BY RANTI ADESEGUN
That a Federal High Court in Abeokuta has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to delist the names of all African Democratic Congress candidates from the register of those contesting the 2023 elections in the state is no longer news.
The real news is that the judgment has emboldened the ADC to move ahead with its project – taking over power and rescuing the state from the misrule and retrogression of the past three and half years.
Following the court’s judgment, I read a story in an online newspaper that there was “jubilation” at Oke-Mosan.
The celebration in Governor Dapo Abiodun’s camp bellies the biblical “hand of Esau but voice of Jacob” in the court case. Or coming nearer home, a Yoruba proverb vividly paints the circumstance: Aje ke la na, omo ku le ni. Ta ni o mo pe aje lo p’omo. (The witch cried out yesterday, the child died today. Who does not know it is the witch that killed the child).
The above Yoruba proverb literally and perfectly shows the direction to the origin of the case, though the brains behind it hide under the banner of the Labour Party in the state.
I’d like to reflect on a recent statement by the ADC gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, in order to put the immediate paragraph in proper perspective.
At a reception he hosted for the visiting ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, on Sunday, November 6, 2022, Otegbeye stated that 24 lawsuits had been filed by the competitors against him and House of Assembly candidates, saying such cases were frivolous, intended to distract, and they will fail.
Was it not instructive that about three weeks after Barrister Otegbeye’s warning, we saw the action of the court? The virtue in Otegbeye’s warning to his party faithful about the impending court action is like these immortal words: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”, which were attributed to the liberal activist Wendell Phillips
“It has become clear that the people are tired of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s ineptitude, indiscretion, shameful display of ignorance in administrative matters and total failure in governance”
Today, Otegbeye has emerged as the symbol of the struggle of Ogun State indigenes for emancipation in all facets of life – The infrastructure is lacking. Health facilities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels are in decay. Educational facilities are in shambles. The workers have been parked aside and they are in the periphery of governance. The cry of the pensioners is drowned by the abracadabra of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s sloganeering for more power.
The enlightened citizens of Ogun State have asked Governor Abiodun countless times, why he is intolerant of ADC and its standard bearer, Barrister Otegbeye.
On Thursday, November 3, 2022, the governor prevented Awori Obas from meeting with Barrister Otegbeye at the palace of Olota of Ota, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulkadir Obalanlege. In the midst of government’s intimidation on the same day, Governor Abiodun held his own meeting with Ijebu Obas in Ijebu Ode where he railroaded them to endorse his second term bid.
As if that was not enough, Governor Abiodun has opened his fangs against Royal Fathers perceived not to support his second-term aspiration.
Friday, November 25, 2022, would remain a day of horror in Ilase, a sleepy town in Ipokia Local Government area of the state. Government agents had stopped the Alase of Ilase Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba John Adewale, from using the field of Ipokia Local Government Primary School in the town for his wedding and housewarming events. So, the events were cancelled.
It has become clear that the people are tired of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s ineptitude, indiscretion, shameful display of ignorance in administrative matters and total failure in governance.
The ADC is holding the light at the end of the dark and uncomfortable tunnel. Let’s keep our hope alive for change in Ogun State come May 29, 2023.
Adesegun is a member of the ADC in Sagamu Local Government, Ogun State.
CAVEAT: Views and opinions expressed here are those of the writers and are not in any way those of The Point Newspaper – Editor
