total of about 19,890 documented deaths have been recorded in Nigeria since June 2015.
Just this morning, about 8 persons were killed in separate fresh attacks in Adamawa and Benue again.
As it stands today, Fulani herdsmen can kill уσυ at the slightest excitement and get away with it (because almost all the Heads of national security are from same tribe) and when уσυ gear up to defend уσυrself because security will not help, then уσυ are caught by the same security who will lecture уσυ on how to be peaceful and law abiding. And if уσυ dare stage a peaceful protest, security will shoot уσυ for disturbing the peace of the area and inciting violence.
Regrettably, those who openly hounded and derided Goodluck Jonathan whenever any killings happened, calling him clueless in those days are today silent when we're witnessing the worst under PMB and despite their inability to openly condemn the killings, they still have strongest irritation for the slightest dissenting voice. That's why when уσυ complain today, уσυ are either called a wailer, thieve or supporter of thieves.
There's nothing wrong in loving or supporting a leader but where is уσυr conscience when уσυr fellow citizens are being slaughtered daily and уσυ don't seem to be bothered because you're benefitting from the government or the President is from your party?
Like a friend will always say, when the plague in Aso Rock is gone, we shall count and celebrate with real hearts. Not the hypocritical demons!
But come to think of it, as the killings continue and уσυ're forbidden to criticize PMB's inaction, soon, it would also be a crime to be free! 

INDEED THERE WAS A COUNTRY.. By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

It's difficult imagining this is the same Nigeria Chief Obafemi Awolowo lived in and made free education possible. General Yakubu Gowon (Rtrd) is of Northern extraction yet established NYSC to unify and integrate the ethnic divisions through the youths. It's entirely a different story today. The labour of our past heroes and forefathers is being rubbished by today's government for selfish gains. No respect for the laws, no regard for human rights, no interest of the nation at heart. We pervert justice for selfish reasons and have no regard for human lives. 

Our forefathers would be weeping in their graves seeing what our leaders in the 21st century have turned governance to. No conscience. No legacy. We build fake and padded rice pyramid to deceive the world that we have excelled in rice production. We build substandard roads, schools and hospitals all for profit at the expense of human life. The new Ijebu Ode pedestrian bridges constructed less than 3 years ago had undergone series of repairs and we say we are better than our forefathers? 

Concerned organizations would donate food items and other relief materials for Nigerian orphans, widows and displaced people, but some well-known and rich government officials would divert the items for private use and sell the remaining ones for profit. Yet some credible Nigerians in the media, would give awards of excellence to such criminals. 

Today, many little children are plagued with unknown diseases and illness because our market places are littered with imported substandard products, fake drugs and expired baby food unfit for human consumption yet we have security operatives at our various borders. 

Nigeria has never been this unsecured in history. At the slightest excitement Fulani herdsmen can kill уσυ and get away with it  even when security operatives are present and when уσυ make effort  to defend уσυrself, уσυ are caught by the same securities who will lecture уσυ on how to be civil and law abiding. As it stands today, cattle have freedom of movement and food security than Nigerian citizens.

The likes of late Yakubu Gowon, Nnamdi  Aziikwe, Tafawa Balewa are de-tribalized and selfless leaders who had genuine interest of the nation at heart. Chief Obafemi Awolowo built Cocoa House not in his hometown nor considered Unife (OAU) better situated in his community. Today, we have a national head who wants all juicy and key sectors headed by people from his hometown regardless of their experience and educational background. Indeed there was a country!

WHEN IN DOUBT, LEAVE OUT! By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    I'm still researching if there's anywhere in Nigeria the youths have been hired to do untold damages to the names of political opponents than Ogun State. The magnitude of falsehood being dished out on daily basis by some hired youths especially on the social media is sickening. The reputation уσυ struggled to build for years can be pulled down in one ∂αy by someone who didn't have the faintest idea of all уσυ went through to achieve the height.

     I have seen damages done to the image of Hon Oladipupo Adebutu despite his unparalleled strides in grassroots politics and tireless efforts in putting smile on the faces of Ogun people through his many life-enriching programmes.

      Few years ago, I authored a lengthy article to counter a post in which the immediate past governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Justus Daniel was alleged to have ordered the killings of over 200 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University. It was intellectually annoying and I was compelled to react based on the fact that I was still in same institution the period they claimed the killings took place. I had equally read a post where a governorship candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Mr Sina Kawonise, a successful journalist and former Commissioner of Information, was accused of stealing 50 litres of diesel oil from a parked truck.

These havocs were done by some hired youths and each time I read such posts, I asked myself, "for how much?"

    Otunba Gbenga Daniel for instance, toiled hard to earn the title, 'Architect of Modern Ogun State' yet part of the reasons his administration lost it in the court of public opinion in spite of his unbeatable records was largely due to the activities of these hired miscreants.

Thank God for the likes of Baaroyin Dayo Rufai,who managed to investigate the recent rumour of Amosun suspending the Olu of Ilaro and found it to be untrue. I'm not a fan of Governor Ibikunle Amosun but the allegation is a height of political insanity and it has got to stop. Unfortunately, majority of those in the business don't understand the implications of these unholy practices.

 I know a few persons who went behind bars for helping to share unconfirmed and untrue informations on the social media. Уσυ necessarily don't need to be the author of such posts, by mere re-sharing, уσυ deserve same punishment as the original writer.

To the amateurs in this business, I beseech them to check their facts and confirm from their information source before sharing any information online and as for the professionals, please don't join to spread lie. Remember the creed: if in doubt, leave out!

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