When a person is privilege to have a final say in a matter, Yorubas will say, “…ati isu, ati obe, lowo e lo wa”, meaning, such a person holds the knife and the yam and is expected to cut as he likes.
There is also a Yoruba panegyric of the “Olofamojos” which interestingly align and seems to complement how the holder of both the knife and the yam is expected to cut the yam and it goes, “…ikan o gbodo ju kan….bi ikan ba ju kan, ogun nii da sile nile baba won” and it translates to mean that in the family of the Olofamojos, the holder of both the yam and the knife, even though, he had the discretion to cut the yam, he must ensure fairness, equity and justice to avoid a war.
The above is apt when you put together the situation within and outside of the Oyo APC into perspectives.
How do I mean? Elections are over. The Government is in place and is a mad rush to share the spoils of the victory.
At the centre of it all is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who in this narrative is the man privileged to hold the yam and the knife.
The yam in the instance is the Ministerial slot that will be given to Oyo State.
The Olofamojos, who, ordinarily should be members of the President’s Party in Oyo State, the APC have been and sadly so polluted and ravaged by forces within and opportunists outside of Its terrain.
It is a chaotic situation no doubt.
Yet, the President must do that which is not only fair and just, but must be seen to be so.
There is no doubt that the Oyo APC is decimated. The question is, how did it happen?
The decimation of the Party is a result of the collapse of the lack of patriotism of some disgruntled individuals, who felt aggrieved by the outcome of the Party congresses and primaries and thereby chose to pull the house down by conniving with the opposition.
On the other hand, and this, the President must humbly take responsibility for, the agreement with the G-5 Governors of which Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a member also play a part in the chaotic situation.
Now, how would the President cut this yam, not only to avoid a war between the Olofamojos but in the interest of his own conscience and posterity?
Innocent APC members who worked day and night to ensure that the Party and Its candidates, Mr President inclusive succeeded are agitated and downcast.
First, we lost the Governorship election, which, ordinarily the APC ought to win if there were no intervening situations.
Secondly, if feelers from the seat of power are not cheering, except the President will prove us wrong.
The first appointment made from Oyo State and the romance with the G-5 Governors are matters for concern.
The scenarios though might be tempting, I hope the President will act with the fear of God.
I hope Oyo APC will not be sacrificed once again on another barter.
Or, will the ones who openly dismantled the house from within receive once again, the President’s favor?
As it is today, Oyo APC is disadvantaged. It was ensured that the Party do not produce the Governor and a willing opportunist, Makinde, though, from the opposition is filling the deliberately created void.
I said it is tempting and I know it is.
Makinde and his co travelers are being expected!
Hmmm… I urge the President to avert his mind to the story of legendary Yoruba Warlord who, because of new friend, jettisoned his old soldiers.
Anything apart from the President to compensate the Party, APC with the Ministerial slot will be unfortunate, unfair and unjust, having been made to needlessly lose the Governorship to the opposition.
The President have the discretion to befriend whoever and whichever Group he so pleases.
However, members of his Party should not suffer the consequences of such friendship.
What ties millions of Nigerians to the President is first the Party, APC. He owes a duty to that affinity first before friendships or alliances.
” Ounje to to si Omo, a kii gbe fun aja”. The food meant for a child should not be given to the dog.
I see the president as an experienced politician, a strategist but above all, a God fearing human being who understands that whatever we do here, we will account for it.
As a politician and a strategist, I am sure the president is aware that his treatment of the Party will sure have a ripple effect on hundreds of thousands of innocent lives.
I know he’s aware that in the Governorship, Makinde and his side have more than enough. I know that he’s aware of the alignment of his Adviser from Oyo State.
He must be aware that in the interest of fairness, equity and justice, but much more, for the sake of posterity, the Ministerial slot for Oyo State should go to the Party.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
