Ondo State On The March Again

WITH the burial rites of the late governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu over, political pundits have resumed work on how the Yar’adua/ Goodluck Jonathan model would either be replicated in the state or annulled. Ordinarily, Governor Akeredolu endorsed the incumbent governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his successor; the video is in public sphere for all to screen. But for some time, the rat race for the office has dominated discussions among concerned Ondo State indigenes and well- wishers.

The resumption of democracy in 1999 had meant that each senatorial district would rotate the production of governors for the state. The open declaration of late Governor Akeredolu had also settled who the governor should be after him. Nonetheless, what is happening in Ondo State now is virtually reopening old wounds, to the end that the media are beginning to second guess where the pendulum would swing at the end of the day.

There is no doubt that the All Progressive Party ( APC) has put in place a good strategy to restore decorum and party loyalty permanently in Ondo State. Indeed, the general consensus among politicians, stakeholders and the people is continuity, as the party once did at the federal level. Besides, as Akeredolu noted in his endorsement of the “Omoluwabi”, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it is only the Ondo South, Ilaja, a major dialect in the Ondo South Senatorial District, that had not produced a governor before, harping that the incumbent governor would succeed him as the Lord liveth.

It was the obvious fact that Governor

Akeredolu expressed the truism that the race be limited to Ondo South that informed the sudden bump of some roguish spoilers into the ring. There is even a widespread rumour that a Senator had started moves round the state to change the fundamental contours of the nomination and election of the governorship candidate in April and November, respectively. It is on this note that it became incumbent that stakeholders in the Ondo progressive discourse and realization need to be involved, because a man who has no interest in public affairs is not only harmless but he is a useless character according to Pericles of Athens.

This write up is to appeal to stomach infrastructure politicians whose interest is only in temporary satisfaction without an iota of concern for future repercussion. There is no doubt that a particular Senator has always been rocky. He is known nationwide as a spoiler. He pitches his tent anywhere progress is envisaged only to disappoint. Although his winning the senatorial seat at the last election is due to party affiliation, many have no trust he would make good use of the position to better the lots of the undertrodden in Ondo State. Besides; his success at that election cannot erase memories of his troubled ventures into creative arrays across the nation with failure as report card.

But wait a minute, if someone won the senate seat barely eight months ago, and he has four years tenure in first instance, what is pursuing him from facing nation building at that level of influence? Political jobbers always ride on the short memory of the people to suck them. Let’s think about it, what would make a six- month old senator in office abandon the office for a governorship seat but greed!

For those who take the senator seriously, some people do not see him as a notable industrialist. It is important if Ondo State stakeholders and concerned citizens ask where Energy Oil and Gas Company is at date. When it was commissioned, you would think Eldorado has arrived. Even with over 500 filling stations and seemingly booming business, the rest is history. During the Obasanjo privatization programme, Mr. Senator bought the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria from the Bureau of Public Enterprises. As at the time of the purchase in 2002, NICON Insurance was as rich as First Bank and many other blue chip enterprises.

The Mail Newspaper was Nigeria’s first digital newspaper, established by Macjomi. The politician bought it over from him ( Macjomi). The newspaper is no more. The more reason one is spurred to warn those collecting filthy lucre to be wary of their future and those of their offspring. Remember where you are coming from and the hope that you have for tomorrow and your own children.

Media moguls are still shocked how this

money politician crept into the management of Newswatch, Africa’s shinning model, the weekly newsmagazine. Using his crafty scheming, he bought the newsmagazine. Newswatch is now with its grandparents like Iwe Irohin and the old Daily Times.

If Ondo politicians are frolicking with the politician because of hospitality, they better learn from his experiment in the hospitality industry. He had bought a hotel in Abuja years ago. The staff were happy that their three- star hotel would soon become one star. Patrons of the hotel then would almost weep if they drive past the almost liquidated hotel. What can the politician offer Ondo State if given the chance to run its affairs? As nation builders, we cannot keep quiet without considering the nebulous goals of a restless individual and the task of wrestling our upwardly mobile state from political jobbers.

How even do we account for chronically poor communal spirit of the politician. Is it not nauseating that both Aiyedatiwa and a senator are from the same root? How beautiful it would have been for Aiyedatiwa to work with his kinsman in the senate for the overall development of Ondo State. This is because the basic explanation is that the nature and goals of the two institutions are fundamentally in tension but when properly managed could be coherent and contributory. This interaction could be mutually beneficial for it could allow the two institutions to work symbiotically to build support for policy for the good of the people of the state.