There is a correctional facility in the ancient Town of Oyo, it is named Abolongo correctional facility.
When we said that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has been rattled and thrown off balance by the massive wind of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which granted financial Autonomy to the Local Governments, some lickspittles of the Governor attempted to fetch our head, leaving the neck.
We told the world that things have fallen apart for Governor Makinde and his Government to the extent that the centre could no longer hold in Agodi but the nay sayers called us names.
We raised the alarm that Governor Makinde is in a very big mess as a result of the agreements he made with some Banks which has irrevocably tied the monthly Allocations of the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state to some dubious Loan contracts but the Governor’s Media Aides won’t let us talk.
Just like the aroma of pepper and onions would betray the stingy man, who decided to cook his soup behind the closed doors of his sleeping room, it has been reported that Governor had allegedly directed the 33 Local Government Chairmen in Oyo state to flout the judgment of the Supreme Court and pull out of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria, ( ALGON).
The report also had it that the Governor allegedly directed further that the Allocations for the Local Governments must continue to go the State/ Local Governments Joint Account .
According to the reports, Governor Makinde allegedly gave the Local Government Chairmen a deadline of August 5 for them to address a press conference where the dissociation from ALGON would be announced.
These are very serious matters which call for serious attention and warnings.
First and foremost, Governor Makinde’s directives, if it is true, is not only illegal, it is equally criminal.
A deliberate and violent flouting of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria is a serious crime almost comparable if not same as treason.
Cleverly, the Governor set a time bomb which will detonate and maim others while he takes cover in some foreign country because, according to reports, Makinde has planned a long holiday for himself and by the time the bomb explodes, the bird must have nested somewhere safe outside the shores of Nigeria.
There is a Yoruba proverb which goes thus: ” eni to go lo ngbe igunnu, eni to gbon lo ngba owo e sapo”.
There is a strange masquerade in Yoruba Land called Igunnuko.
The Igunnuko is a peculiar masquerade known for its ability to keep stretching skywords.
Yorubas considered the one under the Igunnuko masquerade to be unwise and I think it is due to the fact that while he is at some distance away from the ground, his followers must have been helping themselves with part of the money made from admirers of the Igunnuko.
Apologies to the Igunnuko masquerade and its followers.
In the present circumstance, the Accountant general of Oyo state, the 33 Local Government Chairmen and the Local Government Career Officers are the Igunnukos who must choose to either be stupid or wise.
Let me make it clear here, if the above mentioned category of political and Career Officers decided to follow Governor Makinde’s directives against the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, it will be illegal, criminal and it will have grave consequences.
In fact, it is a direct route to prison.
It is well and good for Governor Makinde to give directives that violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He has double cover. One, he enjoys immunity by virtue of section 308 of the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
Secondly, not wanting to take chances if his actions are determined to be treasonable, he has chosen to take cover by traveling abroad while the time bomb he sets explodes.
Unfortunately for the other party involved in this planned Drama of contempt and illegality, none of the categories of political and civil servants enjoys any form of immunity against criminal prosecution.
I do not think it is a big deal if Local Government Chairmen in Oyo state wants to pull out of ALGON because I do not see anyone committing a crime by so doing.
My only problem with that is why the Chairmen should be slavish in doing so just because the Governor directed them to do so.
What I however have a big problem with is for the Local Government Chairmen and the Career officers to decide to take the bullets for another person’s crimes.
That would be worse than the man under the Igunnuko masquerade.
The eyes of the whole world are now glued to the Local Government Chairmen and the Career Officers.
For me, no one should ask the young child not to catch leprosy, provided he is prepared to live alone in the bush.
Governor Makinde has wrecked enough havoc with the funds for the Local Governments.
When he started calling stakeholders and setting up Committees to review the judgment of the Supreme Court, we knew he was up to no good.
I thought he said he was fighting to defend the interests of Oyo state?
Who in Oyo state asked him to fight for him by flouting the judgment of the Supreme Court?
I also thought his Men Friday boasted that just like the Covid 19 period, the Governor was on another vindicative mission?
” Gbogbo wa ni isowo Ogun, bi eja ba so lodo, a mo iye to to”. The ripples of a fish inside water is enough to determine its weight.
The wisdom behind the loss of a piece of meat in the mouth is known even to a toddler.
Governor Makinde has been dimistified. His cover blown.
Any attempts by any Local Government Chairman or Career Officer to perpetuate illegality and criminality as a result of the illegal directives of the Governor will result in a straight trip to Abolongo.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
