The nomination of Adebayo Adelabu as Minister by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a clear manifestation of the fact that the president is on a mission to ensure that the structures of the APC in Oyo state as presently constituted, goes in extinction.
There have been indications to this fact since the president came to Ibadan for a Rally of the APC in Oyo state.
Instead of such a day to be an avenue for the president as presidential candidate then, to market the APC and Its candidates running for elective positions in Oyo, he and his handlers ensured that the said day was utilized to make a clever endorsement of Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
In fact, that day is a day to remember for some of us who waited under the scorching sun to receive the presidential candidate of our party, who unfortunately neglected us to eulogize the man who led the opposition to our dreams in Oyo state.
The body language of the presidential candidate after arriving the venue of the campaign Rally said it all. His refusal to identify with our candidates talk less of putting some words for them completed the frustrations of party faithfuls present.
The fact that the president supported Seyi Makinde against the candidate of the party during the gubernatorial election started as a rumour.
However, the president’s continuous spurning of the party in his choice of appointments from Oyo state have clearly removed any vestige of doubt that he so did.
The one that could be considered the last straw is the choice of Bayo Adelabu as Ministerial nominee from Oyo state.
How could someone who left the APC for Accord Party and not only that, he campaigned against not only the APC but also against president Tinubu, he mobilized and got close to forty thousand votes for the presidential candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo state be considered for a position of Minister to the detriment of the APC in Oyo state?
Bayo Adelabu confirmed it on a Radio program that the president was aware of his decision to leave the APC for Accord Party.
The pertinent question to be asked is this, what assignment was he expected to carry out in Accord Party?
Is it to ensure a split in the votes for the APC in Oyo during the gubernatorial election so as to limit the chances of the APC and increase that of the PDP?
Is he now being compensated for a job well done in that regard?
In all this, how does the president look in the eyes of the public and hundreds of thousands of the APC faithfuls in Oyo state?
What is the consequence of the president’s action vis a vis party loyalty and supremacy?
The president, been the National Leader of the APC, has he considered the likely consequences of rewarding individuals who displayed brazen disloyalty to the party he heads?
There is the proverbial blacksmith in Idanre town who was given two hundred cutlasses by a client. In the end, the blacksmith after some days told the client that he could only make two hundred needles from two hundred cutlasses!
The client did not argue with the blacksmith. After some days, he went back to the blacksmith and returned the two hundred needles, asking him to help make two hundred cutlasses from it. The blacksmith, who had forgotten that whatever goes around comes around was caught in his game.
“Algbede Idanre to gbagbe pe bi alo ba lo, abo a de. A fun nigba Ada, o nigba abere lo ka. A fun nigba abere ko fi ro igba Ada pada, oro ba pesi je.
The president must have it in mind that what goes around comes around.
How will he have the moral stand to punish anti party activities in the future when it happens against his interest having condone such acts when it favoured him?
The president can no longer say with a clear conscience that he is not on a mission against the APC in Oyo state.
The question is, why?
If his choice of Adelabu is a good choice for Oyo state in the circumstance, why the absence of funfair that ought to greet the announcement?
The president has unfettered access to information. I am sure he must have been briefed about the atmosphere in Oyo and the public condemnation that greeted his choice of Adelabu.
The decision to appoint Adelabu is purely one to satisfy himself and reward Adelabu for helping in bringing down the APC in Oyo state.
The consequences of the president’s continuous spurning of the APC in Oyo transcends Oyo state.
It will surely have meanings in the minds of the general public and party faithfuls in other states.
The president must redeem himself in Oyo state.
Thank God there is ample opportunity provided by the sole Ministerial slot for the South West.
It is not too much if the president gives that slot to Oyo state and in so doing, compensate the mainstream APC.
There is honor in Magnanimity and the president should tow this path.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
